The song was published in the
United States with Amsterdam listed as the lyricist and Jeri Sullavan and Paul
Baron as musical composers, the melody had been previously published as the
work of Trinidadian calypso composer Lionel Belasco on a
song titled "L'Année Passée," which was in turn based on a folksong
from Martinique.[2] The original lyrics to "Rum and
Coca-Cola" were written by Rupert Grant, another calypso musician from
Trinidad who went by the stage name of Lord Invader.[citation
needed] (The
true credits for music and lyrics were restored in a plagiarism lawsuit won by
attorney Louis Nizer, the account of which can be read
in his book, My Life in Court.)
According
to Lord Invader:
Calypso
is the folklore of Trinidad, a style of poetry, telling about current events in
song. Back home in the West Indies, Trinidad, where I'm from, it's a small
island, I'm proud of it. I was traveling on a bus, someplace they call Point
Cumana, a bathing resort, and I happened to see the G.I.s in the American
social invasion in the West Indies, Trinidad. You know the girls used to get
the candies and stuff like that, and they go to the canteens with the boys and
so on, have fun. So I noticed since the G.I.s came over there, they really
generally chase with soda, ordinary soda, but their chaser was Rum and Coke.
They drink rum, and they like Coca-Cola as a chaser, so I studied that as an
idea of a song, and Morey Amsterdam had the nerve to say that he composed that
song back here.[3]
Andrews Sisters - Rum And Coca Cola (Rare DOT
Recording)
Rum & Coca-Cola- Harry Belafonte (Vinyl)
Wanda Jackson - Rum and Coca-Cola
THE ANDREWS SISTERS
"Rum And Coca-Cola"
"Rum And Coca-Cola"
(Words: Morey Amsterdam / Music: Jeri
Sullavan, Paul Baron)
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If you ever go down Trinidad
They make you feel so very glad
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
Guarantee you one real good fine time
They make you feel so very glad
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
Guarantee you one real good fine time
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Oh, beat it man, beat it
Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise
They got the young girls all goin' mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Oh, you vex me, you vex me
From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle
Native girls all dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
Make every day like New Year's Eve
Native girls all dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
Make every day like New Year's Eve
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
It's a fact, man, it's a fact
In old Trinidad, I also fear
The situation is mighty queer
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
When she hear der Bingo croon
The situation is mighty queer
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
When she hear der Bingo croon
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Out on Manzanella Beach
G.I. romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
G.I. romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
It's a fact, man, it's a fact
Rum and Coca-Cola
Rum and Coca-Cola
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Rum and Coca-Cola
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
