Shame and Scandal

by The Blues Busters

Chorus:
* Woe, misery
Shame and scandal in the family
Woe, misery
Shame and scandal in the family

1.) In Trinidad/Jamaica there was a family
With much confusion as you will see
It was a momma and a papa and a boy who was grown
Wanted to marry a wife of his own
Found a young girl suited him nice
Went to his papa to ask his advice
His papa said: "Son, I have to say no,
That girl is your sister, but your momma don't know"

2.) A week went by and the summer came round
[Thank you for the correction, José Fabiano]
Soon the best cook in the island he found
He went to his papa to make a day
His papa shook his head and to him he did say
"You Can't marry that girl I have to say no
That girl is your sister, but your momma don't know"

3.) He went to his momma and covered his head
And told his momma what his papa had said
His momma she laughed, she says: "Go man, go
Your daddy ain't your daddy, but your daddy don't know."

*"woe, is me" and "who is real?" are other versions of this song among many others.


Madame La Marquise
by Robert Service

1.) Said Hongray de la Glaciere unto his proud Papa:
"I want to take a wife, mon Pere." The Marquis laughed:"Ha! Ha
And whose, my son?" he slyly said, but Hongray with a frown
Cried: "Fi! Papa, I mean — to wed. I want to settle down."
The Marquis de la Glaciere responded with a smile:
"You're young, my boy: I much prefer that you should wait awhile."
But Hongray sighed: "I cannot wait, for I am twenty-four
And I have met my blessed fate: I worship. I adore
Such beauty, grace and charm has she, I am sure you will approve.
For if I live a century none other can I love."
"I have no doubt." the Marquis shrugged. "that she's a proper pet:
But has she got a decent dot, and is she of our set?"
"Her dot", said Hongray. "will suffice: her family you know.
The girl with whom I fain would splice is Mirabelle du Veau."
What made the Marquis start and stare and clutch his perfumed beard?
Why did he stagger to a chair and murmur "As I feared!"
Dilated were his eves with dread, and in a voice of woe
He wailed: "My son, you cannot wed with Mirabelle du Veau."

2.) "Why not? my Parent," Hongray cried. "Her name's without a slur.
Why should you look so horrified that I should wed with her?"
The Marquis groaned "Unhappy lad! Forget her if you can.
And see in your respected Dad a miserable man."
"What is the matter? I repeat." said Hongray growing hot.
"She's witty, pretty, rich and sweet, then, mille diables, what?"
The Marquis moaned: "Alas! That your dreams of bliss should banish:
It happened in the days gone—by, when I was Don Juanish.
Her mother was your mother's friend, and we were much together.
Ah well! You know how such things end, I blame it on the weather.
We had a very sultry spell. One day, mon Dieu! I kissed her.
My son, you can't wed Mirabelle. She is - she is your sister."

3.) So broken—hearted Hongray went and roamed the world around,
Till hunting in the Occident forgetfulness he found.
Then quite recovered, he returned to the paternal nest,
Until one day with brow that burned, the Marquis he addressed:
"Felicitate me. Father mine: my brain is in a whirl
For I have found the mate divine, the one, the perfect girl.
She's healthy, wealthy, witching, wise, with loveliness serene.
Ah! Proud am I to win a prize, half angel and half queen."
"Tis time to wed." the Marquis said. You must be twenty—seven.
But who is she whose lot may be to make your life a heaven?"
"A friend of childhood." Hongray cried. "For horn regard you feel.
The maid I fain would make my bride is Raymonde de la Veal."

4.) The Marquis de la Glaciere collapsed upon the floor,
And all the words he uttered were: "Forgive me, I implore.
My sins are heavy on my head. Profound remorse I feel
My son, you simply cannot wed with Raymonde de la Veal."
Then Hongray spoke with voice that broke, and corrugated brow:
"Inform me, Sir, why you demur. What is the matter now?"
The Marquis wailed: "My wicked youth! Ah! How it gives me pain.
But let me tell the awful truth, my agony explain...
A cursed Casanova I: a finished flirt her mother:
And so alas! it came to pass we fell for one another.
Our lives were blent in bliss and joy. The sequel you may gather:
You cannot wed Raymonde, my boy, because I am . . . her father."

