Mango Time
Mango Time
Mango Time
Folk Song
Folk Song
(Jamaican Creole)
(English)
1. Mi nuh drink coffee tea - mango time
Care how nice it may be - mango time
In the heat (1) of the mango crop
When di fruit dem a ripe an' drop
Wash yu pot, tun dem dung - mango time.
2. De terpentine large an fine, mango time
Robin mango so sweet, mango time
Number eleven an hairy skin
Pack di bankra an ram dem in
For di bankra mus' full, mango time. (2)
3. Mek wi go a mango walk, mango time
For is only di talk mango time
Mek wi jump pon di big jackass
Ride im dung an no tap a pass
Mek di best a di crop, mango time.
1. I don't drink coffee, tea - mango time
Don't care how nice it may be - mango time
In the heat of the mango crop
When the fruit they're ripe and drop
Wash your pot, turn it over - mango time.
2. The turpentine large and fine - mango time
Robin Mango so sweet - mango time
Number Eleven and Hairy-skin
Pack the basket (3) and ram them in
For the basket must be full - mango time.
3. Let's go on a mango walk (4) - mango time
For it's just to talk - mango time
Let's jump on the big donkey
Let's ride without taking a break
Let's enjoy the harvest - mango time.
Notes
(1) Or "height"
(2) Robin Mango, Number 11 and Hairy-skin are all types of mangos. The "Robin" would be common, and the "Number 11" would be excellent. The hairy-skin one surely refers to the… stringy fur clinging to the core of certain mangoes… This one being perhaps more so than the others. Some may have a slight taste of turpentine. That's why turpentine is mentioned.
(3) It's a travelling basket or the type of basket that hangs over the side of a donkey.
(4) Mango walk can mean orchard - I wonder if there's a double meaning here (because they're in an orchard and then they go riding the donkey with a basket full of mangos).
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Glasceta Honeyghan for contributing this song. Thanks to Purabi Khisa for sharing her mango tree photo. It was taken in Bangladesh. Thanks to Tristan for helping with the meaning.
