Yellow Bird (Choucounne) 1883

Monton/Durand

The melody and lyrics to this catchy yet poignant tune originated in Haiti in the late 19th century and the name of the poem was Choucounne. A long but interesting discussion of the song's Creole origins is here, including the Creole lyrics. When the record companies were casting around for yet another "island melody" for the impossibly handsome Harry Belafonte aka "King of Calypso" to do, they came up with this one and, at the same time, conveniently made Norman Ludoff the composer, with English words by Marilyn and Alan Bergman. The song remains lilting and lovely, but less so for me once I found it was appropriated. Who was Choucounne? The answer is, a woman, of course. Always a woman.

"You can fly away, in the sky away.

You more lucky than me!"

CHORUS
Yellow bird, up high in banana tree.
Yellow bird, you sit all alone like me.
Did your lady friend leave the nest again?
That is very sad, make me feel so bad.
You can fly away, in the sky away.
You more lucky than me!

VERSE
I also have a pretty gal, She not with me today.
They all the same, the pretty gal, Make them the nest, then they fly away.

CHORUS

SECOND VERSE
Wish that I was a yellow bird, I fly away with you.
But I am not a yellow bird, So here I sit, nothing else to do.
Yellow bird, yellow bird, yellow bird.

Rum and Coca Cola (1943)

L. Invader

"Young girls say they treat 'em nice, 

make Trinidad like Paradise
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Go down Point Koomana"

Is it something about upcoming cold weather that makes me think of tropical drinks? The Andrews Sisters did this pre-post-colonial song a big hit, and who can blame the US for loving it back then, though it has not aged well. Here are three ultra-American gals, the Andrews sisters, singing with fake Caribbean accents, telling the folks to go down to Trinidad, where they all "be working for the Yankee dollah." Yes, you are guaranteed a great time with the young girls and the booze. Even a few years ago this song might have been played in some throwback radio show. Today it just sounds all wrong. Except for the harmonious singing. And yes, they were actually sisters.

LYRICS

If you ever go down Trinidad, they make you feel so very glad
Calypso sing and make up rhyme, guarantee you one real good fine time
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Go down Point Koomana
Both mother and daughter workin' for the Yankee dollar.

Since the Yankee come to Trinidad, they got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice, make Trinidad like Paradise
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter workin' for the Yankee dollar.

Oh, you vex me, you vex me

From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle, native girls all dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave, make every day like New Year's Eve
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Go down Point Koomahna
Both mother and daughter workin' for the Yankee dollar.

It's a fact, man, it's a fact

In old Trinidad, I also fear, the situation is mighty queer
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon when she hear der Bingo croon
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola. 

Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter workin' for the Yankee dollar

Out on Manzanella Beach, G.I. romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love, next day, sit in hot sun and cool off

It's a fact, man, it's a fact

Rum and Coca-Cola. Rum and Coca-Cola. 

Workin' for the Yankee dollar