"Ah, Woe, Ah, Me" lyrics

In Trinidad there live a family with much confusion, as you will see
There was a mama and a papa and a son, who was young, who wanted to marry, have a wife of his own

Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family

So he found a young girl who suited him nice. He went to his papa to ask his advice
His papa said, "Son, I got to say 'No.' That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family

As the weeks went by, the boy looked around. Soon the best cook on the island he found
He went to his papa to name the day. His papa looked at him and at him he did say
"You cannot marry that girl. I gotta say, 'No.' That girl is your sister, but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family

So the years went by and he wished he was dead. He had seventeen girls and still wasn't wed
When he'd ask his papa, papa would always say, "No! These girls are your sisters but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family

So he went to his mama and he bowed his head. Told his mama what his papa had said
His mama said, "Son, go, man, go! Your papa ain't your papa but your papa don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family