Zombie Jamboree
The Charmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was a Zombie Jamboree took place in a New York cemetery
Zombies from all parts of the Island, some of them are great Calypsonians
Since the season was Carnival they got together in bacchanal
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
One female Zombie wouldn't behave
See how she jumping out of the grave
In one hand a quarter rum
In the other hand she knocking Congo drum
Believe singer start to make his rhyme
The Zombies are racking their bones in thyme
One bystander had this to say
It was a pleasure to see the Zombies break away
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
Left to right things was getting sweet
A bystander mash a jumbie feet
One jumbie raise his finger to one
He said mister take care you mashing me corn
The funniest thing I have ever seen
To see jumbie eating salt fish and ackee
I never see more marpy or gingerbeer
That took place at a jumbie parade last year
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
The Charmer's song "Zombie Jamboree" tells the story of a gathering of zombies in a cemetery in New York during the Carnival season. The lyrics describe the different types of zombies - some of whom are Calypsonians - as they come together for a bacchanal. The song captures the festive mood of the zombies as they dance and sing, with one female zombie even jumping out of her grave with a quarter rum in one hand and a Congo drum in the other.
The interactions between the zombies and bystanders add to the humor of the song, as one bystander comments on how it was a pleasure to see the zombies break away while another accidentally mashes a jumbie's feet. The climax of the song culminates in the sight of a jumbie parade where the zombies enjoy salt fish, ackee, marpy, and ginger beer.
Overall, "Zombie Jamboree" is a fun and lighthearted song that captures the joy of a group of zombies coming together for a celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a Zombie Jamboree took place in a New York cemetery
A gathering of zombies occurred in a cemetery in New York
Zombies from all parts of the Island, some of them are great Calypsonians
Many zombies from all over the island attended, including talented Calypsonians
Since the season was Carnival they got together in bacchanal
Because it was carnival season, they celebrated with wild festivities
Back to back, belly to belly, I don't give a damn, I done dead already
The zombies danced together without a care, unbothered by their mortality
Oho back to back, belly to belly at the Zombie Jamboree
The zombies swayed together in a rhythmic jamboree
One female Zombie wouldn't behave, See how she jumping out of the grave
One female zombie was too lively and energetic, jumping out of her grave
In one hand a quarter rum, In the other hand she knocking Congo drum
She held a quarter of rum in one hand and knocked a Congo drum with the other
Believe singer start to make his rhyme, The Zombies are racking their bones in thyme
A singer began to rhyme, while the zombies danced with synchronized bone movements
One bystander had this to say, It was a pleasure to see the Zombies break away
A bystander was delighted to see the zombies dancing so freely
Left to right things was getting sweet, A bystander mash a jumbie feet
As things got sweeter, a bystander accidentally stepped on a zombie's foot
One jumbie raise his finger to one, He said mister take care you mashing me corn
A zombie warned the bystander to watch their step and avoid stepping on their foot
The funniest thing I have ever seen, To see jumbie eating salt fish and ackee
It was quite amusing to witness zombies eating Jamaican salt fish and ackee
I never see more marpy or gingerbeer, That took place at a jumbie parade last year
Last year's zombie parade was memorable for the abundance of marpy and gingerbeer
Contributed by Leah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@elizakelly1475
Lyrics
It was a Zombie Jamboree
Took place in a New York cemetery
It was a Zombie Jamboree
Took place in a New York cemetery
Zombies from all parts of the Island
Some of them was a great Calypsonians
Since the season was Carnival
They get together in bacchanal
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
One female Zombie wouldn't behave
See how she jumping out of the grave
In one hand she holding drum
With other hand she knocking Congo drum
Believe singer start to make his rhyme
The other Zombies are racking thyme
One bystander had this to say
It was a trip to see the Zombies break away
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Now I must speak to Miss Brigit Bardot
And say, "Miss Bardot take it slow"
Couse' all the men think they're Casanova
When they see that she's bare foot all over
Even old men out into beaker
Find their hearts getting weaker and weaker
So we must ask her for your sake and mine
At least to wear her ear rings part at the time
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
I think people what drums in Cango
And he thinks what drums in Cango
So its up to us you and me
To put an end to Catastrophe
We must appeal to their goodness of heart
To put them all do their part
Cause if this Atomic war begin
They wont even have a part to breech in
And they singing
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
Don't give a damn, I done dead already
Back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Back to back, belly to belly
I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Conrad Eugene Mauge
@picvic7
The Jeffersons on the Pluto App, had me in stitches when they danced and sang to this.
Love it!
Around 6 minutes into Season 4, Episode 5, when friend Helen visits and talks about her friends/fam from the West Indies and they danced and sang to this chorus, and Florence the maid was clowning on them.
What a time to live. 🥰
@taylordansmith
Literally my grandfather and uncle would play their guitars and sing this song with my whole family at every family function. ❤️👍🏼
@DatActiveGuy
When I was a little boy around 7 years old I grew up in England and we had a Caribbean music teacher and she made us sing this song. For someone reason I decided to search it up many years later.
@Awbxi
LOL bro it’s 4:00 am I was like wtf 😬
@12Zwolf
In the 1950s, Walcott, later Louis Farrakhan, began his professional music career as a singer billed as "The Charmer". At this point, earning $500 a week, Walcott was touring the northeastern and midwestern United States, sometimes also using the nickname "Calypso Gene". In 1953–1954, preceding Harry Belafonte's success with his album Calypso released in 1956.
@Daniel-yg4fp
Asslam alaikum to the honourable minister Luis Farrakan
@ryanreeves8931
It blows my mind that The Charmer is Louis Farrakhan. This is great stuff!
@JustAbe1020
Omg I found it finally!!! I've been searching this song for like 15 years. It's been in my mind and finally I found it....don't really like it now that I'm older but I loved it when I was younger
@ElephantsDoingCrack
DAMN
@TheRealDJGIBS
"Jumbie Jamboree" (aka Zombie Jamboree) was first performed by Lord Intruder at the 1953 Carnival in Port-of-Span, Trinidad. This is the first recorded version I am aware of. It was later covered by such artists as Lord Foodoos, The Wigglers, Kingston Trio, Harry Belafonte and others...