Lord Invader -"Sly Mongoose" (information, lyrics, & sound file)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a sound file of and lyrics for Lord Invader's version of "Sly Mongoose". Information about this old Caribbean song and two additional lyric versions of this song are included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thank to the composers of Sly Mongoose. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to those featured in these sound files and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT SLY MONGOOSE
The original "Sly Mongoose was composed in Jamaica, but versions of this song are well-known throughout the Caribbean.
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030629/arts/arts1.html
..."mento's roots lie in the early 19th century when European dances like the quadrille were popular throughout the Caribbean. By the end of the 19th century, mento was all the "rage" in Jamaica, and (like dance hall today) served as "throw wu'd" music, providing an avenue to discuss taboos and social issues.

{Some] mento songs commented on local news, the Bible, politics, infidelity, even obeah, and their subtle innuendo, humouros double entendres and suggestive lyrics helped to protect the innocent from the song's baser meanings.

According to the research, Slim and Sam were two of the best known writers of "throw wu'd" songs in the 1930s and 1940s. "Sly Mongoose" is one of the most popular "scandal" songs, which is still sung today:

Mongoose go down Missa Beckford kitchen,
Tek out one a 'im ritious chicken,
Put 'im inna 'im waiscoat pocket
Run mongoose

Sly (slide) mongoose, yu name gone abroad.
Sly (slide) mongoose, yu name gone abroad."

Originally, the lyrics likened the eccentric religious leader, Alexander Bedward, to a cunning mongoose (a dodgy character). But Bedward is absent from later versions sung today, which leaves the object of the song's criticism open to interpretation."...

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From http://www.dramonline.org/content/notes/nwr/80427.pdf
"Zoop Zoop Zoop: Traditional Music And Folklore of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John" (New World Records 80427-2)
"This song, wellknown throughout the Caribbean is not really about the mongoose. In fact, the animal and its character is used to allude to sexual liaisons between the master of the house and the cook or between the mistress and a worker.

Sly Mongoose, all them dogs they know your name
Oh yes, sly mongoose, all them dogs they know your name
You went into the mistress kitchen
Take out one of the fattest chickens
Put it into your waistcoat pocket
sly mongoose. "

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[regarding Lord Invaders' version of "Sly Mongoose":
From http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40454.pdf
“...originating in Jamaica where virtually all versions revolve around the activities of the Black prophet Alexander Bedward, “Sly Mongoose [Sly Mongoose Every Dog Knows Your Name] is reported as a carnival song in 1923 in Trinidad. Based on the symbolic references to a trickster with a sexual proclivity, in Eastern Caribbean versions, the mongoose goes into the White man’s kitchen rather than Bedward’s, and steals “one of his fattest chickens”.*

With incredulity, Invader describes his defeat in a calypso contest in the United States. Despite their up-to-date repertoire Houdini vanquishes Destroyer, Growler, and Invader in New York in 1941. Personified as a trickster, Houdini was much despised in Trinidad because of his U. S success and lack of esteem on the island."
-snip-
*Read my interpretation of the line about the Mongoose "going into the White man's kitchen and stealing one of his fattest chickens" regarding the lyrics for Lord Invader's version of this song.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: sly mongoose



roger ramirez Uploaded on Mar 24, 2009

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LYRICS: SLY MONGOOSE
(Lord Invader, 1946)

There was a competition in America
With Houdini and Destroyer
Houdini sang Adolf Hitler
And yet they said that Houdini was the winner
What he won?

Chorus:
Sly Mongoose
-all together-
Only dog know your name
-Sing the chorus-
Sly Mongoose
-everybody-
Only dog know your name
Yes, mongoose went into the White man’s kitchen
Took up one of his fattest chickens
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose.

Then he challenge the Growler
And the Growler sand a hot number
Growler told the Houdini
He gonna win him with this melody,
What it was: “Old lady, you’re mashing my toe,”
“Oh lady, stop it isn’t”
And yet he won him with,

Chorus
Sly Mongoose
-all together-
Only dog know your name
-Sing it Macbeth-
Sly Mongoose
Only dog know your name
Yes, mongoose went into the White man’s kitchen
Took up one of his fattest chickens
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose.

