Tuba Skinny- Bellamina, Rousing encore from the Del Valley Bluegrass Festival- 8/30/24

There is a recording of this song by The Nassau String Band made on a field trip by John Lomax as long ago as 1935.

A long time ago (in the 1920s) there was a white ship named Bellamina, based at Nassau in the Bahamas. It was used for smuggling spirits 200 miles across the sea to Florida. But the American Coast Guards intercepted it.

After the boat's release, it was taken to dry dock in Nassau - this time to be painted BLACK!

The Bahamians loved inventing songs about anything in the news; and so a great 16-bar simple rhythmic song soon appeared.

Bellamina, Bellamina!
Bellamina's in the harbour.
Bellamina, Bellamina!
Bellamina's in the harbour.
So put the Bellamina on the dock
And paint the Bellamina black, black!
Oh put the Bellamina on the dock
And paint the Bellamina black!

In fact, there were at least three more ships that had to be repainted in this way. They are all mentioned in the version of the song that you can listen to by Blind Blake BY CLICKING HERE    • Blind Blake - A Second Album of Baham...  . A great album of Bahamian Songs.
From Pop Coffee's blog.