Desi Arnaz admirers and 'Ricky Ricardo'
fanatics are quite familiar with the tune "Babalu". Desi Arnaz not only performed this number during his years entertaining in nightclubs; he also performed it on "I Love Lucy" and practically made it his trademark song.
RIGHT Conga drums actually used by Desi Arnaz on "I Love Lucy" in the Lucy: A Tribute Museum in Hollywood, California.

S H E E T   M U S I C

We can't offer you a conga drum lesson, however, we can offer you sheet music of the song "Babalu".
This sheet music is originally for playing on an organ, but the notes are obviously the same for piano, keyboard, and guitar.

SHEET NUMBER ONE
SHEET NUMBER TWO

S P A N I S H   L Y R I C S

1st VERSE
Babalu
Babalu
Babalu aye
Babalu aye
Babalu
Ta empezando lo velorio
Que le hacemo a Babalu
Dame diez y siete velas
Pa ponerle en cruz.
Dame un cabo de tabaco mayenye
Y un jarrito de aguardiente,
Dame un poco de dinero mayenye
Pa' que me de la suerte.
Yo

CHORUS
Quiere pedi
Que mi negra me quiera
Que tenga dinero
Y que no se muera
Av! Vo le quiero pedi a Babalu 'na negra muy santa como tu que no tenga otro negro
Pa' que no se fuera.

2nd VERSE (CONCLUSION)
[Repeated 10 times:]

Babalu a ye!

E N G L I S H   L Y R I C S

1st VERSE
Babalu
Babalu
Babalu aye
Babalu aye
Babalu
Jungle drums were madly beating,
In the glare of eerie lights;
While the natives kept repeating
Ancient jungle rites.
All at once the dusky warriors began to
Raise their arms to skies above
And a native then stepped forward to chant to his Voodoo Godess of love.
Ah!

CHORUS
Great Babalu!
I'm so lost and forsaken.
Ah, great Babalu!
Bring back the love you've taken.
You can restore all the dreams that once were mine
If only you'll use some mystic sign.
Ah! Great Babalu!
Bring her back to me.
Ah!

2nd VERSE (CONCLUSION)
[Repeated 10 times:]

Babalu a ye!

Besides BABALU, Desi was fairly popular for bringing to life many traditional numbers and Latin American songs, including the very popular "Cuban Pete" and "In Santiago, Chile".

LEFT Music sheets for popular songs performed by Desi Arnaz and his Orchestra.