Who is the target of the joke?
In Rohlehr’s reading, the governor changes or declines to enforce the indecent-exposure law after seeing a woman in Bermuda shorts. The joke includes the governor’s own interest in looking at her, which undermines the posture of moral authority.
Rohlehr extends that reading to moral policing and the censorship of sexuality. This is commentary on a comic song and its characters; the source does not establish a particular governor’s identity, location or an actual change in legislation.
Sources: Smithsonian Folkways — First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection booklet
Why two earlier years appear
The song header names King Sparrow’s Calypso Carnival. Elsewhere the same booklet lists that earlier album as a 1959 edition. A song year and an album-edition year describe different references; neither establishes an exact session date.
| Detail | Source information |
|---|---|
| Writer(s) | Slinger Francisco |
| Year printed beside the song | 1958 |
| Earlier album named in track notes | King Sparrow’s Calypso Carnival |
| Earlier edition reference | King Sparrow’s Calypso Carnival — C 00920, 1959 |
Sources: Smithsonian Folkways — First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection booklet
Find the documented performance
Use the Smithsonian track link below to find this selection on the 2005 First Flight edition. The earlier album reference and the year printed beside the song are retained separately in the tables.
| Detail | Source information |
|---|---|
| Album | First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection |
| Edition year | 2005 |
| Catalog number | SFW40534 |
| Track position | 11 |
| Label track title | Short Little Shorts |
Mighty Sparrow artist profile ↗
Sources: Smithsonian Folkways — First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection booklet · Smithsonian Folkways — First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection tracklist