CALYPSO BLUES
(Cole / George)

as recorded by Nat "King" Cole
1949


Wa-oo-oo, wa-oo-oo,
Wa-oo wa-oo wa-oo wa-ay.
Wa-oo-oo, wa-oo-oo,
Wa-oo wa-oo wa-oo wa-ay.

Sittin' by de ocean, me heart she feel so sad,
Sittin' by de ocean, me heart she feel so sad,
Don't got de money to take me back to Trinidad!

Fine calypso woman, she cook me shrimps and rice,
Fine calypso woman, she cook me shrimps and rice,
Dese Yankee hot dogs don't treat me stomach very nice!

In Trinidad, one dollar buy
Papaya juice, banana pie,
Six coconut, one female goat,
An' plenty fish to fill de boat!
One bushel bread, one barrel wine,
An' all de town, she come to dine!
But here is bad, one dollar buy
Cup of coffee, ham on rye!

Me throat she sick from necktie,
Me feet she hurt from shoes,
Me pocket full of empty,
I got calypso blues!

Dese Yankee girl give me big scare,
Is black de root, is blonde de hair!
Her eyelash false, her face is paint,
And pads are where de girl, she ain't!
She jitterbugs when she should waltz,
I even think her name is false,
But calypso girl is good a lot,
Is what you see is what she got!

Sittin' by de ocean, me heart she feel so sad,
Don't got de money to take me back to Trinidad!

Wa-oo-oo, wa-oo-oo,
Wa-oo wa-oo wa-oo wa-ay.
Wa-oo-oo, wa-oo-oo,
Wa-oo wa-oo...




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - July 2017)