Notes: Nothing in my novel suggests this song except the island ambience. Jimmy came up with it only after we had finshed the first draft of the musical, and it is quintessential Buffett, quirky imagery and a lot of truth, in a rousing song of the kitchen help. The hotel Norman Paperman takes over is called the Gull Reef Club and the cook, Sheila, who sings Calaloo, is the true soul of the place, and of the Caribbean. 

Chorus: 

Calaloo, Strange Calaloo 

Mysterious curious roux 

Try as you might to avoid the hoodoo 

Sooner or later we're all in the stew 



>From here in my kitchen 

I watch the whole seen 

Life on dis island 's 

A unique cuisine 

It simmers and bubbles 

And looks quite routine 

Till somebody spill all da beans 



Chorus: 

Calaloo, Strange Calaloo 

Mysterious curious roux 

Try as you might to avoid the hoodoo 

Sooner or later we're all in the stew 



Night after night 

On dat terrace out der 

Plays a melodrama 

Could equal Shakesphere 

Dey may tell theirself 

Dat somehow dey are not 

Best take it from me, 

We're all in the same pot 



Chorus: 

Calaloo, Strange Calaloo 

Mysterious curious roux 

Try as you might to avoid the hoodoo 

Sooner or later we're all in the stew 



Bridge: 

Hey Hey Sheila, Hey Hey Sheila 

Hey Hey Sheila, what's in dat calaloo 

Hey Sheila tell us, Hey Sheila tell us 

Hey Hey Sheila, What's in that calaloo 



We got Crab and pig tell 

Squid ink and fish scale 

Okra and dasheen leaves 

Chitchat and chatter 

Fill up the platter 

With a garnish of pure make believe 



Chorus: 

Calaloo, Strange Calaloo 

Mysterious and curious roux 

Though some might think somehow they are not 

Make no mistake we're all in the same pot 

Take it from me this is no Camelot.