I found these lyrics on BVIwelcome.com: Visitors to the home, whether they were from churches, choir groups, family or the likes, would finish their repertoire of Christmas carols by asking for guavaberry, in a catchy and melodic song:

Good mornin', good mornin', an how are you dis mornin'? (Repeat)

Good mornin', good mornin', ah come fo' mi Guavaberry (Repeat)

Good mornin', good mornin', put it on de table (Repeat)

Don't know whether there is more to it.....

Hello,

I laughed when I read your requests, as I remembered that as a kid we'd sing two songs over and over during the holidays and then I went and pulled out my cd with the morning, morning song to listen to (it wasn't very far as I had been listening to it just this week). Anyhow...

Morning, Morning, How are you dis morning, Morning Morning I come for me guavaberry, Morning Morning, to you and all your family. And then we just repeat it over and over, adding stuff as we go along.

And the other was: Mama bake a johnny cake Christmas Coming, Mama bake a johnny cake New Year coming. Christmas Coming and New Year coming, we go'in drink up the liquor, we go'in feel so jolly.

And then we'd also sing a whole assortment of carols, the ones that talk about snow, snowmen, reindeers, fireplaces etc. - stuff we had never saw and that didn't reflect what our Christmas looked like but we sang them anyway and still do.

And there is a religious song, I believe of West Indian origin that is popular: The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, the Virgin Mary had a baby boy, The Virgin Mary had a baby boy, and the name of that boy was Jesus. He came from the glory, He came from the glorious Kingdom. He came from the glory, He came from the glorious Kingdom. (There are more lyrics to this one...)

--Islander

Well, it may not be *old* tradition, but it certainly is *new* tradition... the King Obstinate song "How Will Santa Get Here." by P. Richards and E. Weekes from the CD "A Christmas Blessing."

Christmas is coming- every child is hoping- dear old Santa will come calling
(Refrain) Ho ho ho, ho ho ho. How will Santa get here?
Promise from mama- promise from papa- that come Christmas there'd be many gift from Santa.
(refrain)
There is no reindeer in my country- He have to borrow me neighbor donkey
(refrain, repeat)
Musical interlude
The yard has no snow-the house has no chimney- so how will Santa really get to me?
(refrain)
If his house is so far- far from Antigua- how he's going to get across all that water?
(refrain)
There is no reindeer in my country- he have to borrow me neighbor donkey
(refrain, repeat)
musical interlude
Me mama wouldn't lie-me papa wouldn't lie- as you close your eyes Santa comin by
(refrain)
A big big bag of goodies-down for the West Indies- still I have a question- what's his transportation?
(refrain)
There is no reindeer in my country- he'll have to fly on LIAT or BWI!
(refrain, repeat until fade)


I have a feeling that "The Guavaberry Song" has lots of verses. One from the Ten Sleepless Knights version is "So bring out the guavaberry and let us all be merry" and "Compliments of the season, I ain't come for no other reason." And Islander, you have to explain how to pronounce "Good mah-nin!"

Lots of repetition on the "Mamma Bake a Johnny Cake, but the basic words are:

Mama, bake your johnny cake, Christmas coming.
Mama, bake your johnny cake, New Year's coming.
Christmas coming, New Year's coming (repeat)
If you want to be merry, drink guavaberry
If you gettin the jitters, drink Cruzan bitters.

Don't know about guavaberries...but last year they played a song to death at Kmart on STX that had the line "all I want for Christmas is a piece of pork"- which I found to be a new twist on the holidays and possible inspiration for future gift-giving. My husband worked at Kmart and came home with a crazed look in his eyes every day after about Halloween (which is when the Christmas carol loops started on the overhead speakers)...they must have played that crazy thing 15 times a day! I'm sure there was much more to the song - unfortunately, that's the only part we can remember.....

The song "Piece Ah Pork" on Christmas 3 by the Ten Sleepless Knights has the refrain "I want a piece ah pork, I want a piece ah pork, I want a piece ah pork for me Christmas. You can keep your balahoo, I don't want no kallaloo, I want a piece of pork for my Christmas." Then he goes through other items like lechon, bacalao, guava tart, sweet bread and other traditional foods that he doesn't really want. He only wants a "Piece Ah Pork!" Definitely not a vegan Christmas song! LOL

Islander: What about adding some Stanley Christmas CDs or the King Obstinate one? I love Bill Bass and steel pan, but a little quelbe for Christmas is nice...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2006 09:45AM by East Ender.

Hello East Ender,

I think you got Mah-nin typed out the way it sounds.

PS: Some more local music cds on the store, will add it to the suggestion list for 07!

--Islander

I've been so lucky thus far this year. I haven't heard "Feliz Navidad" even once. I loathe that song. Of course this means I will now be bombarded with it starting tomorrow morning.

~Trade~

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad... I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas... I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom af my HEART!!!!!!!

I liked the one I heard the school kids singing at the airport the other day:

"On the beaches we will build the sand mon"... etc. "Playing in da island wonderland."

Quite catchy, actually had me humming it all day.

peace.... bert

Oh thank you, East Ender. Now come a little closer so I can smack you silly. J/K I think.

~Trade~

And ruin this wonderful holiday spirit! Ah, Trade, c'mon...sing it with me. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!!

I saw a car at the Food Center this afternoon with antler horns attached over the windows and a big red "nose" on the front grill. I love Christmas in the Caribbean...

NO, I'm not singing that hideous song with you but I do agree about Christmas in the Caribbean being the absolute best. I like it when even a grumpy taxi driver wears a Santa hat. And they know how to sing Christmas carols here too. Loud & with great gusto. It's terrific. So Merry Christmas to you even though you did give me that awful ear worm.

~Trade~

Trade I am sure it was from the bottom of her heart!!

RL

My office knows I have been enamored by the holiday songs here and they bought me
"Natty Christmas"
by
Jacob Miller
Ray 1


It's a good one!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/21/2006 10:00AM by --->JeN<---.

Got a great local CD at Cost-U-Less on Sunday -- Christmas Mix 2 Soca. Has King Obstinate, Baron, Scrunter, Sparrow and Express singing. Some traditional, some local. My three favorites:

How will santa get there?

A bible for christmas

And the Christmas Slide. Seriously, the slide is BIG down here

Merry Christmas

Ronnie, are you sure East Ender HAS a heart? I'm going to have to check out that CD.

~Trade~

May be cold, but albeit a heart!LOL


Ronnie

You all be nice or Santa will put coal in your stockings.

Okay more songs-the Mighty Groover: We need more Santa and ?: Santa looking for a wife.

Dashin through the bush

On me fadders big donkey

Nobody can catch me

Not even the VIPD


Me love she nanny

Me love she nanny bad

Me love she nanny

Me love she nanny

Me really love she nanny

Do you now the artist known as Mighty Groover (or Grover?) with an album with this Mama Bake a Johnny Cake, Christmas Coming... and this very funny tune on Rudolph, You went the wrong way...

The aforementioned Mighty Groover song "We need more Santa!" is a goodie. From the bottom of my sweet heart...

~Trade~

Trade: I still miss you.

To all newbies at this time of year, your music primer. Merry Christmas!!! Bring on that guavaberry!

I know this is an old thread but





Enjoy!