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20 Apr 11 - 10:22 PM (#3139391) Subject: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Does anyone have the lyrics to this song by Lord Invader in which he is telling a girl named Mahalia that he wants his dollar back? |
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21 Apr 11 - 12:04 AM (#3139431) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Does no-one have an idea? If this can help, all I can figure out from the iTunes sample is "You can't cross Invader, Mahalia, I want back my dollar, Mahalia." |
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11 May 11 - 02:14 AM (#3151869) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 So, no one has the lyrics? |
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12 May 11 - 03:45 PM (#3152901) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Jim Dixon I think you can hear the entire song here, but I find it difficult to understand beyond the first verse: http://www.myspace.com/557862277/music/songs/mahalia-i-want-back-my-dollar-47419174 I want back my dollar (Mahalia) Want back my dollar (Mahalia) I took you out dancing (Mahalia) For a good evening (Mahalia) |
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12 May 11 - 04:21 PM (#3152925) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Thanks, Jim but that link is invalid. |
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12 May 11 - 04:37 PM (#3152940) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Jim Dixon The link works for me. Of course, once you get to that page, you have to click on the little triangle to make the music play. |
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12 May 11 - 10:57 PM (#3153101) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Never mind, I found it. |
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21 Jun 11 - 10:07 PM (#3174240) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Listened to it and could make out a few words... "They say you's a good woman.. with a (?) constitution... Now you is a nice girl, you really love bacchanal." |
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22 Jun 11 - 04:12 AM (#3174337) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh. Why does Invader want Mahalia to give him back his money anyway? |
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23 Jun 11 - 06:57 AM (#3175113) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh. |
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15 Jul 11 - 09:55 AM (#3188223) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 The lyrics of one verse (I think) "You can't fight Invader(Mahalia), And my nice dollar (Mahalia), Set if you're settin' (Mahalia) Move if you're movin' (Mahalia) What dress that I bought you (Mahalia) I don't really miss(?) you, (Mahalia) They say you's a good woman (Mahalia) With a big constitution (Mahalia)" Link for anyone still interested- I still want the full lyrics. |
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15 Jul 11 - 10:02 AM (#3188226) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Something else- this theme of a man- usually a man, I don't know why, maybe it sounds more powerful from a male perspective- asking a woman for his money back seems to be present in traditional songs as well. I know of a Jamaican mento song called "Gimme Back Me Shilling" with the chorus "Gimme back me shilling wid de lion 'pon 'i' " (the lion as a symbol of the British crown) and I (think) there's a Barbadian song on the same theme as well. |
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12 Aug 11 - 08:50 AM (#3206573) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Anyone else interested in "Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar?" I would still *love* the lyrics. |
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12 Aug 11 - 08:24 PM (#3206958) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Charley Noble Hang in there. It's a busy season but someone may be willing to give it a listen. Lord knows, we've managed to decode some really difficult songs on this forum. Charley Noble |
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12 Aug 11 - 08:31 PM (#3206968) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: SINSULL Give me back me shillin' is a line in Danger Waters. See other thread. |
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12 Aug 11 - 08:55 PM (#3206978) Subject: Lyr Add: MAHALIA, I WANT BACK MY DOLLAR From: Jim Dixon Try this on for size. I signed up for a trial subscription to Rhapsody to hear this. MAHALIA, I WANT BACK MY DOLLAR As sung by Lord Invader I want back my dollar. (Mahalia) Want back my dollar. (Mahalia) I took you out dancing (Mahalia) For a good evening. (Mahalia) You can't like Invader. (Mahalia) I'm a nice fellow. (Mahalia), Shake if you're shakin'. (Mahalia) Move if you're movin'. (Mahalia) What's that said about you? (Mahalia) I don't believe it's true. (Mahalia) They say you's a good woman (Mahalia) With a big constitution. (Mahalia) You're early for ...(?) (Mahalia) You have the vitality. (Mahalia) Truck if you're truckin'. (Mahalia) Swim if you're swimmin'. (Mahalia) Now you is a nice girl. (Mahalia) You really loves bacchanal. (Mahalia) I am really having fun. (Mahalia) Let's go out all over London. (Mahalia) |
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13 Aug 11 - 01:07 AM (#3207046) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Anyone have an idea why this theme of "give me back my money" is used in folk songs? Was it once common for people in romantic relationships or who were rejecting their boyfriend/girlfriend (though I know that's not the case in this song)to ask for their money back? Either that, or the singer (Lord Invader) lent Mahalia money for some unspecified reason. |
