What does Tillillie mean? I am of course referencing the Kitchener tune "Old Lady Walk a Mile and A Half".
Any help would be appreciated. I did an arrangement of the tune for my steel band and I want to be able to tell the audience about origin of Tillillie.
Thanks!
Dave
Replies
Panman Pat a respected author, steelpan player/calypsonian say! Ole lady walk ah mile and ah half "IN she Tay, lay, lay.
meaning her dan dan made out of Tay,lay, lay cloth.
It's on "Calypso Pioneers 1912 - 1937", Rounder CD 1039, issued 1989, track 4. It is Monrose's String Orchestra recorded in 1923 entitled "Old Lady,Old Lady". It is a bit different harmonically to the version I know from various Trini's who came over in the 1950s, but definitely the same song and a great CD to have with lots of lovely old tunes on, including one of my favourites - "Graf Zeppelin" by Atilla.
I asked a 2nd generation Trini what Tay lay lay meant last week and he said he had no idea!