Lyr Req: Edward the VIII (Lord Caresser - calypso)

Subject: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 04:59 PM

I am shocked, shocked to find this missing from the Trad. What I remember (I think I had it by Harry Belafonte but who knows) is:

It was love and love, love alone
Caused Kind Edward to leave the throne (chorus = repeat these 2 lines)
I know Kind Edward was noble and great
Love would cause him to ablacate (chorus)
If a plane or a ship won't carry me
I walk to Ms Simpson across the sea (chorus)

It's a calypso tune that is referred to, but not listed, on the Internet. Great song... who has it and who sang it? Thanks, all.

Subject: Lyr Add: DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Sep 04 - 05:47 PM

Also unaccountably (?) missing from DT-

Lyr. Add: DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT
Atilla (Raymond Quevedo) 1935

Trinidadians regard with pride
The visit of the prince and his bride (2x)
With banners flying happy and gay
The whole island was on holiday
And it seems everyone was bent
On welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

The Duke of Kent, who is King George's son
Had recently his honeymoon tour begun
With Marina his Grecian princess
Whom we hope brings him happiness
She captivated us with her lovely charm
And we received her with welcome arms
For everyone was bent
On welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

At Government House there was a party
To welcome their royal company
All of Trinidad's aristocracy
Paid tribute to royalty
We hope when they are thousands of miles away
That something good on the subject of Trinidad they
And will speak of our loyalty, will say
To King George, his most gracious majesty.

There are more verses, thankfully unprinted.
Calypso

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 14 Sep 04 - 01:42 PM

Nice other song... anybody got the lyrics for the one I mentioned? I now think it wasn't Harry Belafonte but Bob Gibson on Offbeat Folk Ballads. All the "th" are pronounced either "d" or "t" though...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 11:36 AM

I believe the song you are looking for is the one by BLIND BLAKE from the Bahamas, NOT the American finger-picking Blind Blake.
I believe the title is "Love and Love Alone" and I'm pretty sure it was issued on a vinyl album many years back, Maybe even re-issued on CD ??

Happy hunting

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 11:37 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Sep 04 - 11:39 AM

Love Alone is in the DT, thanks, but it isn't the version I'm looking for, anybody familiar with "offbeat folk songs" by Bob Gibson?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Sep 04 - 11:38 AM

Come on, folks, I've NEVER had a LyrReq go unanswered before, let's not start now, eh?

Subject: Lyr Add: EDWARD VIII (Lord Caresser)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 08:42 AM

There's an article about the song at calypsoworld.org. The title they use is EDWARD VIII, although the title on the original 1937 record label was EDWARD THE VIII. The original writer/performer was Rufus Callender, known as Caresser or Lord Caresser, from Trinidad, although many others also recorded it. Harry Belafonte recorded it under the title LOVE, LOVE ALONE and Taj Mahal recorded it under the title KING EDWARD'S THRONE.

That site also has complete lyrics and a sound file of a performance by the Duke of Iron, Lord Invader and Macbeth the Great accompanied by Gerald Clark and His Invaders, recorded at Town Hall, New York, 1946.

EDWARD VIII
Rufus Callender (Lord Caresser), 1937

Now, it's love, love alone
That cause King Edward to leave his throne.

CHORUS: It's love, love alone
That cause King Edward to leave his throne.

Yes, we know Edward is noble and great,
But love will cause him to abdicate.

Oh, what a sad disappointment
Was endured by the British government.

On the tenth of December, we heard the talk
That he gave the throne to the Duke of York.

He said, "I'm sorry my mother is going to grieve,
But I cannot help. I'm bound to leave.

"Yes, we got the money. We got the talk
And the fancy walk just to suit New York.

"And if I can't get a boat to set me free,
Well, I will walk to Miss Simpson across the sea.

"Scepter, robes and my crown is on my mind,
But I cannot leave Miss Simpson behind."

