When we sailed into Old Bombay
'Couldn't wait to get ashore
'Cos I'd heard say
People there were the friendliest
That you'd meet in the
Journey from the east to west.
They were:
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Strum another strum
Playing us a raga
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Everybody come
Down to Bombay
Ah hoy hoy hoy hoy
Ah hoy hoy hoy hoy
Gold, red, silver and indigo
All the silks and spices made a Dazzling show.
Cobras danced to the melody
Of a charmer who put his
Basket down for me.
They were:
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Strum another strum
Playing us a raga
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Everybody come
Down to Bombay
Singers, folk who were
Telling tales,
Kathakali dancers, men on beds of nails.
All these things I saw
On that day
When I went to the Kalbadevi
In Bombay.
They were:
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Strum another strum
Playing us a raga
Banging on a drum
Clapping us a tala
Everybody come
Down to Bombay
Ah - hoy hoy hoy hoy
Ah - hoy hoy hoy hoy
Hoy !