From a young age, Roaring Lion (de Leon's adopted stage name) became known for his skill in creating calypsos (particularly in his ability to extemporize lyrics on any subject). Contrary to his humble origins, he cultivated a refined stage persona and always appeared sharply dressed. His career officially began in 1924. He recorded extensively between the 1930s and 1950s, and was one of the calypsonians who deserves the most credit for the increasing international popularity of the genre during this period. In March 1934 the Trinidadian phonograph merchant Eduardo Sa Gomes sent Roaring Lion and Attila The Hun to New York to record; they became the first calypsonians to record abroad.[5][6]
Roaring Lion achieved fame for his linguistic prowess as much as for his catchy tunes. His lyrics, delivered in rapid-fire style, show an impeccable command of the English language (as well as Trinidadian slang), and are replete with witty turns of phrase, humorous metaphors, and clever alliterations and internal rhymes.
Ugly Woman
Roaring Lion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never make a pretty woman your wife
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
All you gotta do is just as I say
And then you would be jolly, merry and gay
That's from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
Ah mean, and very often cause his downfall
As soon as she marry, there and then she'll start
To do the things that would break his heart
When you think that she's belonging to you
She's calling somebody else doudou too
Therefore from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you
But if you make an ugly woman your wife
You can be sure you'll be happy in all your life
For she would never do things in a funny way
To allow the neighbours to have anything to say
And she wouldn't disregard her husband at all
By exhibiting herself to Peter and Paul
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you
An ugly woman gives you your meals on time
And always try to make you happy in mind
At nights when you lay up on your cozy bed
She will coax, caress you and scratch your head
And like a bird, call you nice names as "silver beak"
"Toy", "chick" or even "sucrier martinique"
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you
Matters not your friends might say that you have no taste
But love an ugly woman about this place
One who is cute looking, barbarous and rough
With a skin like alligator, bumpy and tough
Yampee mud all into her eye
And around her lips a Confirmation bow tie
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you
The song 'Ugly Woman' by Roaring Lion gives some amusing and unconventional advice on choosing a wife to have a happy and fulfilling life. The song presents a logical viewpoint that a man should not marry a pretty woman, as she is likely to be unfaithful and break his heart. Instead, a man should choose an ugly woman as she will make him happier with her devotion, loyalty, and ability to keep him content. The song provides an interesting commentary on the idea that beauty is only skin deep, and that true love should not be based on looks alone.
Roaring Lion's "Ugly Woman" is a humorous calypso song that was released in 1933. The song became popular not just in Roaring Lion's native Trinidad and Tobago but also throughout the Caribbean, South and Latin America, and Europe. The lyrics use colloquial language and expressions commonly used in Trinidad at the time, such as "doudou" which means lover or sweetheart, and "yampee", a sweet potato popularly eaten on the island.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want to be happy and live a king's life, Never make a pretty woman your wife
To live a joyful life, avoid choosing a beautiful woman to be your wife
All you gotta do is just as I say, And then you would be jolly, merry and gay, That's from a logical point of view, Always love a woman uglier than you
The logical way to keep yourself happy is by loving a woman uglier than you and following the advice given in this song
A pretty woman makes her husband look small, Ah mean, and very often cause his downfall, As soon as she marry, there and then she'll start, To do the things that would break his heart, When you think that she's belonging to you, She's calling somebody else doudou too, Therefore from a logical point of view, Always love a woman uglier than you
A beautiful wife can cause her husband to feel insignificant and can sometimes lead to his own unhappiness. She may also cheat on him, so it's better to have an uglier wife to avoid heartbreak and infidelity.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife, You can be sure you'll be happy in all your life, For she would never do things in a funny way, To allow the neighbours to have anything to say, And she wouldn't disregard her husband at all, By exhibiting herself to Peter and Paul, So from a logical point of view, Always love a woman uglier than you
Choosing an ugly woman as your wife guarantees a happy married life, as she would never do anything that could cause her husband's embarrassment or disrespect. She would also remain faithful and loyal to her husband.
