Robert Mitchum's version of the 1934 original "Ugly Woman" by Roaring Lion
If you want to be happy living a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
If you want to be happy living a king's life
Never make a pretty woman your wife
Now all you have to do is just what I say
And then you may be jolly, merry and gay
Therefore, from a logical point of view
Better marry a woman uglier than you
[From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you]
A pretty woman make her husband look small
And very often cause his downfall
Soon as she marry, there and then she'll start
To do the things that will break your heart
And when you think that she is belonging to you
She's calling somebody else dou dou
Man, from a logical point of view
Better marry a woman uglier than you
[From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you.]
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You can be sure you will be happy in all your life
She will never do things in a funny way
To allow the neighbour have their things to say
She wouldn't disregard her husband at all
By exhibiting herself to Peter and Paul
Man, from a logical point of view
Better marry a woman uglier than you
[From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you.]
An ugly woman give you your meals on time
And try to make you comfortable in mind
At time when you lie sick in your cozy bed
She will both caress you and scratch your head
And as ah mean it in the night will she leave you alone?
It seem she want to melt the cold from your bone
Man, from a logical point of view
Better marry a woman uglier than you
[From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you.]
If a man that's not your friend say that you have no taste
Marry an ugly woman above disgrace
One who is cute looking, barbarous and rough
With skin like alligator, humpy and tough
Pigeon toe, bow-leg, a cross in her eye
She got two lip that look like a big bow tie
Boy, from a logical point of view
Better marry a woman uglier than you
From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you
From a logical point of view
Always marry a woman uglier than you.
.............................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
"Surprised that Robert Mitchum sings Calypso? It would be stranger if he couldn't. Fact is, he was learning the fascinating language of Calypso long before it became the rage in the U.S.A. And he was learning it in its true home, Trinidad"...Read more
You can listen to some samples from his album "Calypso, Is Like So" which was issued first in 1957 and has now been remastered and back in release through Caroline records in 1995.
Wikipedia covers this lesser know aspect of Mitchum's career, "After hearing traditional calypso music and meeting artists such as Mighty Sparrow and Lord Invader while filming "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" in the Caribbean island of Tobago, he recorded "Calypso — Is Like So..." in March of 1957. On the original album, released through Capitol Records, he emulated the calypso sound and style, even adopting the style's unique pronunciations and slang."
Others might disagree, but I think he did a great job and it shows that he really listened to and loved calypso. One reviewer notes that some might find the way in which he imitated our "broken English" to be distasteful. Apart from the fact that our English isn't broken, Trinbagonians return the favour all the time and it's refreshing for a change to see imitation going the other way. Anyway, there is a big difference between imitation as flattery where the one imitating genuinely wants to adopt something that he finds admirable; and imitation as mockery, where the one imitating does so to deride and denigrate. Robert Mitchum's efforts fall into the former category and I remain impressed.
See the original lyrics by The Roaring Lion (1934)
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
Mweh ka allay!
Guanaguanare
