In Trinidad there was a family
With much confusion, as you will see
There was a mama and a papa and a son who was young
Who wanted to marry, have a wife of his own
"You cannot marry that girl. I got to say 'No.'
That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family

So he found a young girl who suited him nice
He went to his papa to ask his advice
His papa said, "Son, I got to say 'No.'
That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family

As the weeks went by, the boy looked around
Soon the best cook on the island he found
He went to his papa to name the day
His papa looked at him and at him he did say
"You cannot marry that girl. I gotta say, 'No.'
That girl is your sister, but your mama don't know!"
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family

So the years went by and he wished he was dead
He had seventeen girls and still wasn't wed
When he'd ask his papa, papa would always say"No!
That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family

So he went to his mama and he bowed his head
Told his mama what his papa had said
His mama said, "Son, go, man, go!
Your papa ain't your papa but your papa don't know!"

Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family
Ah, woe, ah, me
Shame and scandal in the family