Background to the song
A calypso song, Tinga Layo, tells the story of a very strong-willed donkey. The song originated in the Caribbean. There are many transcriptions and recordings on the internet claiming it comes from Jamaica, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, Barbados…
There are definite connections with pianist and composer Lionel Belasco. Born in 1881, he was a bandleader and was best known for his calypso recordings. It isn’t clear if he actually wrote Tinga Layo, but it is included in a book he wrote with Massie Patterson called “Calypso Songs of the West Indies”. This was published in 1943 and described Tinga Layo as a “Calypso of the Lesser Antilles”
Here’s a link to Lionel Belasco and his Orchestra playing “Las Pamas de Maraciabo”
Learning the song
One of the key things about this song is the calypso feel created by the syncopated rhythms underpinning the whole piece.
Say and clap the rhythm of the words “come little, come little, come little, come little” and feel how they dance over the straight rhythm of the words “donkey, donkey, donkey, donkey.”
Alternate the two rhythms, saying and clapping each four times.
If there are two of you, try this with one person clapping the straight rhythm “donkey, donkey, donkey, donkey” and the other clapping the syncopated rhythm “come little, come little, come little, come little”.
The phrase “Come little donkey come” happens twice in the chorus. Can you hear how it is different the second time? (It is lower). See if you can find it on the sheet music and notice how the up and down pattern is the same, but the whole thing starts on a lower note.
The verses start higher up and gradually get lower, each phrase being a little lower than the one before. In the first verse, listen out for the words “walk”, “talk”, “eat” and “fork”. See if you can hear how they go down in step. Again, see if you can spot them on the sheet music.
We have written out three verses for you to sing. Listen to where the rhymes happen. Can you write some verses of your own?