The original composer is uncertain, but the version by Mighty Sparrow, composed by Slinger Francisco, seems to be the best-known. It borrows bits from other songs.

Lyr. Add: BIG BAMBOO
Slinger Francisco, for Mighty Sparrow

I asked my woman what must I do, what must I do
To make her honest and keep love too, and keep love too.
She said Sparrow all I want from you, I want from you
is a little piece, baby, just a little piece of the big bamboo.

Well, she's ready for bamboo, grows out from the ground, bamboo.
Please it's what I want, bamboo, tadadada bamboo, lalalala bamboo,
laladedada bamboo, tadadada,
The big bamboo, bamboo lalalala lalalala lalala
Working for the yankee dollars
The big bamboo, bamboo, lalalala lalala
Working for the yankee dollars.

I gave my woman a coconut, a coconut
She told me she thought it was OK but, it is OK,
But to my surprise she gave it back to me, right back to me
What good is the nut, baby, tell me what good is the nut without the tree.

Well, she's ready for, bamboo, grows out from the ground, bamboo
It's so big and strong, bamboo, stand up straight and tall, bamboo
Please it's what I want, bamboo, tadadada bamboo, lalalala bamboo,
laladedada bamboo,
Working for the yankee dollars
The big bamboo, bamboo, lalalala lalalala lalala
Working for the yankee dollars.

I gave my woman a sugarcane, a sugarcane
Very very sweet, I must explain, I must explain
And she gave it back, much to my surprise, to my surprise
I love this flavour, I really love this flavour but not the size.

Well she's ready for, bamboo, grows out from the ground, bamboo
It's so big and strong, bamboo, stand up straight and tall, bamboo
Please it's what I want, bamboo, tadadada bamboo, lalalala bamboo
laladedadada bamboo, dubydubydubydoo
The big bamboo, bamboo lalalala lalalala lalala
Working for the yankee dollars
The big bamboo, bamboo lalalala lalalala lalala
Working for the yankee dollars.

Now ever since the world began, the world began
Woman was always fooling man, fooling man
And, but they found out women were always true, always true
To the man, then, who would jam them, when they really really would jam them,
With the big bamboo.

Well they're ready for, bamboo,... etc.

A Japanese came to America, to America
For a woman he bought out Rockefeller Plaza, Rockefeller Plaza
She said Hai, hai hai, no more Ari ka toh, ari ka toh,
You show me up with your bridges,
When I only want a few inches of the big bamboo.

Well she's ready for, bamboo, ... etc.

Copied from a lyrics site with the help of a borrowed cd, "The Best of Mighty Sparrow," Straker's label. Not sure if the lalala's, etc. are exact.
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/mighty-sparrow-big-bamboo-lyrics.html