So as I’m Lord Invader, I said
“I can’t lose my name in America”,
I entered the competition,
And I sang a hot composition.
What it was: “Prisoner leve [Prisoner arise]
“Mete limier bai [Put a light]
and Yet he won me with

Chorus
Sly Mongoose
-everybody
Only dog know your name
-Duke of Iron-
Sly Mongoose
Only dog know your name
Yes, mongoose went into the White man’s kitchen
Took up one of his fattest chickens
Push it in his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose.

Source: http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40454.pdf
-snip-
Rather than Lord Invader's "Sly Mongoose" being about a man with sexual proclivities, it is a critique about what Lord Invader and other Calypsonians considered to be Houdini's inauthenticity as a Calypsonian. When Lord Invader referred to Houdini as "Sly Mongoose" he was using lines from that well known Caribbean song to insult Houdini. When he referred to Houdini as "Sly Mongoose" and said that Sly Mongoose "went into the White man’s kitchen/Took up one of his fattest chickens", Lord Invader was saying that Houdini had achieved success in the United States as a Calypsonian that he and other Calypsonians believe that Houdini wouldn't have received in the Caribbean - in particular Houdini- the sly Mangoose, stole the crown for that particular Calypso competition. By mentioning "Macbeth [Macbeth the Great"]" and "Duke Of Iron", Lord Invader calls on other well respected Calypsonians to join him in his condemnation of Houdini.

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OTHER EXAMPLES OF "SLY MONGOOSE"
(lyric composer/s ?)

Listen to the song about a sly mongoose.

Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad,
Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad

Mongoose slip into Bedward kitchen,
Steal out one of his righteous chicken,
Steal out one of his waistcoat pocket,
Sly Mongoose.
Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad

Mongoose went up to Bedward daughter,
Ask her if he could have some water.
Bedward daughter say, Whats the matter?
Sly Mongoose.
Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad

Mongoose get out a dollar and a quarter,
Slipped it to old Bedward daughter.
Bedward daughter say, My Lord and master!
Sly Mongoose.
Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad

Bedward went up to see his daughter,
Found Mongoose playing with one garter,
Bedward hit him just where he oughter.
Sly Mongoose.
Sly Mongoose, your name gone abroad

[Comment:]
The mongoose of this topical song was a well-known government official who tried to buy the affections of one of the prophet Bedward's daughters.

Source: http://www.unlockingthearchives.rgs.org/themes/journeys/gallery/resource

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SLY MONGOOSE
(Lyrics to Sly Mongoose, Sam Manning version, 1925)

Listen to the story why mongoose fly from Jamaica
Listen to the story why mongoose fly from Jamaica
Mongoose, the newspaper reported
Jumped into bed with the preacher’s daughter
Baptise her with his holy water
Slide mongoose

Slide mongoose, now your name gone abroad
Slide mongoose, now your name gone abroad
Mongoose went into Bedward’s kitchen
Took up one of his fattest chicken
That’s the reason he fly from Jamaica
Slide mongoose

Slide mongoose, now your name gone abroad
Slide mongoose, now your name gone abroad
Mongoose fly from Jamaica
Slide right over down to Cuba
Wouldn’t stop til he reach America
Slide mongoose

Slide mongoose, now the world know your name
Brother mongoose, now the world know your fame
Mongoose told his high brown mama
Go away gal get another papa
I love your sister a whole lot better
Slide mongoose

Source: http://slymongoose.blogspot.com/2014/01/lyrics-to-sly-mongoose-sam-manning.html Posted by Martin
-snip-
"high brown mama" - light skinned Black woman
"get another papa" - get another lover

Click this link to a page of my cocojams cultural website for the words to another version of "Sly Mongoose": http://www.cocojams.com/content/caribbean-folk-songs

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Roaring Lion - Netty Netty (Calypso) with information, sound files, & lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases information, sound files, and partial lyric transcriptions with comments of Roaring Lion's Calypso song "Netty Netty". Information about Roaring Lion is also included in this post. This post also includes an anonymous blogger's comment and my comments that question the generally accepted meaning of this Calypso song- t hat it refers to abortion.

