The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #138244   Message #3163530
Posted By: MorwenEdhelwen1
01-Jun-11 - 01:46 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Big Big Sambo Gyal (Jamaica)
Subject: Lyr Add: BIG BIG SAMBO GYAL (Jamaica)
BIG BIG SAMBO GYAL

Verse 1
Big big Sambo gyal and she cyaan do a ting.
Big big Sambo gyal and she cyaan do a ting.

Chorus
Sen' she back to she mumma, O!
Sen' she back to she puppa, O!
Di gyal cyaan wash an di gyaal cyaan cook,
Sen she back to she mumma.

Gyal yu waa fi come kill me fi dundas,
Gyal yu waa fi come kill me O,
She tek ackee bwile soup, she tek 'natta color i'.
Gyal yu waa fi come kill mi.

2. Han' full a ring an' she cyaan do a ting.
Han' full a ring an' she cyaan do a ting.
Chorus.

(from "Mango Time: Folk Songs of Jamaica" collected by Noel Dexter and Geoffrey Taylor)

This song is similar to the Belafonte translated version of "Angelique-O."
This theme of the woman who can't do domestic chores seems to be common
in Caribbean folk songs. Are there any songs from other traditions that are similar?