A Well Respected Man

A Well Respected Man Lyrics

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 Bacchan*l

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.