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13 Aug 11 - 02:29 AM (#3207054) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Oh, and why is it a dollar instead of a shilling? Although I suppose "Mahalia, I Want Back My Shilling" doesn't have the same feel. This song was probably one of Lord Invader's original London compositions. There are no references to it in any books about Trinidad calypsos. Not that I can find on Google Books, at least. |
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13 Aug 11 - 06:40 AM (#3207131) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Anyone else interested in *discussing* this song, now we have the lyrics? |
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13 Aug 11 - 08:50 AM (#3207195) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Charley Noble "give me back my money"? I just take it as a marker for the end of a romantic relationship, or at least a potential romantic relationship from the perspective of a suitor. Charley Noble |
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13 Aug 11 - 08:56 AM (#3207200) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 But Charley, that doesn't fit with this song, because he (the singer) isn't going to break up with the girl. He's just asking her for his dollar back-- if he *isn't* going to break up with her, why does he want it back? |
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13 Aug 11 - 09:29 AM (#3207215) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: JeffB Perhaps he paid for them to go to a dance, hoped for more than a bit of fun, but she turned out to be a big tease (shake if you're shaking ....). So he feels entitled to getting his dollar back. |
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13 Aug 11 - 09:59 AM (#3207227) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Charley Noble Generally one doesn't ask for one's money back unless the relationship is going nowhere interesting. And one can ask but usually it's downhill after that. Charley Noble |
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13 Aug 11 - 02:01 PM (#3207356) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Q (Frank Staplin) What's the problem? He spent a whole dollar on the gal and got no satisfaction. In the end he still asks her to go out all over London. The guy is stupid! (This is London, but in BWI, English, American and the local currencies are all understood and equally acceptable. Jamaica's coinage has been based on their own dollar since 1969; the BWI dollar dates from 1935; the East Caribbean dollar from 1965; the Trinidad& Tobago dollar from 1964 (Tobago had its own dollar for a while); Belize adopted a US dollar based currency in 1885, the old Spanish dollar, etc., etc. A money-changer's paradise!) |
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13 Aug 11 - 02:10 PM (#3207362) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Charley Noble "They say you's a good woman (Mahalia) With a big constitution." Now that's a line I never thought to use. Charley Noble |
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13 Aug 11 - 02:33 PM (#3207373) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: GUEST,Gda music Charley your assertion regarding money back is correct. The Mighty Sparrow for one certainly agrees and gave his reasons in song with his early calypso *Teresa*. http://youtu.be/7dfikWhf5g0 |
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13 Aug 11 - 05:04 PM (#3207459) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: JeffB Shake if you're shaking, truck if you're trucking, move if you're moving, swim if you're swimming - if you're going to give me what I want, gimme gimme now. But you can't like me, or you would. They say you're a good woman - I don't believe it's true. |
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13 Aug 11 - 05:37 PM (#3207488) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 So, the singer spent his money on the girl with the expectation that she would give him what he wanted? Isn't that more than a bit manipulative and creepy? |
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13 Aug 11 - 06:10 PM (#3207508) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Due to the fact that this song is from a male perspective, it's possible that to the singer, she was teasing him while she didn't think she was. After all, the only perspective the audience gets is the singer's, Mahalia may have considered the situation quite differently. |
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13 Aug 11 - 06:28 PM (#3207514) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lord Messam sang a song about wanting his money back, "Poun' Paper." When a date doesn't go a expected, he tries unsuccessfully to get his pound paper (pound note) back from the girl. (Note at mentomusic.com) |
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14 Aug 11 - 10:08 AM (#3207827) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: JeffB Manipulative and creepy - men, eh? |
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14 Aug 11 - 10:25 AM (#3207831) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Charley Noble "So, the singer spent his money on the girl with the expectation that she would give him what he wanted? Isn't that more than a bit manipulative and creepy?" Yes. What else is new? Charley Noble |
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14 Aug 11 - 01:23 PM (#3207967) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: Q (Frank Staplin) Seeking value for money. |
