I first heard this song in an album of fun songs and Stan Freeberg's fun take on this song was played by the house I was in when I stayed there for my beginning at school in Edinburgh. In 1987 I got for my birthday a tape of that record and this song I played over and over again. The school I went to loved this song and they would put their one words to it 2 years after my teacher told us we were learning this as it was first sung, which all my schoolmates liked. I could not believe Harry Belafonte died just last Thursday. Just today I heard an interview that was broadcast 10 years ago. I heard a story abut Edric Connor the guy hew first recorded the song in 1952. Connor also first recorded the Virgin Mary in that same year and Water Come A Me Eye, also known Come Back Liza I also sang at school. He has made other songs and you can still hear them today.