(Shut yuh mouth – go away)
A Calypso song from 1957
Words and music by Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander)
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
I wonder why nobody don’ like me,
Or is a fact that I’m ugly;
I wonder why nobody don’t like me
Or is it a fact that I’m ugly.
I leave me whole house and go,
Me children don’ want me no mo.
They joke about my face and everything,
And when I talk they start to sing:
Refrain (1, 2 & 3)
“Mama look a Booboo,” they shout.
They mother told them “shut up yoh mouth, that is your daddy.”
“Oh no, my daddy can’t be ugly so.”
Shut yuh mouth, go away, mama look a booboo dey,
Shut yuh mouth, go away, mama look a booboo dey.
Verse 2
I couldn’t even digest me supper,
Due to the children’s behavior.
“John,” “Yes Pa,” “Come here a moment.
Bring the belt, yuh too disobedient.”
“Daddy it’s Jean who start off first.”
“No Daddy, it’s John who say de worst.”
I drag my belt from off me waist,
And run those kids right out de place.
Verse 3
So I take a turn of the mother,
“These children ain’t got no behavior.
I can’t rest in peace in me own place.
Tell me what is wrong with me fat face.”
“They playing with you,” my wife declare.
“You should be proud of them, my dear.”
“These children were taught too bloomin’ slack.
And that ain’t no kind of joke to crack.”
Verse 4
So me wife and I had a big disturbance,
Owing to the constant annoyance.
In order to live peaceful and happy,
She sent the children in the country.
Coming home a day after working very hard,
A woman see me and she faint ‘way in the yard.
The neighbor run and pick she up.
She recover but the woman wouldn’t stop.
Last refrain
Neighbor, I see a booboo, oh Lord,
Walking in the back yard.
I went to assist her.
She bawled, “Oh Lord, the booboo still inside the yard.”
Shut yuh mouth, go away, neighbor look a booboo dey,
Shut yuh mouth, go away, mama look a booboo dey.
Sung by Laurence Rubenstein: