Calypso Blues

Repetition of expressive sounds, possibly reflecting a sense of longing, sadness, or nostalgia.

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way

Wa oh oh, wa oh oh

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way

Expressing a feeling of sadness while sitting by the ocean due to financial constraints preventing a return to Trinidad.

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.

Praising a fine calypso woman who cooks shrimp and rice, contrasting it with the unsatisfactory nature of American food.

She cook me shrimp and rice,

Fine calypso woman,

She cook me shrimp and rice

These Yankee hot dogs

Don't treat me stomach very nice.

Describing the affordability and abundance of food in Trinidad compared to the higher cost and lesser variety in the current location.

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.

Highlighting the disparity in the value of a dollar, emphasizing the challenges faced in the current location.

Cup of coffee, ham on rye.

Expressing physical discomfort and financial struggle, leading to a sense of melancholy and the "Calypso blues."

Me feet hurt from shoes.

Me pocket full of empty,

I got Calypso blues.

Describing the cultural differences and challenges with Yankee girls, expressing a preference for a Trinidadian woman with cultural understanding.

She come from Trinidad so winin' in her nature

Never can't I assess a reps until failure

Tell her if she stops she needs fe fly Air Jamaica

Anytime she land she nah go feel like no stranger

Carry us beyond we similar in behavior

Them no understand our customs and we flavor

Need a natty dred to be the new care taker, lord!

Criticizing the superficiality of Yankee girls, emphasizing natural beauty over artificial enhancements.

Is black de root, is blond de hair.

Her eyelash false, her face is paint,

And pads are where de girl she ain't!

Contrasting the simplicity and authenticity of a calypso girl with the perceived artificiality of a Yankee girl.

I even think her name is false.

But calypso girl is good a lot,

Is what you see, is what she got.

Reiteration of the melancholic feeling by the ocean, emphasizing the lack of funds to return to Trinidad.

Me heart, she feel so sad,

Don't got de money

To take me back to Trinidad.

Describing the cultural differences and challenges with Yankee girls, expressing a preference for a Trinidadian woman with cultural understanding.

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way

Wa oh oh, wa oh oh

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way

She need to, she need to, she need to, bubble like perculatah'

She come from Trinidad so winin' in her nature

Never can't I assess a reps until failure

Tell her if she stops she needs fe fly Air Jamaica

Anytime she land she nah go feel like no stranger

Carry us beyond we similar in behavior

Them no understand our customs and we flavor

Need a natty dred to be the new care taker, lord!

Repetition of expressive sounds, possibly reflecting a sense of longing, sadness, or nostalgia.

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way

Wa oh oh, wa oh oh

Wa oh wa oh wa oh way