The content of this post is provided for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Roaring Lion for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these YouTube sound files and videos.

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INFORMATION ABOUT ROARING LION (with information about "Netty Netty")
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Lion
"Roaring Lion (22 February 1908 – 11 July 1999)[2] was a calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), "Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", which are still performed today. The song "If You Wanna Be Happy", which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 May 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart,[3] is based on Roaring Lion's "Ugly Woman"."...

Lion was born Rafael de Leon in Aroquita, in the Caura Hills of northern Trinidad, to a mother named Basalicion de Leon and a father named Arias Cairi Llama...

In March 1934 the Trinidadian phonograph merchant Eduardo Sa Gomes sent Roaring Lion and Attila The Hun to New York to record; they became the first calypsonians to record abroad.[5] He was also the only calypsonian vocalist of his generation who could read and write musical notation.[6]

Roaring Lion achieved fame for his linguistic prowess as much as for his catchy tunes. His lyrics, delivered in rapid-fire style, show an impeccable command of the English language (as well as Trinidadian slang), and are replete with witty turns of phrase, humorous metaphors, and clever alliteration and internal rhymes. Of all the early calypsonians, he was by far the most scandalous, with the most banned songs by a large margin. His "Netty Netty", the song of a prostitute who left town to have an abortion operation, shocked not only Trinidad and Tobago, but also neighbouring countries such as Grenada, where he was banned for a while (as his song "Excursion to Grenada" relates)."...
-snip-
Read my comments below about the widely accepted story that "Netty Netty" is about a prostitute who left town to have an abortion.

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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: roaring lion NETTY NETTY



roger Ramirez, March 26, 2009
-snip-
Here are several comments from this sound file's discussion thread:
Vernell Quashie, 2010
This is Road March (Leggo) of 1937 by Roaring Lion

**
sbhawanie69, 2011
@SuperSnk1 Actually the melody for Netty Netty is an an leggo from th 1800's called Prisonnier Levez.

**
tricia chin, 2013
'swagger, mystery, precision of expression, a capacity for sharp data gathering, and an unaffiliated imagination.' Lennox Grant on the makeup of a calypsonian. A truly accurate description by Grant. Calypsonians tease, insult or assuage the entire population ( Trinidad) every year. Their job is to be our mirror, or telescope, and whatever they are, and how their tunes are judged, depends on a mixture of personal skill and attention to national mood and events. The true calypsoes, the ones that are timeless, are those which capture the particular quirks of national culture, or situations, which remain with us today.The Roaring Lion is a giant in this respect. His calypsoes remain popular through re-mixing or on their own. The tune on link is funny, dark and popular some 80 yrs after its Road March win in 1937.

**
T&T History, 2013
'Netty, Netty' was banned 1936 by Commissioner of Police on grounds of 'immorality'; Collector of Customs dumped entire first shipment of the record in Port of Spain Harbour

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Example #2: Roaring Lion - Netty Netty



mrprofessor18, Uploaded on September 11, 2010
Chune

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LYRICS [1936s version]
From a transcription of the 1936 recording that was posted on http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=140347&messages=25 by Mick Pearce, 19 Sep 11 - 08:09 AM along with some corrections of that transcription that were posted by James Fryer, 19 Sep 11 - 10:41 AM and two changes that I made which are given in italics.

NETTY NETTY
(Rafael de Leon aka Roaring Lion)

Christmas night, I almost died with laugh,
Lying in me bed with a high brown craf*
Christmas night, I almost died with laugh,
Lying in me bed with high brown craf
She heard a gin-bottle with a wicked roll**
Ah Tamboo Bamboo *** Netty make her lose control

Singing, Netty, Netty
Gimme the thing that you got in your belly

The craf on me bed was very still
And when she heard a gin bottle she got a thrill**
And said "Wake up, wake up darling, let's make our names
Your Tamboo Bamboo *** addlin' me brain"
She jump up off me bed and nearly bust me blind
Lash me in the face with a body-line.

