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Jamaican folk songs - Teecha Lick di Gal | Elena | Roas Breadfruit

by CHRISTOPHER GRANT
(Mandeville, Jamaica)

Another Jamaican folk song question. This one pushe me to dig deep in the archives :-)

Here's the question...

I need the lyrics to three (3) folk songs:

1) Roas Breadfruit
2) Teecha Lick di Gal &
3) Elena

Related: Brucking Folk Dance In Jamaica.

ANSWER: by Wellesley

Hi Christopher,

I found two of them! Teecha Lick di Gal & Elena.

I am still researching the other though - Roas Breadfruit. There are apparently several versions of it - I'll stop by the library in town and see what I can find.

Here you go, starting with...

ELENA - Jamaican Folk Song

Elena an har moma go a groung,
Elena start bawl fi har belly
Go home Eena Go Home Elena
Go boil cerase fi you belly

Di moma she dig an she plant
Bu her ming just a run pon Elena
She teck up her fork ,har basket and her hoe
And go home fi go lok fi Elena

When di moma she ketch a di yard
She se the bun pan a fire
She teck piece stick and she stir and she stir
And night shade a come by the bungle

Gal a wha dis you boil fi you belly
Gal a poison you boil fi you belly
From you born come a worl you no know cerese
Gal you foolish you foolish you foolish.

Di moma she get some cerese
and boil it a give to Elena
Elena go a bed and she sleep and she sleep
And wake wake up without pain a belly

And...

Teacher Lick de Gal / Teecha Lick Di Gal - Jamaican Folk Song

One shif' me got,-
Ratta cut i',
Same place i' cut,-
Muma patch i',
Same place i' patch,-
Fyah bun i'
Teacher lick de gal,
I' tun right ovah.
Teacher lick de gal
I' tun right ovah.

Hole him roun' him waia'
Madda Tracy,
Hole him roun' him wais'
Madda tracy,
Hole him roun' him waia'
Madda Tracy,
Teacher lich de gal
I' tun right ovah.
Teacher lick de gal
I' tun right ovah.
Teacher lick de gal
I' tun right ovah.

Wen de gal muma
Hole him fe beat him,
Wen de gal muma
Hole him fe beat him,
Wen de gal muma
Hole him fe beat him,
Fine two an' sixpence
Tie pon him nabel
Fine two an' sixpence
Tie pon him nabel
Fine two an' sixpence
Tie pon him nabel.

Tan tan tan
Mek me tell yuh,
Tan tan tan
Mek me tell yuh,
Tan tan tan
Mek me tell yuh,
Bitta Cassava
Kill Joe Brownie
Bitta Cassava
Renkin poison.
Bita Cassava
Renkin poison.

Source.

There is apparently another version as well...

One shift me have ratta cut i'
Same place I cut Muma patch i'
Same place I patch fire bun i'
Teacher lick the gal i' tun right over

One fine gal over Linstead
Teacher lick the gal i' tun right over

Hold 'im round 'im waist Moder Tracy
Teacher lick the gal i' tun right over

Tan, tan, tan, tan, Make me tell you
A bitter Cassada kill Joe Browne

You know I have even more folk songs listed right?
You can find them here:
https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/best-jamaican-folk-songs-the-golden-collection.html.

I hope this helps!

As usual, I welcome your feedback here.

Keep in touch.

Regards,
Wellesley

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