Yeah, Art. I've heard the Blind Blake version too. And it's definitely a calypso. "Belamena" is on Gordon's "A Rogue's Gallery of Songs for 12-String Guitar," probably my favorite Bok recording of all. Gordon's version is attributed to "Trad.", and listening to it on the way to work this morning, my conviction remains that the Burgie/DeCormier copyrighted text is an arrangement of a traditional song. IMHO, they didn't do the song any favors with those sappy lyrics. The way Gordon sings it (he learned it from an islander with whom he sailed in the Caribbean) is far from the "slow ballad" noted in the Burgie/DeCormier version. It's a rockin' calypso. Gordon's notes about the song say that the several boats mentioned in the song (the Belamena, the Mystery, and the ?Inagua? -- not sure of sp?)were rum-runners, who eluded the authorities by changing their paint frequently. Thus the following verses (with apologies about not knowing the spelling of the third boat--don't have Folk-Legacy's booklet with lyrics, only the abbreviated CD liner notes):

BELAMENA (from Gordon Bok)

Belamena, Belamena
Belamena lies in the harbor.
Belamena, Belamena,
Belamena lies in the harbor.
Put the Belamena on the dock,
and paint the Belamena black, black black.
Paint the Belamena black, black, black
When she come back she was white.

Oh the Mystery, oh the Mystery
She used to carry whiskey.
Oh the Mystery, oh the Mystery,
the boat she is very frisky.
Put the Mystery on the dock,
and paint the Mystery black, black black.
Paint the Mystery black, black black,
When she come back she was white.

Oh Inagua(sp?), oh Inagua
She got stuck in New York harbor.
Oh Inagua, oh Inagua,
Carried a very funny cargo.
Put Inagua on the dock,
and paint the Inagua black, black, black.
Paint the Inagua black, black, black,
When she come back she was white.

repeat first verse.

---

Gordon Bok Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe1l-rZD43Y