Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey' (Harry B

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey' (Harry B
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 21 May 11 - 06:35 AM

Joe, thanks again for your transcription of the other recording.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey' (Harry B
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 21 May 11 - 05:12 AM

The Jamaican origin would fit with the bawdiness :). It's a mento song originally, then. Many mento songs were (and are) confused with calypsos. The chorus of this song is a medley with "Hold 'Em Joe/Donkey Wants Water" in Belafonte's rendition.

Anyone want to continue talking about this?

Subject: ADD: Melda
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 May 11 - 05:03 AM

Spotify has a couple of recordings of this song. One titled "Melda," is by Ivan S. Chin, Chin's Calypso Sextet, Kingston, Jamaica. From the record label, it appears E.F. Williams wrote the lyrics, and Alert Bedasse composed the melody.

This is what I hear:

MELDA

Well I cry all night, and not a policeman was in sight.
Well I cry all night, and not a policeman was in sight.
I said, Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.
Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.

Yeah, the more I cry out and ....., the more Melda take it along
I was crying in a ...., Melda was biting me down to the bone.
I said, Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.
Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.

I start to ...on the bed, Imelda bite me I nearly dead
I want to lean on the window pane, Melda was biting my jugular vein
I said, Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.
Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.

A porter came to the door, but I find myself on the floor;
I want to look outside, Melda was taking me for a ride.
I said, Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.
Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.

I had her right in the cling, Melda she give me a laughing pinch;
I hear a knock on the gate, police arrive but they were too late.
Hear me bawlin', Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.
Lemme go, Melda I ticklish, you're biting my finger.

-Joe-

---

Also see Chin's Calypso Sextet at mentomusic.com

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey' (Harry B
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 21 May 11 - 05:02 AM

Thanks for that, Joe. Now we can start the discussion. Does anyone have a clue whether this song was definitely written by Lord Burgess? It seems too risqué for his style.

Subject: ADD: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcy' (Burgie)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 May 11 - 04:49 AM

Hi, Morwen -
Remember that we're a lyrics site. If you want to discuss a song, make sure the lyrics have been posted. I don't know this song, but I'll post what I found:

LET ME GO, MELDA MASSI/MARCY
(Irving Burgie??)

Well I cried all night, not a policeman was in sight.
When Imelda get up off the bed-a, she start to play with my finger head-a.
I cried out "Stop it, Melda I ticklish, don't play with my finger."

"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."

She said, "Daddy don't you groan, I'm going to bite you down to the bone."
I felt no pain so what was the use to go and complain.
I felt no pain so what was the use to go and complain.

I cried out, "Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go go-go-go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."

She said, "Daddy it's no use, the finger taste like pineapple juice."
The louder I shout, the more finger Melda put in her mouth.
The louder I shout, the more finger Melda put in her mouth.
I cried out "Stop it, Melda I ticklish, not with the finger."

"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' me finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go go-go-go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."

Well I cried all night, not a policeman was in sight.
When Emelda get up off the bed-a, she start to play with my finger head.
I cried out "Stop it, Melda I ticklish, don't play with me finger."

"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go oh Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."
"Lemme go Melda Marcy, you're bitin' my finger."


http://www.lyricstime.com/harry-belafonte-melda-massi-lyrics.html

I listened to the Belafonte recording - this is a pretty good transcription. Apparently, Belafonte sang this song on the 8th anniversary presentation of the Ed Sullivan Show.

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Marcy' (Harry B
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 13 May 11 - 11:01 PM

Apparently this song was on the LP "More Calypsos Too Hot To Handle" as "Lemme Go, Melda Marcy." The artist is apparently unidentified. Anyone have a clue about the composer? Could it be a Tin Pan Alley song? Harry Belafonte recorded this song and a verse in his rendition of "Hold 'Im Joe" has the lines "Lemme go, darlin' Melda, you breakin' my backbone"

Subject: RE: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey' (Harry B
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 13 May 11 - 01:18 AM

Seems it might have been performed/written? by Lord Burgess (Irving Burgie) according to this Harry Belafonte fansite: http://www.belafontetracks.ca/fan_forum_2.htm

Subject: Origins: 'Let me go, Melda Massi/Marcey'
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 13 May 11 - 01:13 AM

What are the origins of this suggestive song, sung by Harry Belafonte? I found it on YouTube. Verses of it appear in his version of "Hold 'em Joe". I Googled "Melda Massi" but could find nothing about its composer. Does anyone know anything about this song?