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.
http://singyoursongthemovie.com
There's A Hole In My Bucket
Harry Belafonte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a hole
Go fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Go fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza dear Liza
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza with what
With a straw dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
With a straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw
But the straw is too long, dear Liza dear Liza
The straw is too long, dear Liza too long
Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza with what
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, with an axe
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza
The axe is too dull, dear Liza too dull
Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, hone it
On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza dear Liza
On what shall I hone it, dear Liza on what
On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a stone
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza dear Liza
The stone is too dry, dear Liza too dry
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, wet it
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza with what
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, use water
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza in what
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, in a bucket
There′s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a hole
Harry Belafonte's song "There's a Hole in My Bucket" is a humorous folk song that tells the tale of Liza and Henry's conversation as they attempt to solve a simple problem. The song is written in the form of a back-and-forth dialogue between the two characters, with Liza pointing out that there is a hole in the bucket, and Henry suggesting various ways of fixing it. However, each solution presented by Henry is met with a new obstacle presented by Liza, leading to an endless loop of troubleshooting.
The lyrics of the song reflect the frustration of trying to solve a problem with a series of inadequate solutions. The characters' inability to find a satisfactory solution to the problem of the hole in the bucket is a metaphor for the struggle of dealing with a seemingly unsolvable problem. The song also highlights the importance of resourcefulness and problem-solving skills, as Henry attempts to use various tools and materials to fix the bucket.
Overall, 'There's A Hole in My Bucket' is a satirical and lighthearted song that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for many years.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza dear Liza
The problem is that there is a hole in the bucket.
Go fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Please fix the hole in the bucket, Henry.
With what shall I fix it, dear Liza dear Liza
What should I use to fix the hole in the bucket, Liza?
With a straw dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Use a straw, Henry.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza dear Liza
The straw is not suitable because it is too long.
Cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Cut the straw, Henry.
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza
What should I use to cut the straw, Liza?
With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Use an axe, Henry.
The axe is too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza
The axe is not suitable because it is too dull.
Sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Sharpen the axe, Henry.
On what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza dear Liza
What should I use to sharpen the axe, Liza?
On a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Use a stone, Henry.
But the stone is too dry, dear Liza dear Liza
The stone is not suitable because it is too dry.
Well wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Wet the stone, Henry.
With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza
What should I use to wet the stone, Liza?
Try water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Use water, Henry.
In what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza
What should I use to fetch the water, Liza?
In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry
Use a bucket, Henry.
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza
The problem is still there because there is still a hole in the bucket.
Writer(s): Pd Traditional, Deni Lew, Nicky Graham, Justin Guy Fletcher, Matt Thompson
Contributed by Leo R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jdelarosa89
Their voices seem effortless- they sing with the ease of a person deeply breathing. Wow. What a joy to be able to listen.
@jackspry9736
RIP Harry Belafonte (March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023), aged 96
And
RIP Odetta (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), aged 77
You both will be remembered as legends.
@Juliaflo
RIP to my two dearest friends.
@Dear_Lola
🙏
@pineapplezombie4953
Rip
@shanshan9280
Time is a bitch.
@shirleyferreira8097
Descanse em Paz Harry Belafonte 🌻💎(memória da minha mãe 😢🙏), e da minha infância. 😢 🕊💔🙏
@howdy1487
I had never heard of this song until my girlfriend sang it to me one evening. We were walking her dog on the beach at sunset. She sang it slowly in the style of an old couple with exaggerated southern drawls. Vividly, I pictured an old husband and wife singing it to each other on their farm.. It was priceless. So endearing. Ocassionally, I would request it, but only when the time was right. Some of the best times of my life.
@tngirl341
Lmfao yeah right
@adelesanteiu4427
Lovely