And if you see Miss Simpson walk in the street,
She can fall an angel with her body beat.

Oh, how Baldwin tried to break down his plan.
He said, "Come what may the American."

"Yea, they can take my crown, they can take my throne,
But they must leave Miss Simpson and me alone."

Oh, let the organ roll, let the church bell ring.
Good luck to our second bachelor king!

Though he is gone, don't give him bad name,
For you and I might have done the same.

Aspersion on Simpson they try to cast.
They even say that she had a shady past.

Now on the annals of history
He has left a record for intensity.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 12:14 PM

Caresser's recording of EDWARD THE VIII is on the various-artists compilation "Don't Stop the Carnival," Pearl, 1999; and another compilation, "Roosevelt in Trinidad: Calypsos of Events, Places and Personalities, 1933-1939," Rounder, 1999.

EDWARD VIII, recorded by the Duke of Iron, Lord Invader and Macbeth the Great is available on "Calypso at Midnight!: The Live Midnight Special Concert," hosted by Alan Lomax, Rounder, 1999.

Harry Belafonte's LOVE, LOVE ALONE is on the Bear Family box set "Island in the Sun," 2002. Authorship is credited to John Hardy. His words are somewhat different:

...You can take his money. You can take his store,
But give him that lady from Baltimore.

CHORUS: It was love, love, love, love, love alone
Cause King Edward to leave his throne.

I don't know what Miz. Simpson got in her bone
That cause the king to leave his throne....

Rocker Johnny J. Blair recorded a version with a reggae beat, evidently derived from Belafonte's, that included these words:

...You can take his cow. You can take his goat,
But leave him with his yachting boat....

Another version called LOVE (AND LOVE ALONE)—the artist is unnamed in the description I found—is included in the various artists compilation called "Souvenir of Jamaica."

..Now, in the morning she gave him bacon and toast
And in the evening she gave him Simpson's roast.

Ah, take me money. Take me gold....

Taj Mahal's KING EDWARD'S THRONE is on his album "Hanapepe Dream."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: GUEST,hello
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:23 PM

hello jim. you seem to be an authority on so many things in this realm of music. is there a way that i could find out any copyright information about this song? thanks. sam.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Acorn4
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:49 PM

Eat your heart out, William McGonagall!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Ann N
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 05:12 PM

The only abdication song I knew was the one my Mum said they sang in the streets after he'd left......

.....Hark the herald angels sing
      Mrs Simpson's pinched our King.....

               :D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: GUEST,Paul Gitlitz
Date: 29 Mar 15 - 12:36 PM

Edward VIII   (Love Alone) (The Abdication)    * The Caresser
It was love and love, love alone
Caused Kind Edward to leave the throne (chorus = repeat these 2 lines)

I know Kind Edward was noble and great
Love would cause him to abdicate (chorus)

Oh, What a sad disappointment,
Was endured by the British Government

On the 10th of December we heard the talk
That he gave the throne to the Duke of York

"I sorry my mother is going to grieve,
But I cannot help I'm bound to leave"

Oh Baldwin tried to bring down his plan,
But come what may the American

"We got the money, we got the talk
And the fancy walk, just to suit New York"

"If a plane or a ship won't carry me
I walk to Ms Simpson across the sea"

SOLO

"You know my robes and my colours are on my mind,
But I cannot leave Ms. Simp-son behind"

"They can take my crown; they can take my throne,
But leave me and Ms. Simpson alone"

"If you see Ms. Simpson walking the streets
She fall and injure with the body beats" (I don't get this one)

Let the organ roll let the church bell ring
Good luck was second by chill or King (Not sure what chill refers to)

Now under annuals of history
He has left the record for intensity

Solo

*Lord Caresser (Rufus Callender) was a member of the elite group of Trinidadian calypsonians who recorded in New York during the 1930s. His "Edward VIII" became one of the best-known calypsos of all times. After settling in Montreal in the mid-1940s, Caresser appeared frequently in nightclubs and on radio broadcasts

