DTStudy: Mango Walk

Subject: DTStudy: Mango Walk
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 15 - 07:34 PM

This is an edited DTStudy thread, and all messages posted here are subject to editing and deletion.
This thread is intended to serve as a forum for corrections and annotations for the Digital Tradition song named in the title of this thread.

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We have this song in the Digital Tradition, but I don't see any background information and no other versions posted. What can we come up with? Here's the version in the DT, which is the version I put in the Rise Again Songbook:

MANGO WALK

cho: My brother did a-tell me that you go mango walk,
You go mango walk, you go mango walk,
My brother did a-tell me that you go mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven.

Now tell me, Joe, do tell me for true,
Do tell me for true, do tell me,
That you don't go to no mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven.

I tell you, Sue, I tell you for true,
I tell you for true, I tell you
That I don't go to no mango walk
And steal all the number 'leven.

Recorded by John Langstaff on "Let's Make Music." From Jamaica.
A "mango walk" is an orchard, and "Number Eleven" is a variety of
fruit. RW
The tune has been a steel-band staple for at least the last
thirty-five years. I suspect that number 'leven refers to the
fruit's size, rather than it's variety. RG

@crime @dialect @BWI @food
filename[ MANGOWLK
TUNE FILE: MANGOWLK
CLICK TO PLAY
RW

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mango Walk
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Nov 15 - 03:09 AM

I saw this and recognised the title. this is in "Singing Together" Spring 1970 (Which might well account for its popularity with steel bands "for the last 35 years".
The words in "Singing Together" are identical to those posted above.
The music is almost identical. The differences being the addition of guitar chords, the addition of an simple melodic accompaniment line (with intro) giving the Calypso beat for each line (dotted crotchet, dotted crotchet, crotchet). Also the final bar gives both notes as crotchets, with a crotchet rest and then the first note of the next verse.
Neither the contents page, nor the copyright notices (back cover) give any origin details for the song.

Scans of relevant pages sent to Joe as attachments.

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mango Walk
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 19 Nov 15 - 03:36 AM

Yes 1970 would fit in as I remember doing that song at Primary School and we used it as one of the songs in our end of term concert!

Subject: RE: DTStudy: Mango Walk
From: GUEST,Gda Music
Date: 20 Nov 15 - 11:13 AM

6 songs referred to in this Chapter 12:   
MANGO WALK - SOJER MAN - WHEN YOU SEE A PRETTY GAL
BIG BAMBOO GAL - MATTIE WALLA - RUN MONGOOSE

MANGO WALK

Mi brudder did a tell mi say y`u go Mango Walk,
    Y`u go Mango Walk,
    Y`u go Mango Walk,
Mi brudder did a tell mi say y`u go Mango Walk,
    An` tief all de Number `leben.
Tell mi, Joe, do tell me fe true,
    Do tell me fe true,
    Do tell me,
Y`u nebba go to no Mango Walk
An` nebba tief Number `leben!

A warra dat y`u peakin` Lilly lub o` mi heart,
    Lilly lub o` mi heart,
    Lilly lub o` mi heart,
Y`u brudder did a tell y`u say mi go Mango Walk
    An` tief all de Number `leben,
An` y`u mean to say
Mi drop o` sunshine
Dat y`u really belieb dat liard,
Ah nebba go to no Mango Walk
An` nebba tief Number `lebben.


Pleasure Island - the book of Jamaica
(Chapter 12 - Songs and Dialect Verse)
Edited by Esther Chapman    c 1958

Arawak Press (West Indian Publishing Co Ltd)
By Chantry Publications Ltd London
Printed by The Aberdeen University Press Limited

GJ