The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45493   Message #675356
Posted By: Charley Noble
24-Mar-02 - 10:03 AM
Thread Name: Marais and Miranda Documentary
Subject: ADD: There Come Alibama (Marais and Miranda)
Here's one of their intriguing songs, as folk-processed from the original dock workers song relating to the Confederate raider Alabama in the 1860's.

THERE COME ALIBAMA

(As sung by Joseph & Mirandra Marais Souvenir Album, © 1979 Legend Records Glendale Records, P.O.Box 1941 Glendale, CA 91209 Produced by John Kniest Traditional South African Folksong)

There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea,
There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea;

You'll bring me spice, sugar and rice,
You'll bring me spice, sugar and rice,
You'll bring me malt, pepper and salt,
You'll bring me malt, pepper and salt;

There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea,
There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea;

You'll bring me thyme, ginger and lime,
You'll bring me thyme, ginger and lime;
You'll bring me curry, coffee and tea,
You'll bring me curry, coffee and tea;

There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea,
There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea;

There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea,
There come Alibama,
Alibama over the sea.

The song never made much historical sense to me but was lovely to sing. As a child I was also fond of "Out in the Wide World Kitty" which I assumed was about some feline.