Celtic Mayhem ~ "Zombie Jamboree" ~ Undead Calypso for Pirate Nite at Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub

Celtic Mayhem performs their unique version of the classic Calypso song "Zombie Jamboree" at the Pirate Night Celebration, June 20, 2009, at Maguire's Hill 16 Irish Pub in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

With Ty Billings on guitar and lead vocals in full pirate personae (check out the scurvy earrings and buccaneer mascara), and Martyn Wylde on bass guitar (zombie pick that bass!), and Jack Stamates on the violin (channeling the spirit of a bouzouki by way of ersatz ukulele).

The painting in the end credits is "Zombie Jamboree", oil on canvass, 1988, by Keith Morrison, and is supposedly inspired by the song.

The song "Zombie Jamboree" (sometimes known as "Back to Back") is a really fun Calypso tune with innumerable variants, originally written and performed as "Jumbie Jamberee" by the great Lord Intruder (Winston O'Connor) and first released on the B side of his album "Disaster with Police" in 1953. As "Zombie Jamboree" it has been recorded by several groups, including The Kingston Trio and Rockapella, and was popularized by the great Harry Belefonte (who recorded 5 different versions and made it one of his signature songs).

Here are the Lyrics to the version Celtic Mayhem sings here:

"Well, Now....

Back to Back, Belly to Belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
'cause I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!
And we were singing....
Back to back, belly to belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!

Zombie Jamboree
take place at the New York Cemetery,
Zombie Jamboree
take place at the Long Island Cemetery.
Zombies come from all parts of the Island
Some of them are great Calypsonians
Since the season was carnival
They got together in bacchanal

And they were singing...
Back to Back, Belly to Belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
'cause I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!

One female zombie she wouldn't behave
She said she want me for her slave
In the one hand she's holding a quart of wine
In the other she's pointin' that she'll be mine
Now believe me folks, yes I had to run
The husband of a zombie ain't no fun
I says "Oh, no no my turtle dove,
That old bag of bones I cannot love"

And we were singing...
Back to Back, Belly to Belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
'cause I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!

Right then and there she raise her feet
She says "I'm going to catch you now, my sweet,
I'm gonna make you call me a Sweetie Pie"
I says "No, no, get back, you lie!"
"Well, I may be lyin' but you will see
After you kiss this dead zomb-ie..."
Ugghh!!
Never seen such a horror in me life
Can you imagine me with a zombie wife?
Nooo!!

Back to Back, Belly to Belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
'cause I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!

Let's take the fast train!

Back to Back, Belly to Belly,
Well I don't give a damn,
'cause I'm stone dead already!
Back to back, belly to belly,
at the Zombie Jamboree!
Zombie Jamboree!
Zombie Jamboree!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Celtic
• Mayhem
• Zombie
• Jamboree
• undead
• Calypso
• Island
• Pirate
• Festival
• Maguire's
• HIll
• Irish
• Pub
• Jamaica
• Bahamas
• New
• York
• Long
• acoustic
• guitar
• bass
• fiddle
• violin
• Fort
• Lauderdale
• Florida

[Airadella091463]

This was my very favorite MoM song that was never recorded by them. I'm glad to see that Celtic Mayhem is doing this song and it was recorded on video so now I can see it all of the time.

[doofus0123]

wow the violin really gives it a Calypsonian feel - sorta sounds like steel drums.

[fractaldragon]

A very fun version of this! Do these guys ever travel?