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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Buked and Scorned
Harry Belafonte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been buked and I've been scorned,
I've been buked and I've been scorned,
Children, I've been buked and I've been scorned,
Tryin' to make this journey all alone

You may talk about me sure as you please
Talk about me sure as you please
Children, talk about me sure as you please

Your talk will never drive me down to my knees

Jesus died to set me free
Jesus died to set me free
Children, Jesus died to set me free
Nailed to that cross on Calvary

I've been buked and I've been scorned
I've been buked and I've been scorned

Children, I've been buked and I've been scorned
Tryin' to make this journey all alone

Overall Meaning

The song "Buked and Scorned" by Harry Belafonte is a gospel spiritual which speaks about the experiences of the singer and the challenges he has faced in his journey of faith. The first three lines repeat the same verse, in which the singer talks about how he has been "buked" (rebuked) and "scorned" (put down or ridiculed) in his life. Despite these struggles, he continues his journey alone. The fourth line represents the idea that despite the struggles, he perseveres.

The following verse speaks about the idea that people can talk about him all they want, but it will never bring him down. The last verse of the song addresses the death of Jesus Christ and how his sacrifice was meant to set people free.

Overall, the song speaks to the idea that faith can be difficult and challenging, but it is worth the effort to stay true to one's beliefs. The repetition of the first three lines throughout the song represents the persistence required to maintain one's faith and the courage needed to continue the journey.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been buked and I've been scorned,
I have experienced rejection and been treated harshly by others.

Children, I've been buked and I've been scorned,
Everyone, I have experienced rejection and been treated harshly by others.

Tryin' to make this journey all alone
I am trying to navigate life's challenges by myself.

You may talk about me sure as you please
You are free to say whatever you want about me.

Talk about me sure as you please
Go ahead and talk about me as much as you want.

Your talk will never drive me down to my knees
Your words will not break my spirit or make me give up.

Jesus died to set me free
Jesus sacrificed himself to save me from sin.

Children, Jesus died to set me free
Everyone, Jesus died to save me from sin.

Nailed to that cross on Calvary
Jesus suffered a painful death on the cross to save humankind.

Writer(s): Corman, Belafonte Copyright: Clara Music Publishing Corp.

Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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