5.) Again sore—stricken Hongray fled, and sought his grief to smother,
And as he writhed upon his bed to him there came his Mother.
The Marquise de la Glaciere was snowy-haired and frigid.
Her wintry features chiseled were, her manner stiff and rigid.
The pride of race was in her face, her hearing high and stately,
And sinking down by Hongray's side she spoke to him sedately:
"What ails you so, my precious child? What thongs of sorrow smite you?
Why are your eyes so wet and wild? Come, tell me, I invite you."
"Ah! If I told you. Mother dear," said Hongray with a shiver.
"Another's honour would, I fear, be in the soup forever."
"Nay, trust," she begged. "my only boy. The fond Mama who bore you.
Perhaps I may your grief alloy. Please tell me. I implore you."
And so his story Hongray told, in accents choked and muffled.
The Marquise listened, calm and cold, her visage quite unruffled.
He told of Mirabelle du Veau, his agony revealing.
For Raymonde de la Veal his woe was quite beyond concealing.
And still she sat without a word, her look SO high and haughty.
You'd ne'er have thought it was her lord who had behaved so naughty.
Then Hongray finished up: "For life my hopes are doomed to slaughter:
For if I choose another wife, she's sure to be his daughter."
The Marquise rose. "Cheer up," said she, "the last word is not spoken.
A mother cannot sit and see her boy's heart rudely broken.
So dry your tears and calm your fears: no longer need you tarry:
To-day your bride you may decide. To-morrow you may marry.
Yes, you may wed with Mirabelle, or Raymonde if you'd rather...
For I as well the truth may tell . . . Papa is not your father."

From Collected Poems of Robert Service (New York: Dodd Mead, 1961).

Interessante englische Songtexte mit deutschen Übersetzungen
home.t-online.de/home/volker.poehls/lyrics.htm

Vocabulary Aids

woe	archaic English: bitter grief, distress
cook	male or female (!) cook

Ein peinlicher Skandal

von The Blues Busters (und anderen)

Deutsche Übersetzung © von Volker Pöhls

REFRAIN:
Kummer und Leid
Schande und Skandal in der Familie

1.) In Trinidad gab es mal eine Familie
in der es viel Durcheinander gab, wie ihr noch sehen werdet.
Es war eine Mama, ein Papa und ein erwachsener Sohn,
der eine Frau heiraten wollte.
Fand ein junges Mädchen, das ihm gut gefiel
Ging zu seinem Papa, um ihn um Rat zu fragen
Sein Papa sagte: "Mein Sohn, ich muss nein sagen,
das Mädchen ist deine Schwester, aber deine Mutter weiß nichts davon!"

2.) Eine Woche ging vorbei, der Sommer kam,
bald hatte er die beste Köchin der ganzen Insel gefunden.
Er ging zu seinem Papa, um einen Tag auszumachen.
Sein Papa schüttelte mit dem Kopf und sagte:
"Du kannst das Mädchen nicht heiraten, ich muss nein sagen.
Das Mädchen ist deine Schwester, aber deine Mutter weiß nichts davon!"

3.) Er ging zu seiner Mama und ließ den Kopf hängen.
Er erzählte seiner Mama, was sein Vater gesagt hatte.
Da lachte seine Mama und sagte: "Du kannst loslegen:
dein Papa ist nicht dein Papa, aber dein Papa weiß nichts davon!"

Talking Points

Summarize the contents of the lyrics in your own words!
Why does the father deny his permission to marry the two girls?
Comment on "a week went by"!
What follows from his mother's words? Would the marriage be incest?
Which one is the strongest stanza?
Do the words "woe", "shame", "scandal" describe the atmosphere correctly?
Describe parallels and differences between part 1 and 2 and part 3 on the other hand!
Analyze the structure of the lyrics!
What makes the lyrics funny? [exaggeration, double joke, mutual deception, boy is polygamous,too]
How do you know the song is not meant to be a tragedy?
Make a German translation that rhymes and can be sung!
Do you know cases of "boy marries his sister"?
Why is incest prohibited in all societies?
Morals are changing. Discuss what polygamy meant then and today!
Find out all the bands which covered the song!
Compare the lyrics to Robert Service's poem "Madame La Marquise"! Point out the differences and similarities!
Translate Robert Service's poem "Madame La Marquise" into perfect German!
Summarize the findings of Douglas Gifford in his essay "Shame and Scandal - Robert Service, Calypso, and Country Music"
Add a fourth stanza, saying that the boy cannot marry anyone of the two girls, because he is already married!
Convert the song into short theater scenes! Then sing and play the song in the classroom!

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20 April 2002: Last modified 20 April 2002 by Volker Pöhls