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The importance of Belafonte on American folk of the sixties is enormous, so much so that even Dylan, who in his youth played harmonica on one of his albums, often cites him as one of his main influences. It may seem strange that a character defined as the "king of Calypso" could have influenced that generation of singer-songwriters who brought protest to music, but a careful listening to his songs can dispel any doubt.
However, Belafonte's importance in American music does not stop here. This album was indeed the first collection of songs to surpass a million copies sold and naturally catapulted its author into the limelight, sparking a calypso fever across America, a musical genre that masks strong protest lyrics against bad politics and the social conditions of the weakest behind its danceable elements.
Belafonte, born in 1927, came to music after a fair amount of success as an actor in several films and musicals, for which he would write some songs that served as soundtracks and contributed to his launch into the music world. A straightforward and jovial character with a ready smile and willing to support any good cause.
"Calypso" was released in 1956, driven by the immediate success of the famous "Day-O(The Banana Boat)", a traditional song that would become the trademark that accompanied him throughout his career. A song of strong racial denunciation that contrasts with the basic joyfulness, originating from Trinidad and sung by the workers who loaded banana ships all night, waiting for someone to send them home with the arrival of daylight.
Belafonte's songs are strongly influenced by the places where the musician lived in his youth, so we might find Caribbean, Jamaican, and New York influences. The ability to combine American folk, known thanks to his frequent visits to Greenwich Village, a true crossroads of American culture in the fifties and sixties, with the atmospheres and sounds of his Caribbean origins, made him one of the first singer-songwriters able to mix different sounds and incorporate them into a single song. Assisted by Irvin Burgie in writing the pieces, "Calypso" can undoubtedly be considered one of the first examples of global music. Alongside danceable tracks like "Dolly Dawn", "The Jack-ass song", we find the pirate-themed "Will his love be like his Rum?" and folk songs like "Come Back Liza" and "Jamaica Farewell", the second successful single. Then there's the vibrant "Man smart (woman smarter)" which can be considered one of the first songs to highlight the role of women in history.
Belafonte's battle for the weak and minorities would continue throughout his career, first alongside Martin Luther King, then as a UNICEF ambassador and participating in charitable events without drawing too much attention and with discretion.
Often forgotten, his absence on DeBaser can serve as an example, Belafonte is a character to be rediscovered and appreciated.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 I Do Adore Her (02:50)
When shadows fall and stars appears
A pain I feel I cannot hear
If I could relive that faithful day
I would not turn my love away
I reveal how I do adore her
Hang my heart on my sleeve just for her
All my love thru-out life assure her
If this moment I could Amour her.
When I think of her tender lips
Gentle touch of her finger-tips
Reminisce on her eyes so fair
Moonlight soft on her downy hair
I reveal how I do adore her
Hang my heart on my sleeve just for her
All my love thru-out life assure her
If this moment I could Amour her.
If some day I should see her smile
Hold her hand and me heart beguile
Feel her warmth in her earnest prayer
Darling shield me from all despair
I reveal how I do adore her
Hang my heart on my sleeve just for her
All my love thru-out life assure her
If this moment I could Amour her.
Now I'm standing alone and sad
Thinkin' upon the joys I've had
Time makes fools of men they say
Take me back to that distant day
I reveal how I do adore her
Hang my heart on my sleeve just for her
All my love thru-out life assure her
If this moment I could Amour her
03 Jamaica Farewell (03:04)
Down the way
Where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
(chorus)
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down
My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston Town
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls swing to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
(chorus)
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down
My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston Town
Down at the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
Ackie rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time a year
(chorus)
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down
My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston Town
Down the way
Where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
(chorus)
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down
My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston Town
Sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down
My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston Town.
05 Dolly Dawn (03:15)
Look, Look at Dolly,
Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty dolly
Oh here she come, here she come, here she come
Pretty, pretty Dolly
When Dolly hear them sound the drum
Up she jump she holler: ”Here I Come”
Cause she gonna dance, she gonna sing
She gonna cause the rafters to ring
Cause she gonna dance, she gonna sing
She gonna cause the rafters to ring
Don’t stop her when she hear the call
Dolly don’t goin’ to have herself a ball
When Dolly start to shake an shout
Clear the floor cause she really move about
When Dolly go into a turn
All men jump and their eyes begin to burn
Soon Dolly go into a fall
Turn an’ spin then she starts to climb the wall
Soon Dolly go into a fall
Turn an’ spin and then she climb the wall
06 Star-O (02:04)
Star-o, Star-o Star a come and I carry me load
Stars, this a stars, this a stars, this a sta-a-ar-o
Star a come and I carry me load
Star a come and I carry me load
Star a come and I carry me load
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Star a come and I carry me load
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Star a come and I carry me load
Sta, this a sta-a-ar-o
Stars, this a stars, this a stars, this a sta-a-ar-o
Star a come and I carry me load
Sta, this a sta-a-ar-o
Stars, this a stars, this a stars, this a sta-a-ar-o
Banana ripe it smell like honey
Star a come and I carry me load
Woman sweet she take your money
Star a come and I carry me load
Sta, this a sta-a-ar-o
Star a come and I carry me load
Stars, this a stars, this a stars, this a sta-a-ar-o
Come Mister tallyman and tally me banana
Star a come and I carry me load
Come Mister tallyman and tally me banana
Star a come and I carry me load
Sta, this a sta-a-ar-o
Star a come and I carry me load
08 Hosanna (02:39)
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
House built on a weak foundation
Will not stand oh no
Stoics stall thru all creation
Will not stand oh no
House built on a weak foundation
Will not stand oh no
Stoics stall thru all creation
Will not stand oh no
Hosanna, well come wash it down
Sun come burn it up
Storm come blow it down
This house could never be
This house could never be
It would be weak you see
House built on a weak foundation
Will not stand oh no
Stoics stall thru all creation
Will not stand oh no
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
House built on a rock foundation
It will stand oh yes
Stoics stall thru all creation
It will stand oh yes
Hosanna, well come wash on it
Sun come shine on it
Storm can't blow it down
This house will always be
This house will always be
It will be strong you see
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
Hosanna me built a house, oh
09 Come Back Liza (03:06)
Every time I’m away from Liza
Water come to me eye
Every time I’m away from Liza
Water come to me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
I remember when love was new
Water come to me eye
There was one but now there’s two
Water come to me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
When the evening starts to fall
Water come to me eye
I need to hear my Liza’s call
Water come to me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Standing there in the market place
Water come to me eye
Soon I’ll feel her warm embrace
Water come to me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
In the shadow I stand awhile
Water come to me eye
Soon I’ll see my Liza’s smile
Water come to me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Come back Liza, come back girl
Wipe the tear from me eye
Every time I’m away from Liza
Water come to me eye
Every time I’m away from Liza
Water come to me eye
10 Brown Skin Girl (02:42)
Ev'rything to keep me from sleepin'
A lot of sailor boys they were leavin'
And everybody there were jumpin'
To hear the sailor boys in our chorus singin'
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby Now de Americans made an invasion
We thought it was a help to the island
Until they left from here on vacation
They left de native boy home to mind their children
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby
Now I tell you de story 'bout Millie
Well she made a nice blue-eyed baby
And dey say she fancy the mother
But the blue-eyed baby ain't know she father
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby
Now de Americans all have their pleasure
While the music played to their leisure
Everybody there they were jumpin'
To hear the sailor boys in our chorus singin'
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
Brown skin girl stay home and mind baby
I'm goin' away, in a sailing boat
And if I don't come back
Stay home and mind baby
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