Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)

Subject: Mama Looka Booboo
From: Horton
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 12:06 PM

We had this record back in the sixties. It was a 78 RPM single, probably done in the 40's or 50's, and had a latin beat and vocal accent. My parents probably threw it away because I listened to it so much, but I never did understand all the words. All I can remember is that there was something ugly about some children's father, and he was complaining about their lack of respect for him. I have not heard the record in over 30 years, and was wondering if anyone else has ever heard of it, or knows the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Mama Looka Booboo
From:
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 01:58 PM

Harry Belafonte does this (I have his Greatest Hits CD). I can't quite figure out the lyrics, though. Good luck!

Subject: RE: Mama Looka Booboo
From: pete
Date: 30 Jul 97 - 07:55 PM

some more lines...

"shut your mouth. go away... mama looka boo boo eh!"

i'll queue up a request into my subconscious and see what else comes through...

Subject: RE: Mama Looka Booboo
From: Whippoorwill
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 11:51 AM

As best I can remember, which is none too good, it starts out:

I wonder why nobody don' like me?
Or is it de fact dat I'm ugly?
I wonder why nobody don' like me?
Or is it de fact dat I'm ugly?
(Then four lines to the effect that even his children make fun of him in spite of what their mother says.)

Chorus:
"Mama, look 'ta boo-boo," dey shout;
Deir mama tell dem, "Shut up you mout',
Dat is you daddy." "Oh, no!
My daddy can't be ugly so!"
"Shut you mout', go away." "Mama look 'ta boo-boo dey."
"Shut you mout', go away." "Mama look 'ta boo-boo dey."

I've tried to remember the rest of it, but it's been too long. Maybe this start will help Rechal figure out the other verses.

Subject: RE: Mama Looka Booboo
From: Horton
Date: 31 Jul 97 - 12:55 PM

Thanks, everyone. Now, if I could just piece together the bits of tune still in my memory into one complete melody....Guess I'll have to look for the Greatest Hits CD.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA LOOK A BOO BOO (Harry Belafonte)
From: rechal
Date: 27 Aug 97 - 02:22 AM

Horton-- sorry it took me so long to get this to you.

Harry Belafonte's All Time Greatest Hits Vol. 1 is available on CD. In the meantime, here are the lyrics.


MAMA LOOK A BOO BOO
Written by Lord Melody
As sung by Harry Belafonte
Copyright 1957

I wonder why nobody don't like me?
Or is it de fact dat I'm ugly?
I wonder why nobody don't like me?
Or is it de fact dat I'm ugly?

I leave my old-a house and go
My children don't want me no mo'
Bad talk inside de house dey bring
And when I talk dey start to sing:

Chorus:
"Mama, look-a boo boo," dey shout;
Deir mama tell dem, "Shut up you mout',
Dat is your daddy." "Oh, no!
My daddy can't be ugly so!"
"Shut you mout', go away."
"Mama look-a boo-boo dey."
Ugh! "Shut you mout', go away."
"Mama look-a boo-boo dey."

I couldn't even digest me supper
Due to de children's behavior
"John!" "Yes, pa!" "Come here a moment,
Bring de belt, you're much too impudent."

John says it's James who started first
James tells de story in reverse
I drag me belt from off me waist
You should hear dem screaming round de place

Chorus

So I began to question de motha'
"Dese children ain't got no behavior!"
So I began to question de motha'
"Dese children ain't got no behavior!"

"Dey're playin' wit' you," my wife declare
"You should be proud of dem, my dear"
Dese children were taught to bloom and slack (?)
Dat ain't no kind o' joke to crack.

Chorus

I can’t figure out the 2nd to last line. Suggestions, anyone?

Subject: RE: Mama Looka Booboo
From: Whippoorwill
Date: 27 Aug 97 - 03:50 PM

How about "taught too bloomin' slack," maybe? In reference to how they were raised.

Subject: Lyr Add: MAMA LOOK A BOO-BOO (Lord Christo)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 01:09 PM

I listened to Lord Melody's version (at YouTube) but I found it too hard to understand, so I transcribed Lord Christo's version instead. I think it has only minor differences from what Lord Melody was singing.

Note there is a whole new verse and chorus that Belafonte's version doesn't have, plus a few lines are different.