Singing, Netty, Netty
Gimme the thing that you have in your belly

[verse 3 not transcribed]****

Singing, Netty, Netty
Gimme the thing that you got in your belly

The craf caught a vap and she start to dance.
She said, "Lion, this the time to take our chance"
I said "Woman, you better stop your stupidness
You always calling men for foolishness"

She said "I care nothing at all"
She jump out the road and she nightly fall.

Singing, Netty, Netty
Gimme the thing that you got in your belly
-snip-
Notes about this song with attribution in brackets:
*"craf" = [slang for] a woman [James Fryer]

** "She heard a gin-bottle with a wicked roll" i.e. he can hear a bottle-and-spoon band.[James Fryer]

*** "Tamboo Bamboo" - a type of carnival band pre-dating steel pan [James Fryer]

**** [Verse #3] = this verse sounds mostly slang or possible French-influences patois and I can make out only a little, so I've omitted it here [Mick Pearce]

James Fryer also wrote that "the lyrics 'If you can't stand the digging/Give me back me shilling' are sung in other versions of this song".

My changes to this transcription:
I changed the name "Nelly" that Mick Pearce gave in the last line of Verse 1 to "Netty". Also, Mick Pearce wrote "Your dambou-vamou addlin' me brain" as line four of Verse 2. I changed that to "Tamboo Bamboo", conforming with the change that was given to that transcription by James Fryer.
-snip-
Also, "high brown" refers to skin color and may be the same as the African American term "high yellow", meaning a very light skinned Black person, in this case, a light skinned Black woman.

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QUESTIONING THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED MEANING OF THE CALYPSO SONG "NETTY NETTY"
While it is largely believed that the song "Netty Netty is based on a true story about a prostitute named Netty who had an abortion, consider this comment that was posted by GUEST 19 Jun 14 - 01:51 AM on http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=140347&messages=25
"Speaking to a Trinidadian. The thing in her belly just really relates to her lady parts. Netty is a prostitute. The words if you can't stand my digging (sex), give me back my shilling refers to if she doesn't like what he's doing she can give the money back"
-snip-
It's possible that Roaring Lion purposely wrote the phrase "the thing in her belly" to mean either "a baby [to be aborted]" or "a lady's body parts". That said, it certainly seems to me that the lyrics as they have been transcribed are a much better fit for the "lady's body parts" meaning than the "baby to be aborted" meaning.

The Wikipedia article whose link is given above indicates that "[Lion's] "Netty Netty", the song of a prostitute who left town to have an abortion operation, shocked not only Trinidad and Tobago, but also neighbouring countries such as Grenada, where he was banned for a while". [end of quote]

I wonder what would have been so shocking in 1936 about a prostitute having an abortion. It's likely that a number of prostitutes in those days had abortions. But perhaps what was shocking was to openly sing about that fact. That said, it seems to me that a song that even alludes to a man repeatedly asking for "a female's "lady parts" could have been considered more sexually provocative then a man asking a woman to have an abortion. Also, it seems to me that some other references in the song "Netty Netty" might have been considered more shocking than the line "give me the thing you have in your belly" - For instance, what about the references to Netty holding a "gin bottle" and "a tamboo bamboo making her loose control"? Do "gin bottle" and "tamboo bamboo" refer to a man's body part" and not [just] types of music bands? If so- hmm.

As to the belief that the line "give me the thing you got in your belly" refers to abortion, here's another comment from James Fryer 19 Sep 11 - 06:00 PM as published on that same Mudcat discussion thread whose link is given above:
"We only have an unsourced statement on Wikipedia to say it is [about abortion], but the line "gimme the thing you got in your belly" does point in that direction... Possibly the patois verse sheds more light on it. Also there may have been other verses which weren't recorded, and there may have been well-known events which were only alluded to in the song.

I checked in the book that comes with the "West Indian Rhythm" box set, which says:

The Growling Tiger (Neville Marcano) recalled that "Netty" was "a girl from behind the bridge" (east of the Dry River in Port of Spain). She deported herself as though she was having a baby but never delivered the infant, this being an important part of the song's satirical content."...
[end of quote]

Unfortunately, I'm not able to transcribe the third verse of the 1936 version of this song which the two Mudcat commenters Mick Pearce and James Fryer were also unable to decipher. I agree with James Fryer that "Possibly the patois verse sheds more light on it. Also, there may have been other verses which weren't recorded, and there may have been well-known events which were only alluded to in the song."

