Mama Look A Bobo

Words and Music by :  Fitzroy Alexander

Recording #1 by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: Jan 26, 1957, (11:00-14:00 & 14:30-17:30)
Recorded at Webster Hall
Master number: H2PB 1273-6B
Playing time: 3:00
Producer: Joe Carlton & Edward O.Welker
Robert DeCormier: leader; Millard Thomas: guitar; Franz Casseus: guitar; Victor Messer: guitar; Norman Keenan: bass; Daniel Barrajanos: conga drums; George Devens: marimba; Noah Rodriguez: bongo drums; Paige Brook: flute; Harold M. Jones: flute; Joseph B. Wilder: trumpet; Gilbert E. Adkins, Irving D. Barnes, Leon Bibb, Irving Burgie, Charles Colman, Stephen Harbachick, Marvin Hayes Jr., Joe N. Kenyon, Samuel R. McCurry, John Nielsen, Broc Peters, Howard A. Roberts, William Stewart, Herbert L. Stubbs, Leroy B. Thompson, Rodester Timmons: vocal chorus.

CD: BCD16262


Recording #2 by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: Jan 27, 1957, (12:00-15:00 & 15:30-18:30 & 19:00-23:00)
Recorded at Webster Hall
Master number: H2PB 1273-6B (J2PW-5659)
Playing time: 2:58
Producer: Joe Carlton
Robert DeCormier: leader; Millard Thomas: guitar; Franz Casseus: guitar; Victor Messer: guitar; Norman Keenan: bass; Daniel Barrajanos: conga drums; Noah Rodriguez: bongo drums; Joseph Venuto: marimba; James N. DeMeo: flute; Harold M. Jones: flute; Joseph B. Wilder: trumpet; Gilbert E. Adkins, Irving D. Barnes, Leon Bibb, Irving Burgie, Charles Colman, Stephen Harbachick, Marvin Hayes Jr., Joe N. Kenyon, Samuel R. McCurry, John Nielsen, Broc Peters, Howard A. Roberts, William Stewart, Herbert L. Stubbs, Leroy B. Thompson, Rodester Timmons: vocal chorus.

78 : 20-6830, S-296 (The 20-6830 says Bob Corwin's Orch.!)
45 : 47-6830, 447-0325, 47-9075, 75-645, 86-569,
LP :  FPL2-7100, 430.271,
CD : BCD16262, 07863-67403-2, 07863-56877-2, 82876-59069-2, RGMCD071


Recording #1 and #2 alternate takes by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: Jan 27, 1957, (12:00-15:00 & 15:30-18:30 & 19:00-23:00)
Playing time: see album
CD: DAYO-01
 

Recording #3 by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: April 19-20, 1959
Playing time: 5:23
45: 6006-45
LP: LSO6006,
Tape: FTO6000, O8S-5002, OQ8-5002
CD: CD6006-2-R, 82876-69242-2, 88697-93951-2,

Recording #4 by Harry Belafonte
Recording date: 1966
Playing time: 3:07
LP: LSP3658,
Tape: TP3-5032

Other recordings/albums by Harry Belafonte

45 :  EPA-9649, 74-16278SS-1247, 45N-0581, 10268,
LP : LPM-9940, VPSX-6077, R4P-5054, AR30048, CPL1-2489, TA1015, RCA8023, HS-120, DLP1147, ADEH28, 2127LP, HB7015, CL42479, BTA12596, CCSLP-186SPS-33-572, CR046, 11-701, SDL003, 6187331, 855482
CD:  PDC2-1295, CD15094, 07863-52469-2, B93001, CD12505, RMB75089, CD95010, SACD1203, CD036, 74321-10730-274321-78948-2, PD89796, 1130-15250-2, 74321-62230-2, 74321-86210-2, EVC322, 07863-68097-2, ARMCD019, 74321-84443-2, BB61002, GSS5336, 74321-13952-2,

Also recorded by:
Antigua's Ssteel Drum TCD1039  
Alice Babs Brunswick 12 987 In German
Dave Burgess TOPS R305X45
Fox Fire GBI LP-110
Gary U.S. Bonds CDCHD-692
Robert Delgado  

Lyrics:

I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?
I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?

I leave my whole house and home
My children don't want me no more
Bad talk inside de house dey bring
And when I talk they start to sing

Mama, look a bobo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mouth'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so
Shut your mout'  Go away

Mama, look at bobo dey
Shut your mout'  Go away
Mama, look at bobo dey

I couldn't even digest me supper
Due to thee children's behavior
John (Yes, pa)-come here a moment
Bring de belt, you're much too impudent
John says it's James who started first
James tells thee story in reverse
I drag my belt from off me waist
You should hear dem screamin' round de place

Mama, look at bobo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so
Shut your mout'  Go away

Mama, look at bobo dey (oh)
Shut your mout'  Go away
Mama, look at bobo dey (oh)

So I began to question de mother
These children ain't got no behavior
So I began to question de mother
These children ain't got no behavior

They're playing with you my wife declared
You should be proud of them, my dear
These children were taught too bloomin' slack
That ain't no kind of joke to crack

Mama, look at bobo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so
Shut your mout'  Go away

Mama, look at bobo dey (ooh)
Shut your mout'  Go away

Mama, look at bobo dey (ooh)
Shut your mout'  Go away'

Lyrics for the German version sung by Alice Babs (from Sweden!)
(German lyrics by Hans Bradke)

La lalala lala lala
La lalala lala lala

Mama ist aus Cuba - Cuba
und aus Jamaica ist der Papa;
das ist ein Leben voll Glück,
so haben wir immer Musik.

La lalala lala lala
La lalala lala lala

Früh, wenn die andern Leute noch schlafen,
dann geh´n wir alle zum Hafen
und setzen dann beim Singen der Vögel
mit unserem Papa die Segel.
Dann fährt Papa´s Banana-Boot
mit uns hinaus ins Morgenrot
und wenn die rote Sonne glüht,
dann singt Papa mit uns das Lied:

Mama ist aus Cuba - Cuba
und aus Jamaica ist der Papa;
das ist ein Leben voll Glück,
so haben wir immer Musik.

Weil Mama immer gern
ein Gitarrensolo bringt,
weil Papa ganz genau
so wie Belafonte singt:

Mama ist aus Cuba - Cuba
und aus Jamaica ist der Papa;
das ist ein Leben voll Glück,
so haben wir immer Musik.

La lalala lala lala
La lalala lala lala

Wir tun dasselbe, wie uns´re Ahnen,
denn wir verkaufen Bananen.
Wir singen so wie sie immer wieder
Die schönen uralten Lieder.
Fährt dann Papas Banana-Boot
mit uns zurück im Abendrot,
dann steht Mama am Strand und winkt
und stimmt mit ein, wenn alles singt:

Mama ist aus Cuba - Cuba
und aus Jamaica ist der Papa;
das ist ein Leben voll Glück,
so haben wir immer Musik.

Weil Mama immer gern
ein Gitarrensolo bringt,
weil Papa ganz genau
so wie Belafonte singt:

Mama ist aus Cuba - Cuba
und aus Jamaica ist der Papa;
das ist ein Leben voll Glück,
so haben wir immer Musik.

La lalala lala lala
La lalala lala lala