BABALù
(Margarita Lecuona / Bob Russell)

Recorded by :
Desi Arnaz; Stanley Black; Elena Burke; Del Campo; Benny Carter;
Casino de la Playa; Enrique Chia; Angel Clivillés; 
Columbia Ballroom Orch.; Xavier Cugat; Bola de Nieve; 
Billy Eckstine; Carmen Flores; 
Slim Gaillard & His International Famous Orch.; 
Caridad Hierrezuelo; Hit Crew; Jonah Jones; Machito;
Enric Madriguera; Mambo All-Stars; Ângela Maria; Johnny Mathis;
Jorge Moreno; Nelson Ned; Orquesta Sensacion; 
Orquesta Todos Estrellas; Orquesta Tropical Do Caribe;
Tito Puente; Selma Reis; Alys Robi; Lina Romay; Ska Cubano;
Yma Sumac; Toña "La Negra"; Miguelito Valdés; Caterina Valente.


Ah! Great Babalù! I'm so lost and forsaken.
Ah great Babalù, bring back the love you've taken.
You can restore all the dreams that once were mine
If only you'll use some mystic sign.
Ah! Great Babalù! Bring her back to me.

Ah! Great Babalù! I'm so lost and forsaken.
Ah great Babalù, bring back the love you've taken.
You can restore all the dreams that once were mine
If only you'll use some mystic sign.
Ah! Great Babalù! Bring her back tome.

Babalu aye! Babalu aye! Babalu aye! Babalu aye!
Babalu aye! Babalu aye! Babalu aye! Babalu aye!
Babalu aye! Babalu aye!


*****


BABALù

Desi Arnaz


Babalu
Babalu
Babalu aye
Babalu aye
Babalu
Jungle drums were badly beating
In the glare of eerie lights:
While the natives kept repeating
Ancient jungle rites.
All at once the dusky warriors began to
Raise their arms to skies above
A a native stepped forward to chant to
his Voodoo Godess of love.
Ah!

CHORUS
Great Babalu!
I 'm so lost and forsaken
Ah, great Babalu


*****


BABALù 
(Spanish version)

Desi Arnaz


Babalu
Babalu
Babalu aye
Babalu aye
Babalu
Ta empezando lo velorio
Que le hacemo a Babalu
Dame diez y siete velas
Pa ponerle en cruz.
Dame un cabo de tabaco mayenye
Y un jarrito de aguardiente,
Dame un poco de dinero mayenye
Pa' que me de la suerte.
Yo

CHORUS
Quiere pedi
Que mi negra me quiera
Que tenga dinero
Y que no se muera
Av! Vo le quiero pedi a Babalu 'na negra muy santa como tu que no
tenga otro negro
Pa' que no se fuera.

2nd VERSE (CONCLUSION)
[Repeated 10 times:]

Babalu a ye!


*****


(Contributed by Ferda Dolunay - March 2005)