Mama look at bubuartist: harry belafonte (peak billboard position # 11 in 1957)words and music by lord melodyabove title as appeared on the 45—a/k/a andquot;mama, look-a boo booandquot;i wonder why nobody donand't like meor is it the fact that iand'm ugly?i wonder why nobody donand't like meor is it the fact that iand'm ugly?i leave my whole house and homemy children donand't want me no morebad talk inside de house dey bringand when i talk they start to singandquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; they shouttheir mother tell them andquot;shut up your moutand' andquot;andquot;that is your daddyandquot;, andquot;oh, noandquot;andquot;my daddy canand't be ugly soandquot;andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;andquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey (ooh)andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;andquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey andlt;instrumental interludeandgt;i couldnand't even digest me supperdue to thee childrenand's behaviorjohn (andquot;yes, paandquot;)-andquot;come here a momentandquot;andquot;bring de belt, youand're much too impudentandquot;john says itand's james who started firstjames tells thee story in reversei drag my belt from off me waistyou should hear dem screaminand' round de placeandquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; they shouttheir mother tell them andquot;shut up your moutand' andquot;andquot;that is your daddyandquot;, andquot;oh, noandquot;andquot;my daddy canand't be ugly soandquot;andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;andquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey (ooh)andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;andquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey (oh)andlt;instrumental interludeandgt;so i began to question de muddathese children ainand't got no behaviorso i began to question de muddathese children ainand't got no behaviorandquot;theyand're playing with youandquot; my wife declaredandquot;you should be proud of them, my dearandquot;andquot;these children were taught too bloominand' slackandquot;that ainand't no kind of joke to crackandquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; they shouttheir mother tell them andquot;shut up your moutand' andquot;andquot;that is your daddyandquot;, andquot;oh, noandquot;andquot;my daddy canand't be ugly soandquot;andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;andquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey (ooh)andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;fadeandquot;mama, look at bubuandquot; dey (ooh)andquot;shut your moutand' andquot; andquot;go awayandquot;transcribed by ronald e. hontzronhontz@worldnet.att.net
