Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.
http://singyoursongthemovie.com
A Hole in the Bucket
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
With what should I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With an axe, dear Henry, an axe.
But the axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
So, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
So sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it!
With what should I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I sharpen, dear Liza, with what?
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, the stone.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
So wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
So wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.
With what should I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water.
With what should I carry it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
With what should I carry it dear Liza, with what?
Use the bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
Use the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, the bucket!
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
The song “A Hole in the Bucket” by Harry Belafonte tells a story about a couple, Liza and Henry, who experience difficulties that hinder them from completing their task. The song has a cyclical structure in which Liza tells Henry about a problem she has with the bucket, and Henry provides her with a solution that requires her to do something that can solve the problem in question. However, Liza presents another challenge that forms the basis of the next exchange between the two characters.
The structure of the song is layered in that it’s both repetitive and also telling a story. It shows that we can be trapped in certain cycles and find it challenging to move forward, which resonates with the listener. The song also hints at the challenges we face in communication where different solutions are provided, but the problems persist, and this is evident when Liza and Henry keep coming up with different solutions to the same problem.
In conclusion, “A Hole in the Bucket” is a masterpiece that intertwines storytelling and music in a way that is entertaining and informative. The song highlights the struggles of communication, problem-solving, and repeating cycles that can be relatable to many individuals in their daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There is a hole in the bucket, and I am addressing Liza affectionately twice.
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
There is a hole in the bucket, and I am addressing Liza affectionately.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I request Henry to fix the hole and address him affectionately thrice.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
I request Henry to fix the hole and address him affectionately twice.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I ask Liza what I should use to fix the hole and address her affectionately twice.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
I ask Liza what I should use to fix the hole and address her affectionately.
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest using straw to fix the hole and address Henry affectionately thrice.
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
I suggest using straw to fix the hole and address Henry affectionately twice.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza,
Liza points out that the straw is too long and I address her affectionately twice.
The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
Liza points out that the straw is too long and I address her affectionately.
So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest cutting the straw and address Henry affectionately thrice.
So cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
I suggest cutting the straw and address Henry affectionately twice with an exclamation.
With what should I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I ask Liza what to use for cutting the straw and address her affectionately twice.
With what should I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
I ask Liza what to use for cutting the straw and address her affectionately.
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest using an axe for cutting the straw and address Henry affectionately thrice.
With an axe, dear Henry, an axe.
I suggest using an axe for cutting the straw and address Henry affectionately twice.
But the axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza,
Liza points out that the axe is dull and I address her affectionately twice.
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
Liza points out that the axe is dull and I address her affectionately.
So, sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest sharpening the axe and address Henry affectionately thrice.
So sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, sharpen it!
I suggest sharpening the axe and address Henry affectionately twice with an exclamation.
With what should I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I ask Liza what to use for sharpening the axe and address her affectionately twice.
With what should I sharpen, dear Liza, with what?
I ask Liza what to use for sharpening the axe and address her affectionately.
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest using a stone for sharpening the axe and address Henry affectionately thrice.
Use the stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, the stone.
I suggest using a stone for sharpening the axe and address Henry affectionately twice.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza,
Liza points out that the stone is dry and I address her affectionately twice.
The stone is too dry, dear Liza, too dry.
Liza points out that the stone is dry and I address her affectionately.
So wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest wetting the stone and address Henry affectionately thrice.
So wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it.
I suggest wetting the stone and address Henry affectionately twice.
With what should I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I ask Liza what to use for wetting the stone and address her affectionately twice.
With what should I wet it, dear Liza, with what?
I ask Liza what to use for wetting the stone and address her affectionately.
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest using water for wetting the stone and address Henry affectionately thrice.
With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, water.
I suggest using water for wetting the stone and address Henry affectionately twice.
With what should I carry it, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I ask Liza what to use for carrying water and address her affectionately twice.
With what should I carry it dear Liza, with what?
I ask Liza what to use for carrying water and address her affectionately.
Use the bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,
I suggest using the bucket for carrying water and address Henry affectionately thrice.
Use the bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, the bucket!
I suggest using the bucket for carrying water and address Henry affectionately twice with an exclamation.
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
I remind Liza that there is still a hole in the bucket and address her affectionately twice.
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
I remind Liza that there is still a hole in the bucket and address her affectionately.
Lyrics © NEXT DECADE ENTERTAINMENT,INC.
Written by: HARRY BELAFONTE, ODETTA FELIOUS GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jdelarosa89
Their voices seem effortless- they sing with the ease of a person deeply breathing. Wow. What a joy to be able to listen.
@jackspry9736
RIP Harry Belafonte (March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023), aged 96
And
RIP Odetta (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), aged 77
You both will be remembered as legends.
@Juliaflo
RIP to my two dearest friends.
@Dear_Lola
🙏
@pineapplezombie4953
Rip
@shanshan9280
Time is a bitch.
@shirleyferreira8097
Descanse em Paz Harry Belafonte 🌻💎(memória da minha mãe 😢🙏), e da minha infância. 😢 🕊💔🙏
@howdy1487
I had never heard of this song until my girlfriend sang it to me one evening. We were walking her dog on the beach at sunset. She sang it slowly in the style of an old couple with exaggerated southern drawls. Vividly, I pictured an old husband and wife singing it to each other on their farm.. It was priceless. So endearing. Ocassionally, I would request it, but only when the time was right. Some of the best times of my life.
@tngirl341
Lmfao yeah right
@adelesanteiu4427
Lovely