An ugly woman gives you your meals on time, And always try to make you happy in mind, At nights when you lay up on your cozy bed, She will coax, caress you and scratch your head, And like a bird, call you nice names as "silver beak", "Toy", "chick" or even "sucrier martinique", So from a logical point of view, Always love a woman uglier than you
An unattractive woman would take care of her husband's needs by cooking and being attentive. She would also provide him with affection by cuddling and whispering sweet words to him.
Matters not your friends might say that you have no taste, But love an ugly woman about this place, One who is cute looking, barbarous and rough, With a skin like alligator, bumpy and tough, Yampee mud all into her eye, And around her lips a Confirmation bow tie, So from a logical point of view, Always love a woman uglier than you
It doesn't matter what your friends may think of your taste. You should love an ugly woman who may have a rough appearance with a bumpy alligator-like skin, even mud in her eyes or a bow tie around her lips, but still remains loyal and loving to you, as that would ensure a happy and fulfilling marriage.
Contributed by Grace G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@grimbeornn
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
All you gotta do is just as I say
And then you would be jolly, merry and gay
That's from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
Ah mean, and very often cause his downfall
As soon as she marry, there and then she'll start
To do the things that would break his heart
When you think that she's belonging to you
She's calling somebody else doudou too
Therefore from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You can be sure you'll be happy in all your life
For she would never do things in a funny way
To allow the neighbours to have anything to say
And she wouldn't disregard her husband at all
By exhibiting herself to Peter and Paul
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
An ugly woman gives you your meals on time
And always try to make you happy in mind
At nights when you lay up on your cozy bed
She will coax, caress you and scratch your head
And like a bird, call you nice names as "silver beak",
"Toy", "chick" or even "sucrier martinique"
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
Matters not your friends might say that you have no taste
But love an ugly woman about this place
One who is cute looking, barbarous and rough
With a skin like alligator, bumpy and tough
Yampee mud all into her eye
And around her lips a Confirmation bow tie
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
@cannae216
I've LOVED the Jimmy Soul version for a long time. Had no idea that it was a cover.
@eolsunder
there are SOOO many songs that are covers that many don't know about unless they do their homework. Most such songs don't get popular until they are re-done by someone else. This is one of them. We can say that yes, the Jimmy Soul version is much much better, but yes its based off this song.
@Kaghemsuha
Me too.
@geoffreypelletier8853
And before Jimmy Soul, Robert Mitchum made kind of a cover in 1957 in his masterpiece album Calypso is like so !
@angelmush8603
Kid creole and the coconuts did a version in the 80s too..I love to find originals though
@RudeBoyKristTruitt
This is much better than the jimmy soul one to me. I prefer island sounds
@mrladnek5858
This is the original straight outta Trinidad 🇹🇹
@skybz23
Soldier Boy brought me here!
@deserthawk1
I always loved the Jimmy Soul song, never knowing this existed. Thanks for the great upload.
@grimbeornn
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
If you want to be happy and live a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
All you gotta do is just as I say
And then you would be jolly, merry and gay
That's from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
Ah mean, and very often cause his downfall
As soon as she marry, there and then she'll start
To do the things that would break his heart
When you think that she's belonging to you
She's calling somebody else doudou too
Therefore from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You can be sure you'll be happy in all your life
For she would never do things in a funny way
To allow the neighbours to have anything to say
And she wouldn't disregard her husband at all
By exhibiting herself to Peter and Paul
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
An ugly woman gives you your meals on time
And always try to make you happy in mind
At nights when you lay up on your cozy bed
She will coax, caress you and scratch your head
And like a bird, call you nice names as "silver beak",
"Toy", "chick" or even "sucrier martinique"
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.
Matters not your friends might say that you have no taste
But love an ugly woman about this place
One who is cute looking, barbarous and rough
With a skin like alligator, bumpy and tough
Yampee mud all into her eye
And around her lips a Confirmation bow tie
So from a logical point of view
Always love a woman uglier than you.