"Working for The Yankee Dollar"

Woebot

Woebot

Well-known member
Does anyone know this tune?

The best version I've heard is Busby-Berkely-era Hollywood soundtrack with super-sexy Carmen Miranda-style vocals.

Heard it in France at this bizarre theme park full of miniature automated people being sung by stuffed bears doing the rhumba (dont ask.....)

Anyone know who made it? Probably a question for the gigantic throng at ilm :(

I've heard a straight jazzy version with a bloke singing it (which was pants) but his original tune is THE BOMB. Would be great in the middle of a DJ/Rupture mix Post-colonial stylee...
 
J

JimO'Brien

Active member
I would presume you are not talking about the Skids song. I can't imagine that being with a sexy Carmen Miranda soundalike.
 
D

dHarry

Well-known member
calypso owes him money

Matt's on about "Rum and Coca-Cola" I think, written by Lord Invader (!) aka Rupert Grant a Trinidad calypso singer about wartime American GIs in Trinidad, although copyright was disputed and he spent years looking for legal recompense from the Andrew Sisters millions-selling hit version.

More info here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/rum-and-coca-cola

and here:
http://www.calypsoworld.org/noflash/artists-13.htm

Definitely not PC lyrics - reggae wasn't the first Carribean controversy-maker, but a wonderfully charming tune all the same - would be fun to hear it mixed/mashed up DJ/Rupture-stylee:

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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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 Bingle croon

[der Bingle = Bing Crosby]

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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
 
Woebot

Woebot

Well-known member
dHarry said:
Matt's on about "Rum and Coca-Cola" I think, written by Lord Invader (!) aka Rupert Grant a Trinidad calypso singer about wartime American GIs in Trinidad, although copyright was disputed and he spent years looking for legal recompense from the Andrew Sisters millions-selling hit version.

More info here:
http://www.answers.com/topic/rum-and-coca-cola

and here:
http://www.calypsoworld.org/noflash/artists-13.htm

Definitely not PC lyrics - reggae wasn't the first Carribean controversy-maker, but a wonderfully charming tune all the same - would be fun to hear it mixed/mashed up DJ/Rupture-stylee:

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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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 Bingle croon

[der Bingle = Bing Crosby]

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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

Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola
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
Click to expand...

Yay! Bingo! Thats the one. God bless you dHarry!

You know (blushes) I think its The Andrews Sisters version I like the best. The way the vocals smear downwards at the chorus "dolaaa-a-aar" is kind of mixey.
 
Last edited:
D

dHarry

Well-known member
WOEBOT said:
You know (blushes) I think its The Andrews Sisters version I like the best. The way the vocals smear downwards at the chorus "dolaaa-a-aar" is kind of mixey.
Click to expand...

Well, I was only listening to it recently on a dodgy "Ladies of azz"-type compilation I borrowed from my father! And this one really stood out - if I can dig it out I'll mp3 you.

The Andrews Sisters are great if cheesy - the sugababes of the day?! - fantastic close harmonies, almost machine/synth-like, with all individual expression sacrificed - smeary/mixey is it!. Not to mention colonial/US imperialism/gender politics. And having just discovered who wrote Rum And Coca-Cola, I'd love to hear Lord Invader - he crops up on some Trojan calypso comps.
 
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