Tedham Porterhouse: "Harry Belafonte recorded some singles in the early 1950s. I'd guess that his half of the LP in question is probably from that period because he was recording his own full albums by 1955.


Hold 'Em Joe
Words and Music by HARRY THOMAS
(Based on Traditional Song)

Introduced by HARRY BELAFONTE in the Broadway Production , "John Murray Anderson's ALMANAC"

HOLD 'EM JOE_HOLD 'EM JOE_HOLD 'EM JOE
but don't let him go.
HOLD 'EM JOE, I say HOLD 'EM JOE_HOLD 'EM JOE
but don't let him go.

Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Spring 'round the corner, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Everybody want water, HOLD 'EM JOE.

A fu-ma la-ca tchim-ba, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Everybody want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE.

1. We on a journey he don't walk straight
and that is because he's so underweight;
Donkey of mine he don't like no weight
Put him on a cart he never walk straight.

Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Everybody want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
The people want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
A fu-ma la-ca tchim-ba, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey need water, HOLD 'EM JOE;

2. My ole donkey went courtin' one day
with a donkey named Melda across the way;
She was twice his age, he put up a fight,
Now he's cryin' every night.

Ah lemme go, darlin' Melda.
You breaking my backbone.
Lemme go, darlin' Melda, you breakin' my…
EVERYBODY!
Lemme go, darlin' Melda,
You breaking my backbone.
Once again now!
Lemme go, darlin' Melda,
You breaking my backbone.
A little louder!
Lemme go, darlin' Melda,
You breaking my backbone.
A little gentler
Lemme go, darlin' Melda,
You breaking my backbone.

Ah, some people say that my donkey is bad
an' that is because he's from Trinidad;
Donkey of mine he won't work at all,
All he want to do is break out him stall.

Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Sing out de chorus, HOLD 'EM JOE;
And sing a little louder, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
And you go on water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Me donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
A fu-ma la-ca tchim-ba, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Donkey want water, HOLD 'EM JOE;
A sing a little softer, HOLD 'EM JOE;
A sing a little softer, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Now sing a little louder, HOLD 'EM JOE;
Donkey want water,
HOLD 'EM JOE!

Copyright 1954 FOLKWAYS MUSIC PUBLISHERS, INC., New York, N.Y.

As mentioned above, the covers on the 1960-1961 Belafonte-Islander compilations are performed by the Islanders, not Belafonte.

I've posted the slightly longer Belafonte RCA single here with more interaction between the singer and the chorus. It is more reflective of the Belafonte Las Vegas reviews. The JMA Almanac Review version was a bit more restrained.

For more detail on the song origins see here:
thread.cfm?threadid=137313

YT: Belafonte - Hold 'Em Joe