Leslie Charles (Billy Ocean) sang Caribbean Queen, European Queen or American Queen depending on the audience.

I wouldn't invest too much in the "Yoruba" angle. Just a play on the band's name. I've also heard it as Aruba Boy and Tortugas Boy just no YouTube (yet.)


MorwenEdhelwen1:

"BTW, there is a Jamaican song "Give Me Back Me Shilling", which doesn't have anything to do with this song beyond the line "give me back me shilling." I mentioned in the thread about "Mahalia I Want Back My Dollar."

A Tortuga, Tortoise or Turtle boy was someone who wore a "Brodie" or "M1" helmet out in the midday sun. Potential 'clients' all.

Always thought this one reflected Roaring Lion's Marianne / Mary Ann in theme and the "shillings" lyric a kind of shout out to calypso (Netty Netty) but that's just me thinking. Could be the other way around or nothing at all I s'pose.