The
lyrics for the song were written by Lord Burgess (Irving Burgie). Lord Burgess was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926. His mother was fromBarbados and
his father was from Virginia. The song first appeared on Harry Belafonte's phenomenally successful
album Calypso. It reached number fourteen on Billboard's Pop chart.
Though
many, including Belafonte himself, have said that the song was popular in the
West Indies since long before Burgess, it is believed that Burgess compiled and
modified the song from many folk pieces to make a new song, and it is
indubitable that it was Belafonte who popularised the song outside the Caribbean Islands. Burgess acknowledged his
use of the tune of another mento,
"Iron Bar".[1]
The
Kingston Trio, who led the folk revival of the late 1950s, took their name from
the title of this song, though they only recorded it many years later, in 2006.
Other
well-known singers of "Jamaica Farewell" include Sir Lancelot, Jimmy Buffett, Sam Cooke, Nina & Frederik, Pat Rolle, Carly Simon, Nuttea, Caetano Veloso and Sting who
covered the song while playing a melody of his own "Can't Stand Losing
You / Reggatta de Blanc" while still with The Police in
1983. Ray Conniff and James Last orchestras
have performed the song as well, on their albums "Happiness Is"
(1966) and "Music From Across The Way" (1971), respectively. The
Jukebox Band perform this song in a Shining Time Station episode: Bully for Mr. Conductor.
The
term "Ackee" from the line "ackee, rice,
saltfish is nice" refers to the fruit of a tropical tree indigenous to the Ivory Coast and Gold Coast of West Africa; taken to Jamaica in
1793. It has some poisonous properties, yet if properly prepared the fruit is
quite good and is a part of the national dish "ackee and saltfish".
This
song has been translated into many languages. For example, in Bengali, there exist several translations,
some of which are quite well known. One Bengali version of the song became an
important anthem for the Naxalite revolutionary
movement in the 1970s and thus has significance for Bengali intellectuals in Kolkata society.
Famous Bangladeshi band “Souls” also sang
their own translated version in early 1990s which instantly became hit in
Bangladesh and is still celebrated by the music lovers in Bangladesh.
https://youtu.be/a729JpSFxf4
Lyrics
Down the way where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls swaying to and fro
I must declare my heart is there
Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down at the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
'Akey' rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time of year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the way where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sad to say I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