That quote from Growling Tiger might be interpreted as implying that the song "Netty Netty" was about her having an abortion. But I wonder if there is any other contemporaneous explanations from Roaring Lion, or any other Calypsonian, or any other person who allude to that meaning or directly indicate that the song "Netty Netty" was about abortion. And if that line is about a baby that Netty was carrying, why did Lion want her to give "it" to him (to abort)?

If this story [about "Netty Netty" being about a prostitute having an abortion] isn't a relatively recent invention, and was instead contemporaneous with Roaring Lion, I wouldn't be surprised if that abortion explanation for the phrase "thing in her belly" line was a story that might have been promoted by Roaring Lion to cover up the more explicit meaning of those lyrics & other lyrics in that song. It wouldn't surprise me if anyone who was really in the know about what this song was really about chuckled when they heard that cover story. They might even have publicly confirmed that that story was the "real" meaning of the song just to "put one over" on un-hip listeners.

Since I strive to be "hipper" (in spirit and not so much in weight), I don't mind admitting that I very much doubt this Calypso song has anything at all to do with abortion.

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Lord Invader - Crisis In Arkansas (sound file & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the Lord Invader song "Crisis In Arkansas". A sound file of and lyrics for that Calypso song are presented in this post along with notes from that recording about that song. In addition, this post provides information about Lord Invader and information about the historical event that song refers to.

The content of this post is provided for folkloric, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the musical legacy of Lord Invader. Thanks to John Cowley, the author of the record notes that are quoted in this post and thanks to cvbagva, the publisher of this sound file on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT LORD INVADER
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Invader
Lord Invader (Rupert Westmore Grant; 13 December 1914 – 15 October 1961) was a prominent calypsonian with a very distinctive, gravelly voice.

He was born in San Fernando, Trinidad. He became active in calypso in the mid-1930s, and was considered a country bumpkin by his contemporaries, because of his humble beginning. It was Grant's tailor who gave him his moniker by commenting, "I tell you, Rupert, you should call yourself Lord Invader so when you go up to the city you be invadin' the capital." With a new name, in 1937 he went to the capital city of Port of Spain and began his career in earnest.

He competed in many calypso competitions (including the very first Calypso King competition) and recorded for RCA Bluebird. Lured by Decca Records, he travelled to New York City in 1941 with other calypsonians such as Roaring Lion and Atilla the Hun to make records and promote calypso music. He wrote many calypsos; his most famous lyrics, "Rum and Coca-Cola", were plagiarised by Morey Amsterdam and became a hit for the Andrews Sisters. Invader travelled to New York and sued, eventually winning compensation, although the final settlement allowed Amsterdam to retain his copyright. Ironically, In the early 1940s, radio stations in the USA would not play his own version on the grounds of its using the copyrighted name, Coca-Cola, and its references to prostitution and alcohol. He stayed in New York for a few years because of the lengthy court case. During his tenure in New York City, he became a fixture in the local calypso scene and recorded many tracks for Moses Asch. Eventually, he won his court case, but would not see his settlement check for seven years, so he returned to Trinidad in the meantime"...

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From http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=39832
Calypso in New York; Lord Invader SFW40454, Year of Release 2000
"Inspired improvisation and compelling rhythms, created by piano, small orchestra, and sometimes a drum and hand clapping, characterize these performances, which Lord invader (Rupert Westmore Grant, 1914-1962) recorded for Moses Asch in the 1940s and 1950s. Whether recounting events in Trinidad, describing his experiences in New York City, performing traditional songs, or criticizing American racism, Lord Invader combines rhythms and ideas in his unique calypsonian fashion. Thirteen of the 26 tracks are released here for the first time. Extensive annotations by John Cowley include lyrics, bibliography, and discography. 73 minutes. 32-page booklet. Compiled and annotated by John Cowley."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "CRISIS IN ARKANSAS"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Rock_Nine
"Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas. They then attended after the intervention of President Eisenhower."...

