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Harry Belafonte — Jamaica Farewell
Album: Calypso
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1232









Released: 1956
Length: 3:02
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Down the way
Where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountaintop
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 swing 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
Ackee, rice, saltfish are nice
And the rum is fine any time o' 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 mountaintop
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.
Comments (36)add comment
How lovely! 
Posted 1 year ago by hightail    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!   May he Rest In Peace!   Thanx RP!!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Took my mom to see him years ago as a birthday gift, I had zero expectations. I was blown away. I became a fan that night. What a talent. Great show!
Posted 1 year ago by OlderGentleman    [ Reply ]
Lovely! It seems that I'm not alone in this bringing back childhood memories of parents singing along with Harry. 
Posted 1 year ago by rfc940    [ Reply ]
10.

Period. End of post. 
Posted 1 year ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
This song brings back such memories… I lost my mother this past July and I remember her singing this all the time in the house. Sometimes we would sing together. This is the magic of music. It brings back people who are gone. Thank you Bill, thank you RP.
Posted 1 year ago by keenevision    [ Reply ]
We sang this tune when I was in grade school. Many years later I did a tour with Belafonte and the song was usually on the playlist. A real gentleman!
Posted 1 year ago by Fiddlefye    [ Reply ]
Sometimes a mono recording sounds best.  This is one of those times.
Posted 2 years ago by garyalex    [ Reply ]
Nice childhood memories come to mind when I hear this, and so thankful that my parents in the 60's had eclectic musical tastes like this, and actually took my brother, sister and I to see him back then at the O'Keefe Centre in Toronto. Harry's a one-of-a-kind classic.
Posted 2 years ago by spetrie    [ Reply ]
who did a version (medley?) with the lyrics "Oh, don't let the rain come down"? or some such ditty
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Active since '49! Good going, man!
Posted 2 years ago by Shipp    [ Reply ]
 oddbod wrote:

Takes me right back. My Dad loved this & played it often when I was little.




My father too. It was 1962 and I was 11 years old. One of the few times his eyes would get misty was listening to Harry Belafonte.
Posted 2 years ago by Philipirata    [ Reply ]
My father in law who passed away a few years ago was from Jamaica. He was the stereotypical Jamaican: Jolly, generous, always smiling and using at least one "mon" in every sentence. And once in a while, when he felt especially jolly, he would burst out into Belafonte songs with a beautiful, soft voice. This song brings back so many memories of this lovely man. Ya mon! I hope you're in a place where the palm trees are waving in the wind and a Calypso band is playing.
Posted 2 years ago by njswede    [ Reply ]
 dandueck07 wrote:
here to say in 2022 that i have the same history with this song (and The Banana Song as well). :-)
 

Posted 2 years ago by pollyh    [ Reply ]
And since it is Harry Belafonte singing this song, you can bet she was a "nice girl"!  
Posted 2 years ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
 cely wrote:

Wow.  The tone of that voice.  It's so pure and rich.  No wonder he was so beloved back in the day.




And he still is.......
Posted 3 years ago by miquela75269    [ Reply ]
Wow. Haven't heard this one since I was very young. So happy it's getting played.
Posted 3 years ago by smartn1    [ Reply ]
I love RP, where else? But here?

Easy 10, PLUR
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
Like many other listeners of RP, my parents also introduced me to Harry Belafonte.  
Even  though I became a rock & roll fan in the 60's - as did a whole generation, I still find myself singing this song (and the "banana song") at various times in my life, for no apparent reason other than they are stuck somewhere in my dwindling cranium - and I just love remembering that Belafonte version from my childhood.
Thanks. Dad (may you rest in peace) and thanks RP for rekindling those memories. 
Posted 3 years ago by dandueck07    [ Reply ]
Some things stand the test of time ..... Harry Belafonte is one of those.

His political views were hard nosed - no "house nigger" he

Posted 4 years ago by radioparadise9    [ Reply ]
Holy cow. My dad used to sing this song when I was a little kid. I had no idea where the song came from or what is was called. 

Until now. Thanks RP, but I still miss my dad....
Posted 4 years ago by mattenuttall    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this in a while.   Nice song for quarantine.
Posted 4 years ago by Harlock    [ Reply ]
This has a whole new meaning these days.... :(((
Posted 4 years ago by jmjohall    [ Reply ]
A favorite since my childhood. Thanks for a very pleasant commute home Bill, the last 20 minutes or so has been very enjoyable. Devo... Lefte Banke... Harry Belafonte! Where else but Radio Paradise. 😁
Posted 4 years ago by TimNH    [ Reply ]
 DrCyKosis wrote:
DoctorHooey wrote:
This is just beautiful.
Funny, I had the exact opposite reaction.
 
Too much negativity.
Posted 5 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
Wow.  The tone of that voice.  It's so pure and rich.  No wonder he was so beloved back in the day.
Posted 5 years ago by cely    [ Reply ]
Takes me right back. My Dad loved this & played it often when I was little.
Posted 5 years ago by oddbod    [ Reply ]
DoctorHooey wrote:
This is just beautiful.
Funny, I had the exact opposite reaction.
Posted 17 years ago by DrCyKosis    [ Reply ]
dionysius wrote:
My upload...
Kudos - I'd quite forgotten this classic.
Posted 17 years ago by Ngoziman    [ Reply ]
10. Purely sentimental.
Posted 17 years ago by Old_Pat    [ Reply ]
nice.. very refreshing
Posted 17 years ago by bdblinux    [ Reply ]
Beautiful voice, beautiful man. We used to sing this at camp. Love it.
Posted 17 years ago by pannaramma    [ Reply ]
This is just beautiful.
Posted 17 years ago by DoctorHooey    [ Reply ]
Love love love this song - thank you! One of my favorites too..... dionysius wrote:
My upload. Classic Caribbean goodness. North American pop meets folk music meets calypso. They have a few rum drinks. They pick up guitars and start strumming. That guy with the nice voice sings. Hugo Chavez applauds. Now that's entertainment!
Posted 17 years ago by pmnixa    [ Reply ]
dionysius wrote:
My upload. Classic Caribbean...
I wish he lived there...and I wish he "would'nt be back" to
Posted 17 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]
My upload. Classic Caribbean goodness. North American pop meets folk music meets calypso. They have a few rum drinks. They pick up guitars and start strumming. That guy with the nice voice sings. Hugo Chavez applauds. Now that\'s entertainment!
Posted 17 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]