MAMA LOOK A BOO-BOO
As sung by Lord Christo

1. I wonder why nobody don't like me?
Is it de fact dat I'm ugly?
Tell me why nobody don't like me.
Is it de fact dat I'm ugly?
I leave me whole house an' go.
My children no want me no mo'.
Dey cursing black is white an' t'ing,
And when I talk dey start to sing:

CHORUS: "Mama, look a boo-boo," dey shout.
Dey motha' tol' dem, "Shut up you mout'.
Dat is your daddy." "Oh, no!
My daddy can't be ugly so!"
"Shut you mout', go away."
"Mama, look a boo-boo dey."
"Shut you mout', go away."
"Mama, look a boo-boo dey."

2. I couldn't even digest my supper,
Due to de children's behaviour.
"John!" "Yes, pa!" "Come here a moment,
Bring de strap; you're too darn ...(?)." [sounds like "cajulent"]
"Daddy, it's Gene who start to curse."
"No, Daddy, it's Joyce who start off first."
I drag me belt from off me waist.
If you see races(?) off de place. CHORUS

3. So I take a turn on deir motha':
"Dese children ain't got no behaviour!
I can't rest in peace in me own place.
Tell me what is wrong wit' me darn face?"
"Dey're playin' wit' you," me wife declare.
"You should be proud of dem, me dear."
"Dese children were taught too bloomin' slack.
Dat ain't no kind o' joke to crack." CHORUS

4. My wife and I had a big disturbance
Due to de constant annoyance,
So in order to live peaceful and happy,
She sent de children in de country.
Coming home at half-nine after working hard,
A woman see me and she faint within me yard.
De neighbour run to help her up.
She recover but de woman wouldn't stop.

CHORUS: "Neighbour, I see a boo-boo, oh Lord!
Walkin' in de back yard, oh Lord!"
I ran to assist her; she bawl, "Oh Lord!
Look! De boo-boo man's still in de yard."
"Shut you mout', go away."
"Neighbour, look a boo-boo dey."
"Shut you mout', go away."
"Neighbour, look a boo-boo dey."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 03:01 PM

Brilliant, Jim! I've been trying to find these lyrics, as Harry Belafonte's version sounds a bit sanitised to me! I have to say that Lord Melody's one is the best, makes me laugh! But Lord Christo is easier to hear and as you say, has the extra verse. What do you think 'cajulent' is? I've been searching but can't find anything.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 01 Jun 11 - 05:33 PM

"cajulent" is "Cudgelent", a whole new word invented by Lord Melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 05:01 PM

Lord Christo lyrics posted by Jim Dixon. In verse 2 (I couldn't even digest my supper),
last line- If you see races out de place.
And Morwen is correct on 'cudgelent'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:25 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aag_nZ425vw&feature=related

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:27 AM

Harry Belafonte & Nat King Cole

Sorry about that last post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: PHJim
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:29 AM

I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?
I wonder why nobody don't like me
Or is it the fact that I'm ugly?

I leave my whole house and home
My children don't want me no more
Bad talk inside de house dey bring
And when I talk they start to sing:

Mama, look a boo-boo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so

Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey
Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey

I couldn't even digest me supper
Due to the children's behavior
John (Yes, pa)-come here a moment
Bring de belt, you're much too impudent
John says it's James who started first
James tells the story in reverse
I drag my belt from off me waist
You should hear them screamin' round de place

Mama, look at boo-boo they shout
Their mother tell them shut up your mout'
That is your daddy, oh, no
My daddy can't be ugly so

Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey
Shut your mout', Go away
Mama, look at boo-boo dey

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:41 AM

PHJIm, the Belafonte lyrics are in the DT. I wonder why Harry changed them and omitted the melody verses? Perhaps he wanted to make the song his own? Or something else related to the content?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 10:42 AM

*Lord Melody

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: GUEST,Ray man
Date: 23 Aug 12 - 09:42 AM

He's saying "Bring the belt, you're too damn vigilant" but because he emphasized the middle syllable it sounds funny. I think by "vigilant" he means the same thing as smart-alec or quick witted and observant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mama Look a Boo Boo (Harry Belafonte)
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 13 Nov 16 - 05:51 AM

"cajulent" - "cudgelent" - "vigilant"

*Original Lord Melody = "cajolent" (a slick talker or "smart mouth" ie: cajole)
*Christo = "petulent"


Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander) had already registered his copyright before Harry Belafonte and Irving Burgie made the usual minor changes to the lyrics & title and tried to claim copyright with Belafonte's Clara Publishing.

To make it even worse Belafonte was with ASCAP and Lord Melody with BMI. The track got dropped from the Sings of the Caribbean LP altogether (RCA LPM1505, 1957) but not before the single was released b/w yet another clone from the album: Don't Ever Love Me (Choucoune/Yellow Bird)

The modern reissues & compilations have (mostly) reverted back to the original title with sole credit to Lord Melody.