Several segregationist councils threatened to hold protests at Central High and physically block the black students from entering the school. Governor Orval Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to support the segregationists on September 4, 1957. The sight of a line of soldiers blocking out the students made national headlines and polarized the nation"...

By the end of September 1957, the nine were admitted to Little Rock Central High under the protection of the U.S. Army (and later the Arkansas National Guard), but they were still subjected to a year of physical and verbal abuse (being spat on and called names) by many of the white students"...

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Crisis in Arkansas- Lord Invader



cvbagva, Uploaded on Jul 18, 2010

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LYRICS: CRISIS IN ARKANSAS
(Lord Invader)

Yes, Governor Faubus, are you delirious?
If not, show me the reason why you against us
Governor Faubus, are you delirious?
If not, show me the reason why you against us.
Negroes not wanted with Whites in the same school
If I had my way, I'd surely go down with a chain tongue
And break that governor’s tongue.

Chorus:
Please take off that black bowtie, lay-o!
And that black tuxedo.
You're calling us names, yet you're wearing black.
Please take off everything black off your back.

If you ever stop to think that we are all human
You will be a humanitarian.
Instead, you are encouraging segregation
And do not believe in integration.
But God made us all and in him we trust.
Nobody in this world is better than us.
One day you will be made to realize
Six feet of earth makes us all of one size.

So take off that black bowtie, lay-o!
And that black tuxedo.
You hate all us blacks, yet you're wearing black.
Please take off everything black off your back.

Some said it's for political reason
Why you are such a naïve person,
But of late you have studied, everyone knows,
That you have a fear for us Negroes.
That's why you are violating every law,
And closing up the schools in Arkansas.
I think that is high class ignorance
You are afraid of the Negroes' intelligence.

So take off that black bowtie, lay-o!
And that black tuxedo.
You hate all us blacks, yet you're wearing black.
Please take off everything black off your back.

In my opinion, there's nothing but gorilla action
Depriving the kids of their education
When they can become eminent lawyers
Politicians, scientists and doctors
Like Clayton Powell or Bustamante
Doctor Ralph Bunche or Doctor Maloney
Then they can climb the ladder of fame
And utilize their atomic brain.

So take off that black bowtie, lay-o!
And that black tuxedo.
You hate all us blacks, yet you're wearing black.
Please take off everything black off your back.
-snip-
Lyrics and notes from John Cowley about that song from http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40454.pdf
[Song #23 in the record "Calypso In New York"] :

[Information about the crisis in Arkansas]
..."With [Lord Invader's] civil rights credentials established by his interpretation of “God Made Us All”, Invader used lines from the earlier song in the second verse of “Crisis In Arkansas”. Trenchantly, he points to inconsistencies in the segregationist position and identifies the benefits of education to Black people in the United States and the Caribbean. "

Adam Clayton Powell 1908-1972 an outspoken advocate of civil rights, and US representative (1945-67 and 1969-71)

Alexander Bustamante- Jamaican labor leader and politician who served as chief minister (1935-55) and prime minister (1962-67)

Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche (1904-1971), First African American to be a division head in the US Dept of State, he later served with the United Nations

Dr. Alfred Hamilton Maloney, (1888-1955), a Trinidadian who became Professor and Head of the department of Pharmacology of Howard University, Washington, D.C. He was also author of books on race and politics.

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The Tradewinds - Mr. Rooster (sound file and lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases an example of and lyrics for The Tradewinds' song "Mr. Rooster". Information about The Tradewinds is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRADEWINDS
From http://www.ecaroh.com/profiles/tradewinds.htm
"Known for their witty and insightful songs of Caribbean life, the Tradewinds, formed in 1966, have become one of the most revered groups in the West Indies.
Led by the versatile Dave Martins (Guyana) with his guitar, vocal and composing ability, the group, like its name, reflects the span of the Caribbean. Tradewinds also includes Clive Rosteing (Trinidad) on drums and vocals, Jeff Japal (Grenada) on keyboards, Richard Terry (Cayman Islands) on bass and Harry Cupid (Barbados) on percussion and vocals.

