A jingle of the Bahamas from 1931
Words and music by L. Wolfe Gilbert and L. Charles
Arranged by Rosamond Johnson
The sheet music:
Lyrics
When you’re cruising down in Nassau by the sea
And you’re all pepped up on gin and Bacardi
Then you’ll dance and sing all night
Till the Island heaves in sight
And you’ll hear the natives singing merrily
Refrain
Mama don’t want no peas an’ rice an’ coconut oil
Mama don’t want no peas an’ rice an’ coconut oil
Mama don’t want no peas an’ rice
Mama don’t want no coconut oil
Just a bottle of brandy handy all the day
Refrain
Mama don’t want no gin because it will make her sin
Mama don’t want no gin because it will make her sin
Mama don’t want no glass of gin
Because it is bound to make her sin
She says it keeps her hot and bothered all the time
Refrain
Mama complain she got a pain right across her chest
Mama complain she got a pain right across her chest
Mama complain she got a pain
And there is a reason very plain
Because the food that Poppa gave her won’t digest
Refrain
Mama she likes the rum, it fills her soul with fun
Mama she likes the rum, it fills her soul with fun
Mama she likes to have her rum
Says that it fills her soul with fun
And that it makes her feel like whoopee all the time
Refrain
Mama lay down last night to sleep, she was feeling cold
Mama lay down last night to sleep, she was feeling cold
Mama lay down to sleep, we’re told
Mama was feeling very cold
So she said that Poppa must be gettin’ old
Refrain
Mama lay down to sleep last night, she closed de door
Mama lay down to sleep last night, she closed de door
Mama lay down to sleep last night
And she closed her eyes so tight
Then she said to Pappa, “There is nothin’ more”