Zombie Jamboree

The Kingston Trio

Written by C.E. Mauge, Jr.



From the 3-CD set, "The Kingston Trio-36 All Time-Favorites": CEMA Special

Products; a Division of Capitol Records, Inc., S23-17653

A live performance



SPOKEN: Right now, as a point of information, something we didn't know until

recently. Every year, in Trinidad, they have what is know as a "calypsonian

carnival" in which the various native groups down there vie with one another, uh,

musically, in order to find out who's the best extemporaneous composer of them

all. And in the year 1955, Lord Invader and his Twelve Penetrators took the title

with this next song, based on a theme by Goethe involving the dance of the dead.

Well, uh, Invader could only draw from experience so he called it, of course,

"Zombie Jamboree, the Song That Killed Calypso."





Well, now

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



Now hear me callin'

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree





Zombie Jamboree took place in a New York cemetery (Where?)

Zombie Jamboree took place in Long Island cemetery

Zombies from all parts of the island (Where?)

Some of them are great Calypsonians

Hey, since the season was Carnivale

They got together in Bacchanal



Whatcha doin'?

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



(Unintelligible spoken aside)

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree





One female zombie wouldn't behave

She say she want me for a slave

In the one hand she's holding a quart of wine (Whoa)

In the other she's pointin' that she'll be mine

Now believe me folks, yes I had to run (Why?)

Husband of a zombie ain't no fun (No nice!)

I says "Oh, no my turtle dove"

"That old bag of bones I cannot love"



Whatcha doin'?

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



What a good game!

Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



Right then and there she raise a *feet*

"I'm a-going to get you now, my sweet"

"I'm gonna make you call me Sweetie Pie"

I says "Oh, no, get back-you lie"

I may be lyin' but you will see (What?)

After you kiss this dead zomb-ie (Blecccch!!!)

No, I've never seen such a horror in me life

Can you imagine me with a zombie wife? (YES!)



Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



SPOKEN: You're all alone, you know.



Back to back, belly to belly

Well I don't give a damn

'cause it doesn't matter really

Back to back, belly to belly

At the Zombie Jamboree



TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: *feet* is adjudged to be the phonetic spelling of the

island pronunciation of the word "fit." These lyrics are uncertain but it sounds as if

"raise a fit" could be the equivalent to "have a fit": in other words, this female

zombie was upset at his non-acceptance