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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Matilda!
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost
Woman even sell me cat and horse
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Well, the money was just inside me bed,
Stuck up in a pillow beneath me head
Don't you know,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Well, me friends, never to love again
All me money gone in vain
heya
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Sing a little softer
Matilda, Matilda, I'm feeling such pain
(Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela)
Everybody
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Harry Belafonte’s “Matilda” is a humorous and upbeat song about a woman, Matilda, who has taken advantage of the singer, stealing his money and leaving him broke. He sings of his unfortunate experience with Matilda, whom he claims took five hundred dollars from him, and even sells him his cat and horse. The lyrics depict a man who was once loved but was left in great despair once Matilda ran away with his money. The song's story is narrated with a cheerful tone and catchy melody, making it a popular tune to sing along.
Despite the jovial nature of the song, the story behind it delves into the themes of love and loss, and warn of deceitful women like Matilda. The singer’s lamentation over the loss of his money suggests that he was deeply hurt by the betrayal of his lover, pointing to the possible connection between love and money.
Line by Line Meaning
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Matilda is a woman who has taken my money and fled to Venezuela.
Everybody
Everyone is aware of the situation and knows about the woman named Matilda.
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost
I lost five hundred dollars to Matilda, and my friends are aware of the loss.
Woman even sell me cat and horse
She even sold my cat and horse, adding to my loss.
Heya!
An exclamation of surprise or emotion.
Once again now
Repeating the statement about Matilda running away with my money to emphasize the situation.
Well, the money was just inside me bed,
The money that Matilda stole was hidden in my bed, beneath my pillow.
Stuck up in a pillow beneath me head
The money was tightly secured in the pillow beneath my head for safekeeping.
Don't you know,
An expression to emphasize the importance of the following statement.
Well, me friends, never to love again
My friends are advising me to never trust or love again, due to the situation with Matilda.
All me money gone in vain
All of my money was lost in vain due to Matilda's actions.
Sing a little softer
An instruction or request to sing the following line with less volume.
Matilda, Matilda, I'm feeling such pain
I am experiencing a great deal of emotional and financial pain due to Matilda's stealing and running away.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NORMAN SPAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edwin Bozo
MATILDA (LYRICS)
Hey
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost
Woman even sell me cat and horse
Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
(Matilda) Sing out the chorus,
(Matilda) Sing a little louder,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
(Matilda) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda) Sing out the chorus,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Well, the money was to buy me house an' lan'
Then she got a serious plan,
A-hey, ah
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
(Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela)
Once again now
(Matilda) Going 'round the corner,…
Gianluca Diana
Hey! Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost:
Woman even sell me cat and horse!
Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
(Matilda,) Sing a little louder,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,) Sing out the chorus,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, the money was to buy me house an' lan'
Then she got a serious plan,
A-hey, ah!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Well, the money was just inside me bed,
Stuck up in a pillow beneath me head.
Don't you know,
Matilda, she found me money and...
Everybody...
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Once again now!
(Matilda,) Hooma locka chimba,
(Matilda,) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Women over forty?
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Everybody!
(Matilda, ) Goin' round the corner,
(Matilda, ) Bring me little water,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Well, me friends, never to love again,
All me money gone in vain!
Uh, heya...
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.
Everybody!
(Matilda,
Matilda, ) Oom, ba-locka-chimba!
(Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
Sing a little softer!
(Matilda,
Matilda,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela.)
EVERYBODY!
(Matilda,
Matilda, ) Sing out the chorus!
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela!
Edwin Bozo
MATILDA (LYRICS)
Hey
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Five hundred dollars, friends, I lost
Woman even sell me cat and horse
Heya! Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
(Matilda) Sing out the chorus,
(Matilda) Sing a little louder,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Once again now
(Matilda) Going 'round the corner,
(Matilda) Sing out the chorus,
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Well, the money was to buy me house an' lan'
Then she got a serious plan,
A-hey, ah
Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela
Everybody
(Matilda, Matilda, Matilda, she take me money and run Venezuela)
Once again now
(Matilda) Going 'round the corner,…
Shuri Nata Purba
thanks
David Williams
Well the money was to buy my house and land, but Matilda had a serious plan. $500 dollars under my pillow beneath me bed, had to sell my cart and horse, Matilda she take my money and run Venezuela!
Celedonio Pereda
a
K. B.
Don't think anyone wants to run to Venezuela anymore....
Katie Curbow
When I was a little girl, I had a cd with the greatest hits of Harry Belafonte. I would listen to it over and over when we took road trips. Favorite memories of my parents because they would sing with me.
1941meeka
This man was soooo talented - a gift to all of us.
Yetunde Adeniji
Beautiful. Makes me remember my childhood and my father listening to this and other genre of music.
The Weird One
inimitable Harry Belafonte!! We've all grown up listening to & singing along his songs but no one in this age of cover albums & remixing can sing or do this like harry did it!! Great song!
Genevieve Hannon Voice Overs
This song for some reason was stuck in my head all day today. I couldn't wait to listen to it tonight! It's fun to sing. It's so much fun to dance to. Great instruments and musicians and arrangement! Just one of the best songs ever!! Pure fun!!