Formed in Toronto in 1966 with immigrant musicians from the Caribbean (early members were Kelvin Ceballo, Joe Brown and Glen Sorzano, all of Trinidad, and in later years, Terry Dyal, also a Trinidadian) the band had been based in the Cayman Islands since 1982, continues to records and still makes occasional appearances playing their music to devoted followers in North American and the Eastern Caribbean"...

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From
"http://www.dtradewinds.com/about/
"From the beginning, the songwriting ability of Dave Martins would set Tradewinds apart from the many of the talented groups in the Caribbean. A naturally gifted writer, able to achieve the difficult task of writing in many forms (calypso, ballad, folk, pop), Dave Martins has caught the flavour of life in the Southern Caribbean in a unique way...

Moving to Canada gave me an appreciation for Caribbean life that I would not otherwise have had, and as a writer that awareness leaves me able to find song subjects that someone else might overlook. ‘Copycat’, for example, ‘West Indian Suitcase’, ‘Where Are Your Heroes’, ‘It’s Traditional’ — those songs could only come from someone who has lived in both cultures. On the other hand, Creations such as ‘You Can’t Get’, ‘Play De Ting’, ‘Not A Blade of Grass’, ‘Mr.Rooster’, etc., are rooted in the Guyana/Caribbean experience”....

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FEATURED EXAMPLE

Mr Rooster - The Tradewinds


bajanmusicfan•Published on Apr 28, 2013

Sweet Caribbean music from the 60's and 70's
-snip-
Here's a comment from that song file's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5HjXzp_CKo
copperlocks1, 2013
"Thank you!!!..I can die in peace..finally found this song from my childhood!!!..I always thought it was Neville Willoghby that sung this song....on a side note..we used to raise layer chickens..and occasionally put roosters to help supplement the layer feed in with them..they would be dead within 2 weeks from exhaustion..LOL!!"

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LYRICS: MR ROOSTER
(Dave Martins)

They had a man with sixteen chickens
All refuse to lay
So he went and buy a big red rooster
When the chickens see the rooster
They suddenly gone mad
If you see them chasin him
round and round the yard

Chorus:
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
Round and round the corner.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
He bawlin for order.
Run, Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co*.
Run, Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co
Run, Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run, Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.

Man, the rooster gallopin
He movin very fast.
Sixteen chickens really having to win.
Finally they corner him,
Refuse to let him pass.
He start up [sound effects]
If you hear him goin.

Chorus

And they trap the mister
And they started advancing.
We haven’t see that rooster
Since October.
Well, they treat you nice and bring you food
You’ll live just like a king.
The history books will call you
Chicken Cassanova.

If you see the rooster runnin
Sixteen sexy chickens chasin him
He bawlin for order.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasin him
Round and round the corner.
So run Mr. Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.

Six o clock next morning
Well they had a funeral.
Sixteen chickens cryin in the place.
Man, if you see the rooster
Like a prince of Madrigal,
Lyin in the coffin
With a smile upon his face.

If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
Round and round the corner.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen chickens chasing him
He bawlin for order.
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster
Get up and go.
Run Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.
Run, Mr Rooster
Look out below.
Run, Mr. Rooster
Cokey oh co.

[song fades out]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from this recording. Additions and corrections are welcome.

*I'm not sure about this transcription. My guess is that "Cokey oh co" is something that people who raise chickens say to scatter them. However, I saw these lines given as "Run Mr Rooster Pokey fuh so" on the another viewer comment thread of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwqZfEwn5gU&list=PL152E5D454BF29FC3

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Thanks to Dave Martins for his composing this song. Thanks also to The Tradwinds for their musical legacy. And thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Mighty Sparrow - Yankees Gone (Jean & Dinah) sound files, lyrics, & comments

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases Mighty Sparrow's Calypso song "Yankee Gone ("Jean And Dinah"). This post also includes information about Mighty Sparrow, information & comments about that now classic Calypso song, as well as portion of that song's lyrics & a link to the song's full lyrics.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/11/caribbean-patois-in-youtube-video.html for a clip of a video that includes an interview with Mighty Sparrow about "Jean And Dinah" and an early film clip of Sparrow singing portions of "Jean And Dinah". That post focuses on the use of Caribbean Patois in some viewer comments about that video.

