Wata Come a Me Y'Eye (Tears Come to My Eyes)

DESCRIPTION: Jamaican patois: Whenever the singer remembers Liza, whenever he thinks of his "nice gal Liza," "wata come a me 'eye." "Come back Liza."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Roberts)
KEYWORDS: grief love rejection nonballad
FOUND IN: West Indies(Jamaica)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Murray-FolkSongsOfJamaica, p. 12, "Wata Come a Me Y'Eye" (1 text, 1 tune)
Helen H. Roberts, "A Study of Folk Song Variants Based on Field Work in Jamaica," Vol. XXXVIII, No. 148 (Apr-Jun 1925), #55 p. 189 "Akee" (1 text, 1 tune)
ADDITIONAL: Jim Morse, _Folk Songs of the Caribbean_ (New York: Bantam Books, 1958), pp. 96-97, "Wata Come a Me Y'eye" (1 text, 1 tune)
William Attaway and Lyle Kenyon Engel, _Calypso Song Book_ (New York: Calypso Music, Inc, 1957), pp. 16-17, "Water Come a Me Eye" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Edric Connor with the Caribbeans and Earl Inkman, "Wata Come a Me Y'Eye" (on WIEConnor01)
Lord Flea with the Jamaica Calypsonians, "Solas Market/Water Come From Me Eye" (1950s, on Times Record 78 rpm JAM 102), "Solas Market/Water Come a Mi Eye(Come Back Liza" on (n.d., on "Jamaica-Mento: 1951-58," Fremaux and Associes CDFA 5275).
NOTES [104 words]: Morse adds two verses that don't seem to fit: Every time he kisses, touches, loves or holds Liza, "wata come a me y'eye."
For an instrumental track listen to Ernest Ranglin and The Wigglers, Calypso Medley: Solas Market/Water Come a Mi Eye" (n.d., on "Jamaica-Mento: 1951-58," Fremaux and Associes CDFA 5275).
The Roberts text is combined with the first verse of "Linstead Market." The second verse is typical of "Wata Come a Me Y'Eye" and is very close to Lord Flea's: "Come back Charlie come back gal/ Wateh coveh me eye! When me look 'pon Mahdi so, wateh coveh me eye." [Flea sings "... when me look upon Mary Lin ...."]. - BS
Last updated in version 5.3
File: JaMu012

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