Finn & Haddie, Hell of a Wedding on the Congo River

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Hell of a Wedding on the Congo River

as led by Neil Downey on Fathom This © 2007
Barry Finn and Neil Downey

What a hell of a wedding on the Congo River,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
Monkey married to the Baboon's daughter,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

What do you think they had for their dinner?
Mosquito, gull an' sandfly liver,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

Who do you think do the ceremony?
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
Blackfish King do the ceremony,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

Who do you think do the music for them?
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
De bally band an' de drum fish playing,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

Monkey get up he stake de rice –
Baboon say, ``Leave de rice alone!'' –

Baboon get up to take de key,
Monkey say, might cake alone.
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

Where do you think they take holiday?
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
Out on a raft on Montigo Bay,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

What do you think they do on the water?
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
Monkey an' Baboon they fight to the slaughter
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

What do you think they have for their supper?
Blackfish tail an' a dip in the scuppers,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

What a hell of a wedding on the Congo River,
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!
Monkey married to the baboon's daughter
Way, hey! Hey, me bully boys!

Also known as "Monkey Married the Baboon's Daughter," this is a British West Indies (BWI) shanty used at the oars. Originating out of the 19th century music hall tradition, this is another one that Neil found in Roger Abrahams's collection Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore.