"Jamaica Farewell" is a Jamaican-style folk song (mento).[1] The lyrics for the song were written by Lord Burgess (Irving Burgie), an American-born, half-Barbadian songwriter. It is about the beauties of the West Indian Islands.
Many, including Belafonte himself, have said that the song was popular in the West Indies since long before Burgess. It is believed that Burgess compiled and modified the song from many folk pieces to make a new song. Burgess acknowledged his use of the tune of another mento, "Iron Bar".[1] The line "ackee, rice, saltfish are nice" refers to the Jamaican national dish.
Coversedit
Artists who have covered "Jamaica Farewell" include:[3]
The Kingston Trio, who led the folk revival of the late 1950s, took their name from the mention of Kingston, Jamaica in the song; though they only recorded it years later, in 2006.
Nancy Cassidy, off her collection of children's music
In other languagesedit
This song has been translated into many languages. For example, in Bengali, there exist several translations, some of which are quite well known. One Bengali version of the song became an important anthem for the Naxalite revolutionary movement in the 1970s and thus has significance for Bengali intellectuals in Kolkata society. The Bangladeshi band Souls also sang their own translated version in early 1990s, which instantly became a hit in Bangladesh.[citation needed]
The song "Iron bar" was published along with Swedish lyrics by Ulf Peder Olrog in 1947 as "Mera bruk i baljan boys" in his "Rosenblom i Västindien" sheet music album. Olrog had earlier in 1947 travelled in the West Indies and wrote down some "native songs" in Jamaica, of which 3 were published with Swedish lyrics. The song was a large record hit with singer Anders Börje. Later on, "Jamaica Farewell" was covered with lyrics in Swedish by Schytts as Jamaica farväl, scoring a 1979 Svensktoppen hit.[5]Streaplers recorded a 1967 Swedish-language version of the song, with the lyrics "Långt långt bort". Their version became a 1968 Svensktoppen hit.[6]
German translations are "Abschied von Kingston Town" ("Farewell from Kingston Town") by Bruce Low and "Weil der Sommer ein Winter war" ("For the Summer was a Winter") by Nana Mouskouri.[citation needed] The Vietnamese translation is "Lời Yêu Thương" ("Love Words") by Đức Huy
Parodiesedit
In his album My Son, the Folk Singer, Allan Sherman included a parody of the song on "Shticks and Stones": "I'm upside down, my head is spinning around, because I gotta sell the house in Levittown!"[7]
This song was featured in the 2009 video game, Rabbids Go Home, at numerous points in the game. It further was featured in episode 8 of season 1 of the TV series, Barry.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Jamaica Farewell news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message Jamaica Farewell is a Jamaican style folk song mento 1 The lyrics for the song were written by Lord Burgess Irving Burgie an American born half Barbadian songwriter It is about the beauties of the West Indian Islands Jamaica Farewell Song by Harry Belafontefrom the album CalypsoLanguageEnglishReleased1956GenreMentoSongwriter s Irving Burgie Contents 1 Harry Belafonte recording 2 Background 3 Covers 3 1 In other languages 4 Parodies 5 Soundtrack appearances 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHarry Belafonte recording editThe song appeared on Harry Belafonte s 1956 album Calypso It reached number 14 on the Billboard Pop chart 2 Background editMany including Belafonte himself have said that the song was popular in the West Indies since long before Burgess It is believed that Burgess compiled and modified the song from many folk pieces to make a new song Burgess acknowledged his use of the tune of another mento Iron Bar 1 The line ackee rice saltfish are nice refers to the Jamaican national dish Covers editArtists who have covered Jamaica Farewell include 3 Chuck Berry feat The Five Dimensions Sir Lancelot Marty Robbins Don Williams Jimmy Buffett Sam Cooke Nina amp Frederik Carly Simon Laura Veirs on her 2011 album Tumble Bee Caetano Veloso and Sting while playing a medley of his own Can t Stand Losing You Reggatta de Blanc while still with The Police in 1983 Carleton Bill Bailey on the album Cruising With Bill Bailey recorded while on board MS Southward 1960 Ray Conniff Orchestra on the album Happiness Is 1966 James Last Orchestra on the album Music From Across The Way 1971 The Jukebox Band on the TV show Shining Time Station episode Bully for Mr Conductor Austrian pop singer Chris Denning alias Helmut Rulofs in 1978 4 Desmond Dekker on the album Caribbean Playground Lil Ugly Mane in a section of Side Two A on the album Third Side of Tape Robin Cook aka Jonas Ekfeldt Fisherman s Friends on the album Sole Mates The Kingston Trio who led the folk revival of the late 1950s took their name from the mention of Kingston Jamaica in the song though they only recorded it years later in 2006 Nancy Cassidy off her collection of children s music In other languages edit This song has been translated into many languages For example in Bengali there exist several translations some of which are quite well known One Bengali version of the song became an important anthem for the Naxalite revolutionary movement in the 1970s and thus has significance for Bengali intellectuals in Kolkata society The Bangladeshi band Souls also sang their own translated version in early 1990s which instantly became a hit in Bangladesh citation needed The song Iron bar was published along with Swedish lyrics by Ulf Peder Olrog in 1947 as Mera bruk i baljan boys in his Rosenblom i Vastindien sheet music album Olrog had earlier in 1947 travelled in the West Indies and wrote down some native songs in Jamaica of which 3 were published with Swedish lyrics The song was a large record hit with singer Anders Borje Later on Jamaica Farewell was covered with lyrics in Swedish by Schytts as Jamaica farval scoring a 1979 Svensktoppen hit 5 Streaplers recorded a 1967 Swedish language version of the song with the lyrics Langt langt bort Their version became a 1968 Svensktoppen hit 6 German translations are Abschied von Kingston Town Farewell from Kingston Town by Bruce Low and Weil der Sommer ein Winter war For the Summer was a Winter by Nana Mouskouri citation needed The Vietnamese translation is Lời Yeu Thương Love Words by Đức HuyParodies editIn his album My Son the Folk Singer Allan Sherman included a parody of the song on Shticks and Stones I m upside down my head is spinning around because I gotta sell the house in Levittown 7 A filk music parody Change at Jamaica Farewell makes fun of the Long Island Rail Road Soundtrack appearances editThis song was featured in the 2009 video game Rabbids Go Home at numerous points in the game It further was featured in episode 8 of season 1 of the TV series Barry See also editHymn tune Long metre Kingston Town song References edit a b Larry Birnbaum 2013 Before Elvis The Prehistory of Rock n Roll Lanham Maryland Scarecrow Press p 2024 ISBN 978 0 8108 8638 4 Whitburn Joel 2013 Joel Whitburn s Top Pop Singles 14th Edition 1955 2012 Record Research p 70 Search for Jamaica Farewell AllMusic Retrieved 4 April 2022 Chris Denning Jamaica Farewell Discogs com 1978 Retrieved 4 April 2022 Svensktoppen 1979 Sverigesradio se Retrieved 1 December 2019 Svensktoppen 1968 Sverigesradio se Retrieved 1 December 2019 Allan Sherman Shticks and Stones Genius com Retrieved 4 April 2022 External links editSong lyrics Purdue University article on Ackee Calypso Artists List 1956 HITS ARCHIVE Jamaica Farewell Harry Belafonte hit 45 single version On Youtube 1 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jamaica Farewell amp oldid 1221982135, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
