Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 March 1927; died 25 April 2023) was an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Caribbean-American pop star, he popularized Jamaican mento folk songs which was marketed as Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso, released in 1956, was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.

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.

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Betty An' Dupree
Harry Belafonte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Went for the jewelry but he shot that jewelry man
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring

Just to please you pretty Betty I've done done a wicked thing
Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee

Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
I'm sorry pretty Betty but that sheriff is a haunting me
They caught poor Dupree and put him into the jail
Caught poor Dupree put him in the jail

Atlanta prison is where Betty took Dupree his mail
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Judge told Dupree I'm gonna see that you don't come back no more
They took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face
Took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face

Now the cold cold ground is for Dupree's resting place
Betty went to the graveyard singing near oh my god to thee
Betty went to the graveyard singing near oh my God to thee
Oh mister hangman look what you done done to Dupree
She told the hack-driver to drive his wagon slow
Told the hack-driver drive your dead wagon slow

When you bury my Dupree I ain't gonna see him no more
Sail on Dupree sail on, sail on Dupree sail on
Don't mind you sailing but you be gone so long
So long Dupree poor boy so long, Dupree poor boy

Don't mind you sailing you'll be gone so long, sail on
Dupree poor boy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Harry Belafonte's song, Betty An' Dupree, describe the story of a man named Dupree who commits a crime to please his lover, Betty. He goes downtown with a gun in hand and shoots a jewelry man to retrieve a diamond ring for Betty. However, he's eventually caught and sent to jail. Despite his pleas of innocence in court, he is sentenced to death and executed at the scaffold. Betty sings a mournful song at his graveside, blaming the hangman for Dupree's demise and expressing her grief at the loss of her lover.

The lyrics of Betty An' Dupree tell a dark tale of crime, punishment, and loss. The story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to one's desires and the consequences that come with doing so. The song conveys a sense of despair and hopelessness, highlighting the futility of Dupree's actions and the tragedy of his fate. Moreover, it raises questions about justice, the death penalty, and the role of society in determining the destiny of individuals.

Line by Line Meaning

Dupree went down-town a '44 in his hand
Dupree went to the city carrying a .44 caliber gun

Went for the jewelry but he shot that jewelry man
He went to steal jewelry and shot the jewelry vendor

Dupree said Betty here's your diamond ring
Dupree gave Betty a stolen diamond ring

Just to please you pretty Betty I've done done a wicked thing
Dupree did an evil deed just to make Betty happy

Dupree told Betty I'm bound for Tennessee
Dupree told Betty that he's heading to Tennessee

I'm sorry pretty Betty but that sheriff is a haunting me
Dupree apologizes to Betty and tells her that the sheriff is after him

Caught poor Dupree put him in the jail
Dupree was caught and imprisoned

Atlanta prison is where Betty took Dupree his mail
Betty went to Atlanta prison to deliver mail to Dupree

Dupree said judge I ain't been here before
Dupree tells the judge that he's never been in court before

Judge told Dupree I'm gonna see that you don't come back no more
The judge warns Dupree that he won't be coming back to court

Took him to the scaffold a black cap upon his face
Dupree was taken to the gallows with a black hood covering his face

Now the cold cold ground is for Dupree's resting place
Dupree is buried in the cold ground

Betty went to the graveyard singing near oh my god to thee
Betty went to the graveyard and sang a religious song

Oh mister hangman look what you done done to Dupree
Betty blames the hangman for Dupree's death

Told the hack-driver drive your dead wagon slow
Betty tells the wagon driver to drive slowly while carrying Dupree's body

When you bury my Dupree I ain't gonna see him no more
Betty knows that she won't see Dupree again after he's buried

Sail on Dupree sail on, sail on Dupree sail on
Betty bids farewell to Dupree and asks him to sail away

Don't mind you sailing but you be gone so long
Betty doesn't mind Dupree leaving, but she wishes he wasn't gone for so long

So long Dupree poor boy so long, Dupree poor boy
Betty says goodbye to Dupree, calling him a poor boy

Don't mind you sailing you'll be gone so long, sail on Dupree poor boy
Betty bids farewell to Dupree again, acknowledging that he'll be gone for a while

Lyrics © NEXT DECADE ENTERTAINMENT,INC.
Written by: ARR.: LEONARD DE PAUR, ERNEST CALABRIA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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