Mama Lisa's Books

Does Anyone Know a Song with the Line, “A humbugging bee came a courting me”?

Maja wrote asking for help with a song... Please could you help me find the lyrics for a song passed down from my great-grandmother?She lived on a large plantation in Trinidad and went to school in England so it could have been a very old British ditty. All I recall are the verses: A humbugging [...]

Steel Pan–A Lovely Sounding Instrument Played in Sint Maartin

Sit back, relax and enjoy the sound of an instrument known as the "steel pan" that's played in Sint Maartin.  The steel pan originated in Trinidad.  It was introduced to Sint Maartin in the mid 1900's.   Now that's the sound of vacation! Mama Lisa Image: [...]

Does Anyone Know a Song about Leroy and a Papaya Tree?

Angelica wrote: We use to sing a song in school (1940s) with lyrics that went like this....”Leroy Leroy my boy be careful what you do, the tall papaya tree is much too high for you....so bring your basket down before you get a fall...” Have you heard of it? I sure would like it on [...]

Looking for a French Creole Song from Trinidad

Susan wrote: Hi Mama Lisa, I remember a song from my childhood in Trinidad that translated in English to “Just give me a kiss, just a kiss do do”. Do you have the complete lyrics in English and French Creole to this song? The term “do do” in Trinidad means darling. I only [...]

Would You Know a Lullaby from Trinidad with the line “Dodo petit popo”?

Carol wrote to me: I am from Trinidad, but live in Canada. There is a lullaby that is sung to babies that goes “dodo petit popo”. Those are the only words I remember and now that I have a grandchild, I sing only those words, but I don't remember the rest. Would you know it, [...]

Mama Lisa's World News and Multimedia Features

A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures. When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that's a lot of information! In [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Cuban Rhyme/Finger Play that starts with “Chiquitica así”?

Jeannie Backer wrote to us for help with a Cuban Finger Play. Here's her note... My mother from Cuba used to sing a song/rhyme to usthat I only partially remember, maybe you have heard something similar. It's not a song as much as a cute thing that a child says to adult to ask for

The [...]

About the Song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”

We received the note below with the song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”. Many variations of this song exist, including “Kumala Vista”. It also shares lyrics with the action song called “Flee, Fly, Flo“. Here's the email: “In the late 1950s, we lived near a [...]

Does anyone know this version of Catalina Matelina?

Dennis Lytle wrote to us asking for information about a rhyme: “Any info on the rhyme my parents taught us would be appreciated... I tell you bout vat girl of mine vat looks so sveet and dress so fine, vat come from Dootchland on the Rhine a couple of veeks ago. Her eyes are blue [...]