Sly Mongoose (song)

"Sly Mongoose" is a Jamaican folk song and calypso which is widely recognized in the Caribbean.

Recordings

The song was recorded by Jamaican musician Sam Manning in the mid-1920s^[1] and Lord Invader (of "Rum and Coca-Cola" fame) in 1946.^[2] Other Caribbean artists to record the song include The Gaylads,^[3] Aston "Family Man" Barrett,^[4] Ahadu & Light of Saba,^[5] Beverley's Allstars,^[6] Harry Belafonte,^[7] Ernest Ranglin^[8] and Monty Alexander.^[9] Versions with varying lyrics have also been sung as calypsos.^[10]

It has been performed and recorded by the German musician James Last^[11] and his orchestra and by American jazz musicians including Charlie "Bird" Parker,^[12] Louis Armstrong^[13] and Benny Goodman.^[14]

The Jamaican National Dance Theatre Company have performed it in a dance choreographed by Rex Nettleford.

References