Liberian Calypso (Live – Montreux Jazz Festival 1990)

Al Sharkman on guitar

Neodore Flaming on percussion

And Paul Robinson on drums

And this is a song we learned from uh

From when we were in Libraria

For the three years we lived there

I guessed most of you know about that

When we were in Africa for three years we learned this

And it's called Librarian Calypso

And in the middle of it all

I want you to sing with me run Nina

I'll show you how it goes

Run Nina run Nina run Nina run Nina run Nina

Are you gonna say it with me?

Are you gonna say it with me?

Run Nina

OK let's try it again

Eh eh don't play that this time

Let's see if we can get them to say "run Nina"

In 1974 that's the year

I went straight home 'cause I had so much to fear

I had dreamed for oh so long

That one day I'd be going home

Fun day there's gossip in the town

Nobody knows what's really going down

Stench, smells I couldn't stand it

The dirtier you are the more you are here (run, Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

OK now you got it

In 1974 that's the year

I went straight home 'cause I had so much to fear

I had dreamed for oh so long

That one day I'd be going home

There's so much gossip in the town

Nobody knows what's really going down

Stench, smells I couldn't stand it

The dirtier you are the more you are here (run, Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

When I first got to Africa, I was glad

I thought at last I wouldn't be had

So I went to disco-tech one night

And danced myself right out of sight

What I mean is this, I went with a friend

We sat through the night, right through the end

The music was American and oh so good

So I jumped up just where I could (run Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

My body start movin' all around

I was so happy to be in town

And as I slowing began to strip

Everybody thought I was so hip

I danced all over the place

You know all over the ceiling all over the floor

Up in the balcony, all around

I felt so good just being in town (run Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

My joy was complete you know

My friend was happy, he said, "go go"

I danced for hours, hours on end

I thought "dear lord, you are my friend"

He brought me home to Liberia

And all other places are inferior

He brought me home to Liberia

And all other places are inferior (run Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

My joy was complete you know

My friend was happy, he said, "go go"

I danced for hours, hours on end

I said "dear lord, you are my friend"

He brought me home to Liberia

And all other places are inferior

He brought me home to Liberia

And all other places are inferior (run Nina)

Oh I got to go (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

Oh the man's at the door (run Nina)

Run as fast as you can (run Nina)

God is holding me hand