Sly Mongoose
Lord Invader Lyrics


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There was a competition in America
With Houdini and Destroyer,
Destroyer sang Adolf Hitler
And yet they said that Houdini was the winner, what he won with?

Sly Mongoose, All together,
Only dog know your name, sing the chorus
Sly Mongoose, everybody
Only dog know your name, yes,
Mongoose went in the White man's kitchen,
Took one of his fattest chickens,
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose

So he then challenged the Growler,
And the Growler sang a hot number,
Growler told the Houdini,
He's goin' to win him with this melody, what it was:
Old lady
You're mashing my toe
Old lady,
Stop it isn't and yet he won him with,

Sly Mongoose, everybody,
Only dog know your name, sing it Macbeth
Sly Mongoose, everybody
Only dog know your name, yes,
Mongoose went in the White man's kitchen,
Took one of his fattest chickens,
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose

So as I'm the Lord Invader,
I said, I can't lose my name in America,
I entered the competition
And I sang a hot composition
What it was:
Prisoner Leve
"Mete limier bai"
And yet he won me with,

Sly Mongoose, everybody,
Only dog know your name, Duke of Iron
Sly Mongoose, yes
Only
Dog know your name, yes,
Mongoose went in the White man's kitchen,
Took one of his fattest chickens,
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose
Make the bars!




Yes, it is the Invader!
Felix orchestra!

Overall Meaning

Lord Invader's song Sly Mongoose tells the story of a mongoose who goes into a white man's kitchen, steals one of his fattest chickens, and puts it in his waistcoat pocket. The chorus of the song emphasizes the secrecy and cunning of the mongoose, as only a dog knows its name. The verses detail a competition between different singers in America, including Houdini, Destroyer, and the Growler, each of whom sang different songs in an attempt to be declared the winner. Lord Invader entered the competition and sang a composition called Prisoner Leve, but despite his efforts, he too was defeated by the sly mongoose.


Line by Line Meaning

There was a competition in America With Houdini and Destroyer, Destroyer sang Adolf Hitler And yet they said that Houdini was the winner, what he won with?
There was a singing contest taking place in America, competing were Houdini and Destroyer. Destroyer sang about Adolf Hitler; however, despite this, Houdini was declared the winner. Lord Invader questions the basis on which Houdini was declared the winner.


Sly Mongoose, All together, Only dog know your name, sing the chorus Sly Mongoose, everybody Only dog know your name, yes, Mongoose went in the White man's kitchen, Took one of his fattest chickens, Push it in his waistcoat pocket, Sly Mongoose
The lyrics 'Sly Mongoose, All together,' are the start of the chorus following each verse. The verses refer to a mongoose sneaking into a white man's kitchen and stealing one of his largest chickens, showing off its slyness. 'Only dog know your name' suggests that the mongoose is quite cunning, and even though everyone may be aware of its actions, it's hard to catch. 'Sly Mongoose, everybody' refers to the popularity of the mongoose as it is known by a sense of fame, due to its sneakiness in the white man's house. The mongoose is well known while also being unseen. 'Push it in his waistcoat pocket, Sly Mongoose' implies that the mongoose was so cunning that it even managed to carry off the stolen chicken unnoticed.


So he then challenged the Growler, And the Growler sang a hot number, Growler told the Houdini, He's goin' to win him with this melody, what it was: Old lady You're mashing my toe Old lady, Stop it isn't and yet he won him with,
The lyric describes the Growler's challenge to Houdini. The Growler sang an impressive song with the lyrics lines like 'Old lady, You're mashing my toe, Old lady, Stop it'. Lord Invader suggests that Houdini won by using the same tune used by the Growler, but with lyrics that made no sense, meaning Houdini won with more luck than melody or tune.


So as I'm the Lord Invader, I said, I can't lose my name in America, I entered the competition And I sang a hot composition What it was: Prisoner Leve "Mete limier bai" And yet he won me with,
Lord Invader suggests he did not want to lose his name in America and participating in the singing competition. He performed an excellent piece titled 'Prisoner Leve,' with the lyrics 'Mete limier bai' in his best efforts to win the competition. However, he was not successful as someone else had triumphed with 'Sly Mongoose,' showing that despite his efforts, Invader lost to this worthy opponent.


Sly Mongoose, everybody, Only dog know your name, Duke of Iron Sly Mongoose, yes Only Dog know your name, yes, Mongoose went in the White man's kitchen, Took one of his fattest chickens, Push it in his waistcoat pocket, Sly Mongoose
The song returns to the chorus verses where 'Sly Mongoose' is once again sung to demonstrate the mongoose's popularity. 'Only dog know your name' shows that while the mongoose is well-known, it can go by unknown and unseen. The line 'Duke of Iron' acts as a reference to another calypsonian of the same name. This last verse repeats the story of the mongoose stealing the fat chicken and proudly slipping it into its waistcoat pocket,


Make the bars! Yes, it is the Invader! Felix orchestra!
These lyrics suggest a closing where Lord Invader requests the band musicians to play a final tune; referring to them as the Felix orchestra. He finishes the song by saying that it was the Lord Invader who's singing to an applauding audience.




Writer(s): Traditional

Contributed by Abigail H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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