DOWN IN DEMERARA

There was a man who had a horselum
Had a horselum, had a horselum
Was a man who had a horselum
Down in Demerara.

Chorus:

And here we sits like birds in the wilderness
Birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness
Here we sits like birds in the wilderness
Down in Demerara.

Subsequent verses follow the same pattern:

Now that poor horse he fell a sickelum...

Now that poor horse he broke his legalum...

Now that poor man he sent for a doctorum...

Now that poor horse he went and diedalum...

And here we sits and flaps our wingsalum...

And still we sits and flaps our wingsalum...


This version from Singing Together, Autumn 1963 (BBC Publications).  I've no idea where it came from originally.


See also

Lyrics to Old Gray Mare  -includes tune in miditext and abc formats.
Old Gray Mare - She Ain't What She Used to Be

There is a midi of "The Old Gray Mare"  here.  The "Demerara" version that I remember is a little different, but as Catspaw said, it's basically the same tune.

Malcolm