Hit song
- Written by
- Lionel Belasco
- Originally written by
- [Traditional]
- Composition date
- 1906
- Copyright date
- 1944
- Language
- Creoles and pidgins, French-based (Other)
- Adapted from
-
King Ja Ja written by [Traditional]
- Tags
- disputed credits
- Comments
-
This song was based on true events in which the daughter of a well-to-do Trinidadian family who fell in love with a lowlife. The pair lived together for sometime, and he forced her to work as a prostitute.
At the time of the composition around 1906, Belasco claims he made no attempt to publish or copyright it. The only performances were among his friends and at private gatherings.
First published by Maurice Baron in 1944 in "Calypso Songs of the West Indies".
Although Belasco won a copyright infringement suit in 1948 over the tune Rum and Coca-Cola by Rupert Grant , it seems he himself appropriated the Barbadian folk tune King Ja ja . - Licensing
- Request a synchronization license
