1956 Songs: Jamaican Farewell
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (85635)
United States
April 11, 2026 11:21am CST
Next week I’ll be turning 66, which means I wasn’t born when this song came out. The great thing about music is that you don’t have to be around when the song was originally released, because it’s out there for all the succeeding generations to discover and enjoy. Happy 70th birthday to this great tune.
Jamaican Farewell - Harry Belafonte
You see what I meant when I said 1956 was such a pivotal year in music? I’ve used jazz/pop, straight country, rock and roll, and now we have an old Jamaican folk song.
“Ackee rice, salt fish are nice.” One of the songs on the list that’ll make you hungry! 
One of the traditional dishes of Jamaica, ackee is a fruit that is poisonous when unripe but fine to eat when fully ripe. (Wouldn’t you hate to have been one of the poor “test cases” before modern science to find that out?
Although Harry Belafonte was born in New York City, his parents were Jamaican (with [/i]their[/i] parents being Dutch, Sephardic Jewish, and Scottish!). He wasn’t faking it, he spent time with his grandparents in Jamaica.
A sweet lost love songs from one of the legendary performers of our time.
Jamaican Farewell
Written by Irving Burgie
Recorded by Harry Belafonte
From Calypso, 1956
I’ve been from Maine to Mexico:
One of the traditional dishes of Jamaica, ackee is a fruit that is poisonous when unripe but fine to eat when fully ripe. (Wouldn’t you hate to have been one of the poor “test cases” before modern science to find that out?
Although Harry Belafonte was born in New York City, his parents were Jamaican (with [/i]their[/i] parents being Dutch, Sephardic Jewish, and Scottish!). He wasn’t faking it, he spent time with his grandparents in Jamaica.
A sweet lost love songs from one of the legendary performers of our time.
Jamaican Farewell
Written by Irving Burgie
Recorded by Harry Belafonte
From Calypso, 1956
I’ve been from Maine to Mexico:Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
12 people like this
11 responses
@Deepizzaguy (120777)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Apr
A great song sung by the late Harry Belafonte that used to play on radio stations in New Orleans many years ago.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (120777)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 Apr
@FourWalls Thank you for agreeing with me even though Harry was famous before my time.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (173212)
• United States
11 Apr
Eww! Someone singing about rice and fish will NEVER make me hungry! 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (85635)
• United States
11 Apr
I’d take the rice. I’m allergic to fish.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (168756)
• United States
12 Apr
I did not know it by name, but yes, I was around when it was released. Beautiful.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (96846)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Apr
A definite yes, and makes me want to salsa, boogie and all the rest.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (85635)
• United States
11 Apr
I love this version, because it’s just him as opposed to the backing singers on the recorded version.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (85635)
• United States
12 Apr
No, the song is getting old, you’re seasoned!!! 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (220122)
• United States
12 Apr
I think I remember this one...I definitely know Belafonte.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (85635)
• United States
12 Apr
Oh, yes he was!! And didn’t his daughter (Shari Belafonte) look just like him when she was in that TV series in the 80s??
1 person likes this
