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VENEZUELA

(learned orally at folksinging parties in the 1950s, especially from Martin Choate and Dave Ricker;
-John Jacob Niles claims to have written the song in 1918 based on a song he heard sung by some sailors
-in a port in southern France)

I met her in Venezuela with a basket on her head, with a basket on her head.
If she loved others she didn't say, but I knew that she'd do to pass away
To pass away the time in Venezuela,
To pass away the time in Venezu-e-e-e-e-e-e-la.

I bought her a sash, a beautiful sash of blue, a beautiful sash of blue,
Because I knew that she would do, with all the tricks I knew she knew
To pass away the time in Venezuela,
To pass away the time in Venezu-e-e-e-e-e-e-la.

When the wind, the wind, when the wind was out to sea, when the wind was out to sea,
And she was taking leave of me, I said, Cheer up, there'll always be
Sailors ashore on leave in Venezuela,..
Sailors ashore on leave in Venezu-e-e-e-e-e-e-la.

Her lingo was strange, but the thought of her beautiful smile, the thought of her beautiful smile,
Will haunt me and taunt me for many a mile, for she was my gal, and she did the while,
To pass away the time in Venezuela,
To pass away the time in Venezu-e-e-e-e-e-e-la.

(from miriam berg's folksong collection)