Lyr Add: The Lajobless (Calypso)

Subject: Lyr Add: The Lajobless (Calypso)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Jun 11 - 03:11 PM

Lyr. Add: LAJOBLESS
Lord Executor, 1938

1
For a night and a day Narbadeen was lost
Mountain and rivers he had to cross
For a night and a day Narbadeen was lost
Mountain and rivers he had to cross
The Indian laddie had such a fright
He was led away by a woman in white
That is the rumor they heard next day.
*"Ladjables chaye li ale." (The djables carried him off)
2
This is the story of Narbadeen
Of St. James Village he was highly esteem
With his book in hand he went by a stream
And unfortunately he began to dream
He being a student of human hature
He went to study literature
This is the rumor they heard next day
"Ladjobless chaye li ale."
3
On the log of wood he sat by the ground
When suddenly darkness came around
Strange whispering came to his ear
Saying, "Go back home young man, beware !"
But the awful voice of the woman in white
That gave him such a serious fright
That is the rumor they heard next day
"Ladjables chaye li ale."
4
She led him over mountain, valleys and plain
If he would slide, he surely would break his brain*
She led him over many precipice and rocks
That his body should feel some electric shock*
There must have been some good angel by his side
Or otherwise he would have died
That is the rumor they heard next day
"Ladjobleles chaye li ale."
5
She hypnotize him with her magic spell
As though she were a devil from the gates of hell
Her eyes were large like goblets of fire
And she said, "Let us climb up higher"
She led him to a room that was like a tomb
There Narbadeen nearly met his doom
That is the rumor they heard next day
"Ladjables chaye li ale."

* Also rendered La(d)jabless shaya le allay, etc.
* Also written-
-If he missed a step he'd smash his brain.
-To fill his body with electric shocks.
He probably changed lines somewhat from time to time.
The lyrics above are those he recorded in 1938 on Decca 17365 in Trinidad, and reproduced on Calypso Calaloo, Rounder cd 1105, 1993; spelling follows Fred Mecklenburg on www.myspace.com/glad_day_researc/blog/449606168.

East Indians are many on Trinidad, Guyana, and other Caribbean sites.
Few of the calypsos-mento mention them.

More than one tale is grafted together in this song, according to one source.

Lord Executor was one of the more poetic composers of calypso songs; it is unfortunate that he became penniless and a beggar, possibly a victim of Alzheimers syndrome.