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 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
Frederique Roberge
on Angelina
What a joy to discover this site ..and relive that show , something so needed to end the day with a smile !