PEAS AND RICE
Milton Gabler / Mabel Inez Pollard

as rec by Ella Fitzgerald w Sy Oliver & his Orch  March 6th 1950 New York


My husband is a tropical man, you see,
He is a native of Davadee.
In Davadee all the natives, you see,
They like roast pork and rice and peas.

Knowing my husband likes rice and peas,
And I'm a woman who loves to please,
So I decided to cook him some
Before my horses begin to run.

I put de peas in de pot to cook,
Get the papers to take a look,
To see the odds that they give away;
My favourite horse was running that day!

I put de peas in de pot to cook,
I put de peas in de pot to cook,
But my horse was running at twenty to one
And de peas and de rice come out burn burn!

(Oy, burn up de rice and peas child!)

De peas burn up and de pot gets black,
Just them me husband, he come back!
Me husband make a right pass at me,
'Cause I get mixed up with de pot and de peas!

He say, "I know dat dis happen before,
I smell de burn when outside de door!
When I come home when me work is done,
De house is filled with confusion!".

(Such confusion,baby, such confusion!)

"You put de peas in de pot to cook,
But you too busy to take a look!
De peas in de pot, dey all get black,
Why don't you marry with the horse and live at de track?".

{Oh, de horses and de woman!")

I take a seat in de easy chair,
Next to de door to get some air.
Me husband swing round to conk me down,
And de chair fold up and I hit de ground!

I jump on me foot and I start to run,
Me husband shy me with a pepper pan.
De pepper fly out and make me sneeze,
And I jump in the yard to catch de breeze.

De peas and rice bring me grief and pain,
De peas and rice cause me all the shame!
In de yard when I look and see,
Me malicious neighbours just looking at me!

(Oh honey, de neighbours are a mess!)

I put de peas in de pot to cook,
But  forget them to take a look.
Now me gossiping neighbours all make fun,
'Cause de peas and de rice come out burn burn!

(I'm sorry I burned de rice and peas, child!)

When I think of de things that me husband said,
That he will love me till the day I'm dead,
It hurt me heart and it make me cry,
And de big teardrops fall out me eye!

I stay in de yard till late at night,
And make up me mind to face de fight!
When I walk in, what do my eyes meet
But me man in de bed with me racing sheet!

(Oh dat man, he make me fool all the time child!)

I put de peas in de pot to cook,
I put de peas in de pot to cook,
But if my horse win at twenty to one,
Let de peas and de rice come out burn burn!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - August 2012)