Lyr Add: Island in the Sun (Belafonte/Burgess)

Subject: Lyr Add: ISLAND IN THE SUN (Rudolph Commissiong)
From: BBJ
Date: 25 Sep 98 - 08:54 PM

I didn't find this one in the DT, so here is a transcription from a Bermuda Mastertone LP by Rudolph Commissiong and his Esso Steel Band featuring Hubert Smith, jnr.

Island in the Sun

This is my Island in the Sun
Where my people have toiled since time begun.
I may sail on many a sea
Her shores will always be home to me.

Chorus:
Oh Island in the Sun
Willed to me by my father's hand,
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, water, your shining sand.

As morning breaks the heaven on high,
I lift my heavy load to the sky.
Sun comes down with a burning glow,
Mingles my sweat with the earth below.

Cho:

I see woman on bended knee,
Cutting cane for her family.
I see man by the water side,
Casting nets at the surging tide.

Cho:

I hope the day will never come,
When I can't awake to the sound of drums.
Never let me miss carnival,
And calypso songs which are tropical.

Cho:

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Island in the Sun
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 98 - 09:02 PM

I have this on a Harry Belafonte album, and it credits the song to Belafonte and Lord Burgess (also known as Irving Burgie, I believe). Anybody know if the song is traditional and just altered by Belafonte and Burgie, or if it's a B&B original?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Island in the Sun
From: BBJ
Date: 26 Sep 98 - 12:16 AM

The album that I transcribed had no copyright information or even a date on it, or I would have included it. In fact, none of the songs on the album give any indication of author.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Island in the Sun
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 98 - 12:36 AM

Hi, BBJ - I checked the song at ASCAP (click here) and they list Belafonte and Burgie as the songwriters. Still, it could be traditional..
Can you believe that The Lennon Sisters recorded this song? So did Lobo, the Righteous Brothers, and Julio Iglesias. I'm not so sure I like the song any more.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Island in the Sun
From: BBJ
Date: 26 Sep 98 - 08:52 PM

Makes a very pretty island trilogy done with Jamaica Fairwell and Yellow Bird. No steel band would leave home without it, although they probably feel about it the way Irish singers feel about The Black Velvet Band and The Star of the County Down. Done to death, you know.

Subject: RE: LYR ADD: Island in the Sun
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Sep 98 - 11:12 PM

Click here for more information about Burgie from a previous thread. He and his aliases were rather prolific. The Kingston Trio and Harry Belafonte sang lots of Burgie songs.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Island in the Sun
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 06:23 AM

Island in the sun is not an old folk song from before the 20th century. it was only written in 1956 by irvin bergey and harry bellafonte. i am doing this song for the first time with two others, banana boat song and jamacian farewell and in all of the shows i do they are going to sound wonderful!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Island in the Sun
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 12:32 PM

Belafonte sings, as the last line of the last verse:

"And calypso songs philosophical"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Island in the Sun (Belafonte/Burgess)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 May 15 - 08:48 PM

I have an undated recording of Count Owen And His Calypsonians performing it. (Was on YouTube but has been removed. iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/island-in-the-sun/id415341801?i=415341962 )

The lyrics are clearly drawn from the Belafonte version but are badly garbled and often make no sense. It's otherwise a very nice mento version of the song and maybe it doesn't matter -- bunch of twaddle anyway -- but it's weird.