Brown Girl in the Ring
Boney M. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum



Show me your motion
Tra la la la la
Come on show me your motion
Tra la la la la la
Show me your motion
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths
All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths

I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cakes
I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cakes

Beng-a-deng
Beng-a-deng

Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
There's a brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

Show me your motion
Tra la la la la
Come on show me your motion
Tra la la la la la
Show me your motion
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths
All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths

I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cakes
I remember one Saturday night
We had fried fish and Johnny-cakes

Beng-a-deng
Beng-a-deng

Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
See, brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths
All had water run dry
Got nowhere to wash my cloths

Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la
Look that brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la la
Brown girl in the ring
Tra la la la la

She looks like a sugar in a plum
Plum plum

Overall Meaning

"Brown Girl in the Ring" is a popular Caribbean folk song about a brown-skinned girl dancing in a ring. The song is simple, catchy, and upbeat, with a melody that is easy to sing along to. The lyrics repeat the phrase "Brown girl in the ring" throughout the song, followed by the refrain "tra la la la la" and the line "she looks like a sugar in a plum." The song celebrates the joy of dancing and the beauty of brown-skinned women.


The line "all had water run dry, got nowhere to wash my clothes" suggests that the song may have originated in a time of poverty or hardship. The reference to fried fish and Johnny-cakes also suggests a Caribbean origin. Overall, the lyrics seem to be a celebration of life and community, even in difficult circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

Brown girl in the ring
There is a girl with brown skin dancing in the circle


Tra la la la la
Syllables used for the chorus of the song


She looks like a sugar in a plum
She is a beautiful girl with a sweet smile


Show me your motion
Dance and move your body to the music


All had water run dry
There is no more water left to wash clothes


Got nowhere to wash my cloths
There is no place to wash clothes because there is no water


I remember one Saturday night
A memory of a specific Saturday evening


We had fried fish and Johnny-cakes
They ate fried fish and a type of Caribbean flatbread made with cornmeal


Beng-a-deng
Syllables used as a fun interjection in the song


See, brown girl in the ring
Look, there is a brown-skinned girl dancing in the circle


Look that brown girl in the ring
Pay attention to the brown-skinned girl dancing in the circle




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DP, FRANZ REUTHER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Brown Girl in the Ring
Boney M. was a German-Caribbean vocal group that specialized in disco and funk created by German record producer Frank Farian, who was the group's primary songwriter. Originally based in West Germany, the four original members of the group's official line-up were Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba. The group was formed in 1976 and achieved popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s. Read Full BioBoney M. was a German-Caribbean vocal group that specialized in disco and funk created by German record producer Frank Farian, who was the group's primary songwriter. Originally based in West Germany, the four original members of the group's official line-up were Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba. The group was formed in 1976 and achieved popularity during the disco era of the late 1970s. Since the 1980s, various line-ups of the band have performed with differing personnel.

The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and is known for international hits including "Daddy Cool", "Ma Baker", "Belfast", "Sunny", "Rasputin", "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" and "Rivers of Babylon".

Studio albums
Take the Heat off Me (1976)
Love for Sale (1977)
Nightflight to Venus (1978)
Oceans of Fantasy (1979)
Boonoonoonoos (1981)
Christmas Album (1981)
Ten Thousand Lightyears (1984)
Eye Dance (1985)
TRACKS
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Comments from YouTube:

Seastar Family

43 years later and this song still hits different. Truly a masterpiece.

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Walid Isamailtem

I used to listen to this music while I was still a little girl during the years 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84. I'm in the 50's of my age now and still fond of it. the best years of my life despite the young girl I was. I used to learn the lyrics by heart and still remembering every word of each pop music, disco music, reagge music, soft rock and slow music belonging to the era. what a pity😢😢😢😢😢!!! things, time and people have changed completely😒🙄😕😲

barbaramargot hoeckmann

verkackeiert ganz einfach endlich wo anders.

11 More Replies...

Elen Silvera

Musica que nunca quedará en el olvido

William Henry

I'm still rocking to this. 96 old this September. Fantastic rendition.

veecee27

@William Henry - Many happy returns. Wish you health and happiness.

Robert Farr

It's a folk song ?

Victor Eduardo Soto Cueto

Congratulations William Henry.

ShardaeAlisha

@Robert Farr yup

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