Jamaica Farewell

"Jamaica Farewell" is a famous calypso song about the beauties of the West Indian island.

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The lyrics for the song were written by Irving Burgie or Lord Burgess. Lord Burgess was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926. His mother was from Barbados and his father was from Virginia. The song first appeared in Harry Belafonte's phenomenally successful album Calypso.

Related Topics:
Irving Burgie - Brooklyn, New York - Barbados - Virginia - Harry Belafonte - Calypso

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Though many, including Belafonte himself, have said that the song was popular in the West Indies since long before Burgess, it is believed that Burgess compiled and modified the song from many folk pieces to make a new song, and it is indubitable that it was Belafonte who popularised the song outside the Carribean islands. Burgess acknowledged his use of the tune of another calypso, "Iron Bar".

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Other well-known singers of "Jamaica Farewell" include Sir Lancelot and Jimmy Buffett.

Related Topics:
Sir Lancelot - Jimmy Buffett

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There exists a Usenet group intended to discuss this song. The group can be accessed using Google Groups at http://groups.google.com/group/jamaica-farewell.

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