"Sly Mongoose" is a Jamaican folk song and calypso which is widely recognized in the Caribbean.
Recordings
The song was recorded by Jamaican musician Sam Manning in the mid-1920s and Lord Invader (of "Rum and Coca-Cola" fame) in 1946. Other Caribbean artists to record the song include The Gaylads, Aston "Family Man" Barrett, Ahadu & Light of Saba, Beverley's Allstars, Harry Belafonte, Ernest Ranglin and Monty Alexander. Versions with varying lyrics have also been sung as calypsos.
It has been performed and recorded by the German musician James Last and his orchestra and by American jazz musicians including Charlie "Bird" Parker, Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
The Jamaican National Dance Theatre Company have performed it in a dance choreographed by Rex Nettleford.