Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)

Subject: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 08:29 PM

"She's black and homely and that is all,
She's black and homely and that is all,
When men meet her, they're bound to fall,
And say, "Oh Mamita, she's sweet oh Lord."

What are the rest of the lyrics to this 1931 song by Wilmoth Houdini? I love it, probably because it seems to be the singer saying about his girlfriend, "Yeah, she's a really wonderful person."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 12:45 AM

She's black and homely, and that is all. She's black and homely, and that is all.
When men meet her, they're bound to fall, and tell her "Mammie, girl, you're sweet, O Lord."
Go to (Saint Bonasse?) and you will see a nice black woman they call Didi.
When she press her sweet lips to mine, I said, "Mommie, kiss poppie all the time."

Didi is the pride of my heart. I felt so funny with her to part.
The people in the county of Caroni can tell how Didi love Houdini.
Young boys take this advice from me. Don't put yourself in difficulty.
For it is a positive fact, the sweetest women in this world are black.

Don't even mind, when you get (a ball?), if another mule kick up in your stall.
With your black baby you are going to stay. You cannot leave her and go away.
I said Didi, I'm going away. But no longer I cannot stay.
Mommie, yes it is a positive fact, sweet Houdini soon be coming back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 02:03 AM

-Your Source Tony?

It is always best (especially with a serious "researcher " like Moweden) to list your resources....at the least...a working URL....but an author, a year, and a publishing/recording company with a geographic location would really help.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 04:22 AM

Tony: Could that be a pronunciation of "Carenage"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 09:39 AM

Caroni is the county just south of Port-of-Spain. See map.

There's a town called Bonasse, and a Bonasse Village, but not a St Bonasse. Bonasse is a French word meaning good-natured, so St Bonasse seems unlikely. But it sounds like he's saying "san" without voicing the N, which is how the French pronounce "saint," and I can't think of anything else.

I probably got the lyrics from listening to the LP. The green one, with his picture on the front looking like a gay Dracula. Like this.

In thinking about it now, I wonder if "a ball" is actually "appalled." What the poor cooks are going to do, conscientiously I must say to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: Gda Music
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 11:52 AM

1st ? is Chaguanas (Town - Central T&T)
2nd ? is horn      (Trini slang)

(Correction) - We have all had to figure out "mystery" words in some lyric or other especially from a calypso. I`ve always wondered how it is that when it does get solved and you hear the track again just why I couldn`t get it straight away!.

GJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 01:55 PM

Thanks, GJ. It does seem obvious now that you say it, not from the sound but because Chaguanas is the biggest town in Caroni county and horns are commonly associated with the cuckold.

What about "appalled"? Does that sound right?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 01:58 PM

Oops, sorry. You already answered that. Horn instead of ball or appall.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 10:31 PM

Gda and Tony: Chaguanas- probably!

And Tony: Which "Tony" are you?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black But Sweet (Houdini)
From: GUEST,Tongs
Date: 05 Sep 12 - 11:03 PM