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13 Nov 00 - 09:52 AM (#339677) Subject: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: GUEST,Jo I'm trying to find the origin of a little ditty sung in The Bahamas for over a century. At present, it's been converted, I think, to "alla balla" or "a la pala". But I'm wondering whether there may be any remote connection to, say, the Scottish folk song that begins "Ally bally, ally bally bee". In the Bahamian chant, it goes "Alla balla, chicken ca lala, alla balla boo". |
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13 Nov 00 - 10:22 AM (#339687) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: Night Owl Jo...I believe the Scottish folk song you mention is "Coulters Candy" (in the database here). Do you know any more of the Bahamian chant? |
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13 Nov 00 - 10:29 AM (#339693) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: GUEST,Jo Thanks, Night Owl. I saw Coulters Candy and the line "Ally, bally..." is the only line that sounds similar to the Scottish. The rest of the Bahamian chant has varied over the years, with influences from all over. I've heard lines like : "Alla balla, chicken calala, alla balla boo. If your mama chews tobacco, why don't you?" Then there's "Alla balla chicken calala, alla balla boo. My gramma round the corner say put it right in there; you know where, right in there."
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13 Nov 00 - 10:56 AM (#339708) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: Dave the Gnome Silly connection but is there a link between Scottish influence on a Caribean folk song and the fact that Scots (Or Scottish) Bonnet peppers grow in the caribean? Perhaps there is really a regiment of Atholl Islanders.... Groan!!! (I get worse as I grow mode bored) Dave the McGnome Marley.... |
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13 Nov 00 - 12:36 PM (#339770) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: GUEST,JTT Dunno, but loads of Irish people were deported to the Bahamas as slaves in the 16th century when they backed the wrong king. |
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13 Nov 00 - 07:25 PM (#340096) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: Dave the Gnome Was there ever a right king, Guest JTT??? Dave the republican Gnome... |
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14 Nov 00 - 12:12 AM (#340249) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: GUEST,Jo Dave the Gnome: actually there is a cay called Atholl Island just off Nassau, Bahamas. It's a favourite landing place for illegal immigrants, particularly those from Haiti. Yes, I know, boring, boring. |
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14 Nov 00 - 04:13 AM (#340331) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: Dave the Gnome Noy at all, Jo. I am full of bits of usefull information myself! |
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14 Nov 00 - 11:34 AM (#340487) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: Abby Sale I'll be interested in this, myself, if anyone knows. Likely your best resource on this kind of thing might be Roger Abrahams at Penn Folklore Division. There were certainly a large number of Scots settlers in the islands and many Scots plantation owners where such songs might have been sung. I am aware these people were often subjects of songs, usually satirically, in the scratch band, calypso, reggae sequence of songs. I think most of the discoverable (ie, ever recorded) influences will appear in chanteys, however, not childrens' songs. Can you relate your song further to "Coulter's Candy" through the tune or scansion or verses - more, that is, than only the refrain? Now that I look again, I see you wrote 'chant.' How about, does it relate to... Acka-backa soda cracker Acka-backa boo. Acka-backa soda cracker Out goes you! ? |
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14 Nov 00 - 10:16 PM (#340843) Subject: RE: Caribbean folk songs--Scottish influence From: GUEST,Albamist There could be a Scottish connection, a lot of the plantation owners in the islands were Scottish. A large number of Jamaicans bear Scots surnames. Peter Tosh (McIntosh) Robbie Dunbar for example. Hi Dave the Gnome, I am also a Marley, where do you live? Albamist |