Agostino BRUNIAS - caraibean life
Agostino Brunias était chargé au début de faire l'apologie de la vie des planteurs nantis, mais ses œuvres jouèrent un rôle politique subversif dans les Antilles, appuyant une société anti-esclavagiste libre. Il avait le don de peindre les festivals, les danses, les marchés et les autres traditions culturelles des Noirs. Artiste prolifique, Brunias se concentra sur la nouvelle culture des mulâtres des Indes occidentales en donnant des images d'Épinal des populations de couleur qui cachaient les réalités de la domination coloniale et de la vie des esclaves des plantations

Illustration musicale: Harry BELAFONTE - Jamaica farewell
Beaucoup, y compris Belafonte lui-même, pensent que la chanson était populaire aux Antilles bien avant que Burgie Irving, l'auteur ne l'ecrive. On pense que l'auteur a compilé et modifié la chanson à partir de nombreux morceaux folkloriques pour en faire une nouvelle chanson.

Down the way Where the nights are gay And the sun shines daily on the mountaintop
I took a trip on a sailing ship And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down My head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

Sounds of laughter everywhere And the dancing girls swing to and fro
I must declare my heart is there Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down My head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

Down at the market you can hear Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
Ackee, rice, saltfish are nice And the rum is fine any time of year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down My head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

Down the way Where the nights are gay And the sun shines daily on the mountaintop
I took a trip on a sailing ship And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down My head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

Sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down My head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

Burgie Irving