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14 Aug 11 - 06:23 PM (#3208162) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 The only thing is, it's rarely the *girl* who asks for her money back. I mean if I had a boyfriend and I didn't think it would work out, *I'd* ask for my money back, but why is it always men who do this in songs? |
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14 Aug 11 - 06:24 PM (#3208163) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Except for "Danger Waters", but the narrator of that is dying, not complaining about a failed romance. |
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17 Aug 11 - 05:09 PM (#3208514) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh. |
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17 Aug 11 - 11:03 PM (#3208671) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Can anyone tell me why this thread went down the list when I refreshed it? |
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17 Aug 11 - 11:04 PM (#3208672) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh. |
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31 Aug 11 - 06:36 AM (#3215773) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh again. Anyone want to discuss this? |
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31 Aug 11 - 09:17 PM (#3216270) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: JeffB Don't think I've got anything else to add Morwen. |
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01 Sep 11 - 12:04 AM (#3216327) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 I wonder why this song is not mentioned in books about calypso history? Maybe James Fryer can add something? |
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01 Sep 11 - 05:19 AM (#3216386) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: James Fryer I don't really have much to add. It's interesting as it's from that period where calypso was the main West Indian music in London (basically the 50s), but other than that it's not a particularly significant calypso which is probably why you haven't seen any reference to it. As mentioned above there is a precursor in the Jamaican song "Gimme back me shilling": "Gimme back my shilling with the lion 'pon it (3x)/Girl you shouldn't take me for a fool." I would think the tune of Mahalia is recycled too although I can't recall hearing another song with this tune. Why don't you try rewriting it: bring it up to date, maybe reverse the genders, see what you can do with it? |
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01 Sep 11 - 06:50 AM (#3216411) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 I *will* try that, after the long holidays, revison and HSC- I've got exam revision right now. |
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01 Sep 11 - 04:48 PM (#3216670) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 BTW, is recycling tunes still done in modern calypso? |
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02 Sep 11 - 02:05 AM (#3216868) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 Refresh. |
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02 Sep 11 - 04:16 AM (#3216899) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: James Fryer Very much so. If you listen to the recent Trinidad calypsos on Youtube then you can often hear the old melodies being reused. Usually though they are given some new twist. Also it seems that calypsonians have tunes that they favour, so they'll reuse those. |
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02 Sep 11 - 04:25 AM (#3216903) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: James Fryer I also just remembered Roaring Lion had a song that went: If you can't stand the diggin' Gimme back me shilling I thought it was "Netty Netty": Singing Netty Netty, Gimme the thing you got in your belly but it must be something else as that line does not appear in the song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHXJRx31_tc |
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02 Sep 11 - 04:39 AM (#3216912) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 thanks! Now all I really have to do is think up some lyrics |
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18 Sep 11 - 03:29 AM (#3225015) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: MorwenEdhelwen1 BTW, is "Netty Netty" about abortion? |
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18 Sep 11 - 11:59 PM (#3225392) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: GUEST,999 'His [Rafael de Leon's] "Netty Netty," the song of a prostitute who left town to have an abortion operation, shocked not only Trinidad and Tobago, but in neighboring countries such as Grenada, where he was banned for a while.' From Mr Google and Wikipedia. |
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19 Sep 11 - 03:09 AM (#3225416) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: James Fryer Yes I hadn't realised it but according to Wikipedia it was about abortion. I couldn't tell from the lyrics, but there is one verse in patois and I don't have a translation. |
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19 Sep 11 - 04:19 PM (#3225734) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mahalia, I Want Back My Dollar From: GUEST,999 It may take me a week or so, but recently I met the husband of an old friend who was heavily involved with mento in NYC back in the day. He and I have a few friends and influences in common, although our musics are very different. I'll do my best, but no promises. Later. |