Lyr. Add: CONGO BARA

Chorus:-
Prisoner leve',-
mette lumiere bai
Congo Bara.

Solo
(Humming at first)
Congo Bara, Congo Bara,
de judge an' jury
goin' try you fo' murder.
Congo Bara, Congo Bara,-
'jour-d'ui ce la.

Chorus:-
Prisoner leve',-
mette lumiere bai
Congo Bara.

Solo
Congo Bara, Congo Bara,
de judge an' jury
done try you fo' murder.
Prisoner leve',- mette lumiere bai
Congo Bara.
(With repetitions. English and French patois. Lento doloroso.)

"Prisoner get up. Put a light for Congo Bara."

Musical score, Arr. for voices, guitar, drum and bass by Gareth Walters, pp. 32-33.

"After Canboulay was abolished, it was quite common to see clashes between individual "stick-men" (i. e., men versed in quarterstaff) and the police. This was during the period of confused uncertainty.
Congo Bara found himself in prison after one such altercation with the police. It is said in those days such prisoners would be "dosed," i. e., given harsh purgatives to weaken them. While this treatment was most illegal, it was a means of protection for the warders. Apparently Congo Bara was overdosed, and he died. This treatment was sung when other prisoners heard the news on the night of his death."

Edric Connor, Coll., 1958, Songs from Trinidad, Oxford University Press.