CHRISMUS A COME
Jamaican: Trad
1, Chrismus a come me wan’ me lama,
Chrismus a come me wan’ me lama,
Chrismus a come me wan’ me deggeday,
Chrismus a come me wan’ me deggeday,

2, Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me lama,
Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me lama,
Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me deggeday,
Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me deggeday,

3, Not a shoe to me foot, me wan’ me lama,
Not a shoe to me foot, me wan’ me lama,
Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me deggeday,
Pretty, pretty gal, me wan’ me deggeday,

4, Not a hat to me head, etc.

5, Not a bangle to me han’, etc.

According to the notes accompanying this song:
During the days of slavery Christmas was the one time of the year when the slaves were sure of a holiday. Jonkunnu was a form of merrymaking in which pantomime-like characters such as Horse Head, Bride, Devil, and Pitch Patchy went around in a merry procession with African-style singing, fife playing, and drumming. They hoped to collect money in this way to pay for their own festivities. Some of their costumes were very fine (the words ‘lama’ and ‘deggeday’ mean finery) with elaborate masks. Jonkunnu dancers can still be seen in the streets of Jamaica around Christmas time. The singers make up new verses mentioning all the articles of clothing that they lack as they go along.

From:
"Beeny Bud"
12 Jamaican Folk-Songs for children
Collected & arranged for schools by OLIVE LEWIN
Oxford University Press 1975
ISBN 0 19 330543 7

X: 1
T: Chrismus a come
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
N: Brightly
O: Jamaica
Z: NP 03/09/2023
K: G
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