m3, you have obviously not read the thread. The song was not written by any Trinidadian. And I think it is quite clear that both mother and daughter were working for the yankee dollar and what kind of “work” they may be doing. It does not talk about “sex on a first date”. This is no reflection on Trinidad, we are talking strictly about the song.
tcburnett, it seems you object to the word “ancestor”. Is that it? Well, I had used it (trying for a certain comic effect, I admit) in the sense of anyone we are descended from, (starting with my parents and going all the way back to whatever it is we descend from).
I look it up in the dictionary and it does give it the same meaning but then adds that it is usually used for persons more remote in line than grandparents. In that case I see how someone who was around in the 40s might feel this makes him older.
This is strictly a usage matter. I would still include my parents and grandparents in my ancestry or say the baby boomers are the ancestors of the genX. How’s that for making baby boomers feel old?
Yes I’ve been reading the thread, but Lord Invader successfully sued the American Publishers over the song “Rum and Coca Cola”. Even though the Andrew Sisters made it famous it was written by a Trinidadian.
I’ve been very specific about my source(post#5) what’s yours?
m3, both the OP (mine) and the 6th (aseymayo) contain links that state otherwise. But to be honest with you, this fine point does not interest me much and I do not care to defend it. In any case, I find it hard to interpret the lyrics the way you do. It seems the rest of us find my interpretation more likely.
I don’t object to ‘ancestor’ when used to describe your up-line. Just when you refer to people who lived in the 40s (like me)
BTW, let me correct you just once. You replied to me:
“The problem I have on this ocassion is that I am not sure I quite understand your post. First you say you remember the 40s and later you call yourself a baby boomer.”
Nope. I said “Many of us were alive and well in the 40s.” Perfectly true. Nothing about remembering them…
There are many web pages that disseminate all kinds of information. Some of it is the most up to date and accurate available, some of it is utter BS. I followed the links, I couldn’t trace back the second link to its web page if it really has one, the first makes no pretense at being peer reviewed.
I guess, if you don’t care what the author’s intent is, all you care about is what Yankees thought of the Andrew’s Sisters recording (slightly more specific than the OP), then maybe all the horny GIs were assuming it was about prostitution. However, the very incredulity with which you ask the question leads me to believe that we hardly have a fair sampling of the folks that actually remember the song’s debut to testify as to what they thought it meant.
I don’t think my interpretation is that far off. It’s just considering a different cultural perspective than the horny GI. Calypsonions, prone to topical subject matter, wrote many tunes about this subject. They were not advertisements for GIs to come and buy their women, but a description of the circumstances around them.
m3, the second link works for me. This is what it says:
And, yes, my question was how did Americans in the 40s react to such explicit lirics. I guess they were not as shocked as I might have thought at first.
I read somewhere that sex was invented in San Francisco in the late 60s but I guess maybe it was already known by our ancestors of the 40s.
I saw the web link. I just don’t know who published it and where they got their information. I’m sure that there are millions of records out there that credit the Morey Amsterdam, but then again there are millions of records out there that credit the Milli Vanilli frontmen as singers. I did a quick search on the web. It wasn’t hard for me to find sites that credited Lord Invader as the songwriter. I’m not including a link because I’m lazy and I doubt you really care who wrote it (and if you do just try searching with “Lord Invader” and “Rum and coca cola”).
It saddens me, as an artist and songwriter, that the possiblity of the song’s possible misinterpretation doesn’t actually interest you. Oh well. Even if you aren’t I still wouldn’t be so easily convinced. A Straight Dope poll is hardly representative of 1940’s record buyers.
I think the overtones of the song might be easier to understand given the demographic of the buyers. I think the Andrew Sisters aimed their work at the "boys overseas" and consequently the song, like pin-ups were not necessarily intended for everyone's consumption. It's hard for me to imagine Jane Doe, at home, wondering if her far away sweetheart is ok, jammin out to that tune.
The song is obviously sexual (which is another clue to its Trinidadian origins). If you’re wondering about the reaction of forties americans,maybe the argument about whether they’re referring to our idea of prostitution is irrevalant. I wonder if having sex with virtual strangers and remaining unmarried was really all that far morally from prostitution to them anyway.
A troll? Hardly. I just thought it was funny about the ancestors in the 40’s bit. Seems like some people don’t take other peoples posts so “good naturedly” ect., sailor. Especially one who admits to pointing out mistakes and inconsistencies in other peoples posts.
