After marrying and leaving Bliss in 1991, Morrison went on to have a succesful solo career which produced first two Live albums (Live at Phoenix and Rachel Morrison Live) and eventually culminated in the release of Liberty through BMG in 1998. Since that time, she has written and performed with her husband Tom E Morrison on many projects. The most notable of these was a dance/ambient group called Meeker who released various singles through Underwater Records, a label belonging to Darren Emerson (Underworld).
Rachel Morrison has recently re-formed Bliss and re-released a Best Of Bliss album and continues to write and perform.
Martha's Harbour
Rachel Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They make you feel so very glad
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
Guarantee you one real good fine time
Drinkin′ rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughterWorkin' for the Yankee dollar
Oh, beat it man, beat it
Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin′ mad
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
Make Trinidad like paradise
Drinkin' rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin′ for the Yankee dollar
Oh, you vex me, you vex me
From Chicachicaree to Mona′s Isle
Native girls all dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
Make every day like New Year's Eve
Drinkin′ rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
It′s a fact, man, it's a fact
In old Trinidad, I also fearThe situation is mighty queer
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
When she hear Der Bingo croon
Drinkin′ rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Out on Manzanella Beach
G.I. romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
Drinkin' rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Workin′ for the Yankee dollar
It′s a fact, man, it's a fact
Rum and Coca Cola
Rum and Coca Cola
Workin′ for the Yankee dollar
The lyrics of "Rum and Coca Cola" are from a popular calypso song by Lord Invader in the 1940s. The song is about the US military presence in Trinidad during World War II and the impact it had on the local community. The lyrics speak about the allure of American culture and the effects it had on the young girls of Trinidad. The song describes the easy living and good times that come with the American presence, but also highlights the troubling consequences of American imperialism.
In the song, the singer describes how the Yankee dollar has corrupted even the mother and daughter who work to please the American soldiers, and how the young native girls are swept off their feet by the American soldiers. He also talks about the impact of American music, specifically the popular song "Der Bingo Bingo" which had the native girls swooning. The song paints a picture of an island paradise being overrun and changed by American culture and economics.
The song is a critique of American imperialism and cultural domination, highlighting the corrupting influence of money and power. It is also a celebration of the vibrant calypso music scene in Trinidad at the time, which was a fusion of African, European, and Caribbean influences.
Line by Line Meaning
If you ever go down Trinidad
If you ever travel to Trinidad
They make you feel so very glad
You will feel very happy
Calypso sing and make up rhyme
You will hear Calypso music and rhyming
Guarantee you one real good fine time
You will have a really good time
Drinkin′ rum and Coca Cola
Drinking rum and Coca Cola
Go down Point Koomahnah
Go to Point Koomahnah
Both mother and daughter
Both a mother and her daughter
Workin' for the Yankee dollar
Working for American money
Oh, beat it man, beat it
Go away, man, go away
Since the Yankee come to Trinidad
Since Americans arrived in Trinidad
They got the young girls all goin′ mad
They have made young girls crazy
Young girls say they treat 'em nice
The young girls say Americans treat them well
Make Trinidad like paradise
They make Trinidad seem like heaven
Oh, you vex me, you vex me
You are annoying me
From Chicachicaree to Mona′s Isle
From Chicachicaree to Mona's Isle
Native girls all dance and smile
The native girls dance and smile
Help soldier celebrate his leave
They help a soldier celebrate his time off
Make every day like New Year's Eve
Make every day a party
In old Trinidad, I also fear
I fear that in old Trinidad
The situation is mighty queer
The situation is very strange
Like the Yankee girl, the native swoon
The native girls are swooning over American girls
When she hear Der Bingo croon
When they hear Der Bingo sing
Out on Manzanella Beach
Out on Manzanella Beach
G.I. romance with native peach
An American soldier romancing a native girl
All night long, make tropic love
Making love all night under the tropical sky
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
The next day, sitting in the hot sun to cool off
Rum and Coca Cola
Rum and Coca Cola
Workin′ for the Yankee dollar
Working for American money
It′s a fact, man, it's a fact
It's true, man, it's true
Writer(s): Julianne Regan, Andy Cousin, Tim Bricheno
Contributed by Ava Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wallody
Amazing amazing amazing