Born in Kirksville, Missouri and nicknamed "Rusty" for his red hair, he began performing on his uncle's radio show in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the mid 1930s. Draper moved on to work at radio stations in Des Moines, Iowa—sometimes filling in for sports announcer Ronald Reagan—and in Illinois before settling in California. There he began to sing in local clubs, becoming resident singer at the Rumpus Room in San Francisco. By the early 1950s he had begun appearing on national TV shows including The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) and Ozark Jubilee (ABC).
In 1952, Draper signed to Mercury Records and issued his debut single, "How Could You (Blue Eyes)". The following year, after a national club tour, his cover version of Jim Lowe's "Gambler's Guitar” made #6 on both the country and pop charts, and sold a million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[1] After a series of less successful follow-ups, he made the national charts again in 1955 with "Seventeen" (#18), "The Shifting, Whispering Sands" (#3) and "Are You Satisfied?" (#11), becoming one of the biggest pop and country crossover stars of the period.
In 1956, he returned to the top 20 with "In The Middle Of The House" (#20), followed up by his version of Chas McDevitt’s UK skiffle hit "Freight Train" (#3) Draper also reached the UK Singles Chart with a rendition of "Muleskinner Blues."
In 1962, he left Mercury to sign with Monument Records, with diminishing chart success as his style became more old-fashioned. However, he continued to have minor hits in the country charts through the 1960s. He remained a steady concert draw in years to follow, and also appeared in stage musicals and on television. Draper died in Bellevue, Washington at the age of 80.
Let's Go Calypso
Rusty Draper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gilly-gotchy-gum
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o
Let's go on slow banana boat
Let's go Jamaica bound
So say farewell, let's go afloat
Go off to Kingston town
(CHORUS)
Let's go calypso
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o (by-o-o)
Let's go calypso
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-joe
Let's go to Cindy's when we dock
The guidebook says it's fun
Let's go Day-O around the clock
Jamaica, here we come
(CHORUS)
Let's go banana boat (toot, toot)
Let's pack a brush and comb
One taste of rum and mango fruit
We'll take Jamaica home
(CHORUS)
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o (by-o-o)
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o (by-o-o)
Gilly-gotchy-gum
Gilly-gotchy-gum
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o (by-o-o)
The lyrics of Rusty Draper's Let's Go Calypso are about the desire to travel to Jamaica and enjoy the island's culture and music, specifically calypso. The opening lines of "Gilly-gotchy-gum" and "Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o" are just playful sounds that add to the overall Caribbean vibe of the song. The rest of the song revolves around the idea of going on a slow banana boat to Jamaica, leaving behind any worries and embracing the good times that are waiting. The chorus repeatedly invites the listener to "let's go calypso" and enjoy the music, adding to the excitement of the trip.
The verses of the song describe different activities and places that the singer wants to visit, including Cindy's (which is likely a reference to the famous Cindy's Bar in Kingston), where the guidebook promises a good time. The use of the phrase "Day-O" is a nod to the popular song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" by Harry Belafonte, which became a huge hit around the same time as "Let's Go Calypso." The lyrics suggest that the singer plans to leave Jamaica with great memories, as they will take "Jamaica home" with them.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to let loose, have fun, and embrace the vibrant Caribbean culture. It captures the desire for adventure, music, and sunny destinations that has inspired many people to visit Jamaica over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Gilly-gotchy-gum
Let's have fun, enjoy ourselves and let loose.
Let's go on slow banana boat
Let's travel slowly by a banana boat to enjoy the experience.
Let's go Jamaica bound
Let's head towards Jamaica.
So say farewell, let's go afloat
Let's wave goodbye to our current location and get onto a floating mode of transportation.
Go off to Kingston town
Head to the capital city of Jamaica.
Let's go calypso
Let's experience the music and culture of the Caribbean which is known for its unique calypso style.
Gilly-gotchy-gum-by-o (by-o-o)
Let's have lots of fun and excitement.
Let's go to Cindy's when we dock
Let's go to Cindy's restaurant or bar when we arrive at the port.
The guidebook says it's fun
The travel guide recommends going there because it's enjoyable.
Let's go Day-O around the clock
Let's party and dance all night to the song 'Day-O' by Harry Belafonte.
Jamaica, here we come
We are excited to finally be going to Jamaica.
Let's go banana boat (toot, toot)
Let's take the banana boat again, which makes a tooting sound.
Let's pack a brush and comb
Let's make sure to bring a brush and a comb to take care of our appearance.
One taste of rum and mango fruit
Once we have a sip of the famous Jamaican rum and taste the delicious mango fruit, we'll be hooked on Jamaica forever.
We'll take Jamaica home
We'll bring back memories and experiences of Jamaica with us when we return home.
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.