JOHN BOULAY – CHARLOTVILLE OR MARTIN’S BAY?

This folk song, John Boulay, is one of the more popular folk songs in Barbados.

I learnt it not from my parents or grandparents, but at primary school from my music teacher, Mr Messiah, and the Bible of folk songs from Barbados, The Folk Songs of Barbados by Marshall, McGeary and Thompson.

However, when I searched for a version of the song I did with the female group, The Tenantry. I came across this. John Boulay, sung by Errol James with the Marionette Chorale. Here it is below:

In the description, it is called a Tobago folk song.

I am really not surprised by this, as songs, even in those days without modern mass media, travelled easily. The journey was made even easier, no doubt by the closeness of Barbados and Tobago. What is interesting, though, is that John Boulay, who is from Martin’s Bay in Barbados, is now from Charlotteville. However, his poor character remains the same.

Shame on you, John!

In short, this song shows me how terribly under-researched English-speaking Caribbean folk songs are, and that the Caribbean as an idea extends beyond small national borders, even if it takes the scoundrel John Boulay to show us.