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: GUEST,#
Date: 29 Mar 15 - 06:48 PM

Edward The VIII (Written by Rufus Callender)

It's love, love alone
That cause King Edward to leave his throne

We know Edward is noble and great
But love will cause him to abdicate

Oh, what a sad disappointement
Was endured by the british government

The tenth of december we heard the talk
That he gave the throne to the duke of york

He said « i'm sorry my mother is going to grieve
But i cannot help, i'm bound to leave

Oh, how Baldwin tried to break down his plan
He said « come what may the american »

Yes, we got the money, we got the talk
And the fancy walk to just to suit New York

And if i can't get a boat to set me free
Well i will walk to Miss Simspon across the sea

Scepter, robes and my crown is on my mind
But i cannot leave Miss Simpson behind

Yes, they can take my crown, they can take my throne
But they must leave Miss Simpson and me alone

And if you see Miss Simpson walk the street
She can fall an angel with her body heat

Oh, let the organ roll, let the church bell ring
Good luck to our second bachelor king


That is from

http://www.stanbrinkssongs.toile-libre.org/Calypso.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Abdication
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Mar 15 - 08:20 PM

By chill or king is bound to be bachelor king, no?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edward the VIII (Lord Caresser - calypso)
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 29 Nov 17 - 10:57 PM

"That folk-song is still being made and sung is evidenced by the following comment on current events which was brought back from the West Indies last winter by Professor Samuel E. Morison and is included with his permission. The song was sung by Negro boatmen in Basse Terre, St. Kitts. The air to the chorus was furnished by another member of Professor Morison's party, who says that the verses were sung in a droning monotone."

King Edwards

Love, love alone, cause King Edwards to leave the t'rone.
It's Love, love alone, cause King Edwards to leave the t'rone.

There never was a King so great
But love cause him to abdicate.

On the tenth December we hear the talk
He give the t'rone to the Duke of York.

I have the robe and crown on my mind
But I cannot leave Mistress Simpson behind.

I'm sorry to make my mother grieve
But just the same I'm bound to believe (that)

They may take my crown, they may have my t'rone,
But leave Mistress Simpson and me alone.

Stanley Baldwin try to break the plan
But come what may I'll have the American.

If they won't give me my liberty
I'll walk with Mistress Simpson 'cross the sea.

So let us hear the wedding bell' ring
And say good-bye to our bachelor king.

(3x)
Love, it's love alone
Cause King Edwards to leave the t'rone.


Colcord, Songs of American Sailormen, (New York: W.W. Norton, 1938, p.186-7)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Edward the VIII (Lord Caresser - calypso)
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 30 Nov 17 - 12:48 AM

Love Alone

It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

I know King Edward was noble and great
But it's love what caused him to "abligate"
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

I know my mammy she's goin' to grieve
He said, "I cannot help I am bound to leave."
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne

And he got the money and he got the talk
And the fancy walk just to suit New York
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

You can take me throne
You can take me crown
But leave me and Miss Simpson to renown
He say, "It's love, love alone"
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

Come a reel come a roll upon my mind
I cannot leave Miss Simpson behind
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

If a plane and a ship
Don't carry me free
I'll walk with Miss Simpson
Across the sea
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

On the 10th of December
You heard the talk
When he gave the throne
To the Duke of York
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

Then Baldwin want to break down his stand
He said, "Come to me, you American."
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

Then Baldwin surely break down his stand
He said, "I'm giving up with my Government."
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

If you see Mrs. Simpson across the street
You can guarantee she is a busy bee
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

Let the organ roll
Let the church bell ring
He said "good luck" to our second bachelor King
It's love, love alone
Caused King Edward to leave the throne.

Lyric sheet, Songs by Blind Blake and His Royal Victoria Calypsos
Songs of the Islands Productions, Art Records, ALP-3, B1, 1951