Matilda (song)
Encyclopedia
"Matilda" is a calypso
(sometimes spelled Mathilda) lamenting a woman who took a man for all he was worth.
The song dates back to at least the 1930s, when calypso pioneer King Radio
(the stage name of Norman Span) recorded the song. Harry Belafonte
recorded the song in 1953 and it became a big hit.
Some songwriting credits are given as Harry Thomas (rumoured to be a pseudonym combining Harry Belafonte and his guitarist, Millard Thomas, but ASCAP simply lists Harry Thomas alias Harry Belafonte, the writer of "Hold 'em Joe"), some credits are given as Norman Span.
Harry Belafonte's first recording of the song was on April 27, 1953. The oft-repeated phrase in his rendition of the song is like the following, emphasizing the syllables of the subject's name as shown:
The song was often performed in concerts, and the audience would be encouraged to sing that line. An example is in his Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
concert album where the total playing time for "Matilda" is nearly 12 minutes.
Jimmy Soul recorded a version of the song in 1962 as "Twistin Matilda", (And the Channel), which changed the lyrics of the verses as well as the Chorus as "She took the money and ran off to Las Vegas." The song hit #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.
Allen Sherman recorded a variation of the song in his first album, 1962's My Son, the Folk Singer
, and put a Jewish-sounding spin on it, including asking portions of his audience (such as "Members of Hadassah
") to sing along:
Sherman got sued from the estates of the writer of the song, for not asking permission beforehand, because the song was protected by copyright law. He paid the penalty for this. (Source: "A Gift of Laughter" by Alan Sherman.)
The Grateful Dead performed a cover of this song 5 times from 1994-1995.
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
(sometimes spelled Mathilda) lamenting a woman who took a man for all he was worth.
The song dates back to at least the 1930s, when calypso pioneer King Radio
King Radio
King Radio was a calypsonian active in the 1930s and 1940s.He was the composer of many calypsos which later became standards, such as "Mathilda", "Man Smart, Woman Smarter", and "Brown Skin Gal".-References:...
(the stage name of Norman Span) recorded the song. Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
recorded the song in 1953 and it became a big hit.
Some songwriting credits are given as Harry Thomas (rumoured to be a pseudonym combining Harry Belafonte and his guitarist, Millard Thomas, but ASCAP simply lists Harry Thomas alias Harry Belafonte, the writer of "Hold 'em Joe"), some credits are given as Norman Span.
Harry Belafonte's first recording of the song was on April 27, 1953. The oft-repeated phrase in his rendition of the song is like the following, emphasizing the syllables of the subject's name as shown:
- Hey! Ma-til-da; Ma-til-da; Ma-til-da, she take me money and run a-VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
The song was often performed in concerts, and the audience would be encouraged to sing that line. An example is in his Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
Belafonte at Carnegie Hall is a live double album by Harry Belafonte. It is the first of two Belafonte Carnegie Hall albums, and was recorded on April 19 and April 20, 1959. The stereo version of the album was released on the RCA Victor label, in the "Living Stereo" series...
concert album where the total playing time for "Matilda" is nearly 12 minutes.
Jimmy Soul recorded a version of the song in 1962 as "Twistin Matilda", (And the Channel), which changed the lyrics of the verses as well as the Chorus as "She took the money and ran off to Las Vegas." The song hit #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.
Allen Sherman recorded a variation of the song in his first album, 1962's My Son, the Folk Singer
My Son, the Folk Singer
My Son, the Folk Singer is an album by Allan Sherman [monophonic W-1475/stereophonic WS-1475], released by Warner Bros. Records in 1962. On the album sleeve, the title appears directly below the words "Allan Sherman's mother presents."- Side One :...
, and put a Jewish-sounding spin on it, including asking portions of his audience (such as "Members of Hadassah
Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
") to sing along:
- Oy! My Zel-da; My Zel-da; My Zel-da, she took the money and ran with the tailor.
Sherman got sued from the estates of the writer of the song, for not asking permission beforehand, because the song was protected by copyright law. He paid the penalty for this. (Source: "A Gift of Laughter" by Alan Sherman.)
The Grateful Dead performed a cover of this song 5 times from 1994-1995.