Lord Flea was the stage name of Norman Byfield Thomas (1931/32 or 1933/34 –… Read Full Bio ↴Lord Flea was the stage name of Norman Byfield Thomas (1931/32 or 1933/34 – 18 May 1959), a Jamaican mento musician credited with "helping start the calypso craze in U.S." With his band The Calypsonians, Flea toured America throughout the late 1950s, and released an album on the Capitol label. The band also performed in two calypso-related films.

Donkey Bray
Lord Flea Lyrics

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You know what the woman said
Don't tie your donkey down there
You hear what the woman said
Don't tie your donkey down there

Make it rain make it rain

Make it rain make it rain

You hear what the woman said
Don't tie no donkey down there
You hear what the woman said
Don't tie your donkey down there

Make it rain make it rain

Make it rain make it rain

Why don't you turn them back
Bailero turn them back
Turn them back bailero turn them back
Turn them back turn them bailero turn them back
Turn them back bailero turn them back

Donkey bray ah hah
Ah hah ah hah
Donkey bray ah hah

Donkey bray ah hah
Ah hah ah hah
Donkey bray ah hah

Donkey bray ah hah

Ah hah ah hah
Donkey bray ah hah

Overall Meaning

Lord Flea's song Donkey Bray, is a call and response track, where the singer repeats what the woman said, “Don't tie your donkey down there.” This warning is a metaphor for not limiting oneself or being held back in life. The mention of making it rain, which is a term for bringing success or prosperity, reinforces the idea of not being held down, but instead taking risks and prospering. The repetition of these lines, along with the phrase “turn them back bailero,” which is thought to refer to a traditional Spanish song, create a hypnotic and trance-like effect, further emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the warning.

The refrain of the song is the titular “donkey bray,” which refers to the sound a donkey makes. This sound has been used in cultures across the globe, often as a symbol of stubbornness and obstinacy. This could be interpreted as a message to not be stubborn in life, but to be open to new experiences.

Overall, Lord Flea's Donkey Bray is a cautionary call to take risks and not limit oneself. The hypnotic repetition of the song's refrains, along with its use of sound symbolism, create a sense of urgency and importance to heed the advice given.

Line by Line Meaning

You know what the woman said
The woman warned not to tie the donkey down there.

Don't tie your donkey down there
The woman advised against tying the donkey down in that location.

You hear what the woman said
The woman's advice was heard and should be taken seriously.

Make it rain make it rain
Bring forth a heavy rainstorm.

Why don't you turn them back
Why not take a different approach.

Bailero turn them back
Urgently bring them back.

Turn them back bailero turn them back
Hurry up and end this situation.

Turn them back turn them bailero turn them back
Quickly bring them back to where they belong.

Donkey bray ah hah
The donkey's cry of desperation.

Ah hah ah hah
A laugh, possibly at the situation or at the donkey.

Donkey bray ah hah
The donkey's loud cry persists.