04. CHRISTMAS IS A JOYFUL DAY by Lord Executor
with Gerald Clark and his Caribbean Serenaders: Gerald Clark - guitar, with trumpet, violin, clarinet, piano, cuatro, and bass.
New York City, February 25, 1937.

Chorus:
Mammy, will you sing "Let's Give Him a Cantaway" on Christmas Day?
Pappy, will you do "Let's Give Him a Cantaway" on Christmas Day?
Mammy, will you sing "Let's Give Him a Cantaway" on Christmas Day?

Christmas is a happy day
Darling, here what you'll have to say
"I am looking for me deary dear
As to get me Christmas cheer"
When I meet him, what he'll say?
That he never work neither night nor day
So then I'll give him a cantaway
On Christmas Day

This is he walk 'bout round the town
With a tear-up suit and a watchikong
Entering the young girl's place
The nigger man never rouge his face
He have a way that he wink his eyes
Make him resemble a crocodile
So I'll give him a cantaway
On Christmas Day

Lord Executor (Philip Garcia, d. 1952) was a Trinidad calypsonian who was active from the 1890s to his death. He was well known for being able to improvise songs spontaneously on any topic.

A cantaway is a "knock-out" rum drink, served to Trinidad holiday visitors who are unwelcome scroungers – to give them a "happy time" and get rid of them quickly. Watchikong are canvas shoes.

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