The Drummer and the Cook
Harry Belafonte Lyrics


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Oh, there was a little drummer and he loved a one-eyed cook
He loved her oh, he loved her though she had a cock-eyed look
With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

And this couple went a courtin' for to walk along the shore
Said the drummer to the cookie "You're the girl that I adore"
With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you name the wedding day?"
Said the cookie "We'll be married in the merry month of May"
With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you buy the wedding ring?"
Said the cookie "Now you're talkin' that would be the very thing"
With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

When they went to church to say I will the drummer got a shock
For her one eye killed the parson and the other stopped the clock




With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
Fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow

Overall Meaning

The song "The Drummer and the Cook" by Harry Belafonte tells a story about a drummer who falls in love with a one-eyed cook, ignoring her imperfections and loving her genuinely. The chorus of the song sings "with her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow, fa la la la la dee dee bow wow wow," implying that the cook's physical appearance or disability shouldn't be a barrier to love. The couple decides to court, and the drummer asks the cook to name the wedding day. They agree to get married in the merry month of May, and the drummer offers to buy the wedding ring.


However, their wedding day was a disaster. The cook's one eye killed the parson while the other stopped the clock, creating pandemonium. The story's moral lesson is that true love is not always about external appearances but about loving and accepting people the way they are. The song's lyrics are simple and straightforward, yet they convey a powerful message.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, there was a little drummer and he loved a one-eyed cook
A small drummer fell in love with a cook who had one eye.


He loved her oh, he loved her though she had a cock-eyed look
Despite her odd appearance, the drummer loved the cook dearly.


With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
The cook was always busy cooking and keeping an eye on other things at the same time.


And this couple went a courtin' for to walk along the shore
The couple went for a walk on the beach.


Said the drummer to the cookie "You're the girl that I adore"
The drummer expressed his deep affection for the cook.


Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you name the wedding day?"
The drummer asked the cook to set a date for their wedding.


Said the cookie "We'll be married in the merry month of May"
The cook chose May as the month for their wedding.


Said the drummer to the cookie "Will you buy the wedding ring?"
The drummer asked the cook to purchase the wedding ring.


Said the cookie "Now you're talkin' that would be the very thing"
The cook agreed to buy the wedding ring.


When they went to church to say I will the drummer got a shock
The drummer was surprised during their wedding ceremony.


For her one eye killed the parson and the other stopped the clock
The cook's unusual eyes caused a commotion as one stopped the clock and the other accidentally harmed the parson.


With her one eye on the pot and the other up the chimney with a bow wow wow
The cook continued her daily chores despite the unexpected events at her wedding ceremony.




Writer(s): Pete Seeger, Fred Hellerman, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert

Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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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 !

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