Bellamina

COUNTRY: Bahamas
LANGUAGE: English

“Bellamina” is about the Bahamanian crews of rum running ships trying to avoid the U.S. Coast Guard during the days of Prohibition. In the case of the Bellamina they paint the boat black so it will change colors to confuse the authorities and be less easily detected at night. Author Zora Neale Hurston heard “Bellamina” when she first arrived in the Bahamas, incorporated it into one of her plays and even made a recording of the song in the ’30s.

Lyrics of original and All Around This World version:

Bellamina, Bellamina, Bellamina’s in the harbor

Bellamina, Bellamina, Bellamina’s in the harbor

Put Bellamina on de dock and

Paint Bellamina black black black.