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INFORMATION ABOUT MIGHTY SPARROW
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Sparrow
"Slinger Francisco CMT (born July 9, 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Trinidadian citizenship. Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition eight times, Calypso King/Monarch eight times, and has twice won the Calypso King of Kings title...

Slinger Francisco was born in the fishing village of Grand Roy, Grenada, West Indies on July 9, 1935. He moved to Trinidad with his mother, his father having relocated there in 1937.[1][2] He grew up in Port of Spain.[citation needed] He began singing as a small child, but his love of calpyso was discouraged while at Newton Boys Catholic School, where he sang in the choir.[1][2] At the age of 14 he joined a steel band comprising neighborhood boys, and performed with the band at Carnival.[1]
He received his performing name 'Little Sparrow' during his early career, as a result of his energetic stage performances:

Your calypso name is given to you by your peers, based on your style. In the old days they tried to emulate British royalty. There was Lord Kitchener, Lord Nelson, Duke. When I started singing, the bands were still using acoustic instruments and the singers would stand flat footed, making a point or accusing someone in the crowd with the pointing of a finger, but mostly they stood motionless. When I sing, I get excited and move around, much like James Brown, and this was new to them. The older singers said "Why don't you just sing instead of moving around like a little Sparrow." It was said as a joke, but the name stuck. [3]
—Mighty Sparrow

After a couple of years he changed his stage name to 'Mighty Sparrow'. His first performance as a carnival singer came in 1954 with "The Parrot and the Monkey", and in 1956, Sparrow won Trinidad's Carnival Road March and Calypso King competitions with his most famous song, "Jean and Dinah" (aka "Yankees Gone", a song celebrating the departure of US troops from Trinidad).[5] Sparrow made his recording debut in 1956, with a live performance of "Yankees Gone" which was included in the album Jump Up Carnival in Trinidad.[5] His prize for winning the Calypso King title was $40.[ In protest of the small sum (the winner of the Carnival Queen beauty contest won $7,500), he wrote the song "Carnival Boycott" and attempted to organize other singers to boycott the competition.[5] About half of the singers followed, including Lord Melody.[3] Sparrow claims credit for succeeding improvements in the conditions of calypso and steelband musicians in Trinidad, as well as the formation of the Carnival Development Committee, a musicians' assistance organization.[6] Sparrow refused to officially participate in the competition for the next three years, but he continued to perform unofficially, even winning another Road March title in 1958 with "P.A.Y.E...

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FEATURED SOUND FILES
(These examples are placed in chronological order based on the date of their posting on YouTube with the oldest dated example presented first.)

Example #1: Mighty Sparrow - Jean & Dinah



CanchozI, Uploaded on Sep 14, 2008

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Example #2: Yankees Gone"(Jean and Dinah) The Mighty Sparrow
(Calypso Crown winner-Dimanche Gras 1956)



Glenroy Joseph, Published on Sep 14, 2012

In 1956 a young newcomer to the calypso scene won the calypso crown in his first appearance on the big stage.

From the 1956 Emory Cook album, Jump Up Carnival, here is the actual Dimanche Gras performance by the Mighty Sparrow of his winning calypso, "Yankees Gone."
-snip-
From http://www.africasounds.com/trinidad_calypso.htm
"Dimanche Gras is the Sunday before Carnival day and the official beginning to the carnival season which has been in full swing for days....

The [year's] King and Queen of Carnival and the Calypso Monarch are to be chosen on this night in Queen's Park. The event includes a pan competition as well but it is an opportunity to see the great practitioners of Calypso music in dramatic confrontation that is the draw that fills the stands."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "JEAN AND DINAH"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_and_Dinah
" 'Jean and Dinah' (When The Yankees Gon)is a calypso from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean sung by calypsonian Mighty Sparrow that became an international hit in 1956. It was also his first of eight roadmarches. This calypso, Sparrow's first hit, commented on the large-scale prostitution that the bases once supported and the desperation of these prostitutes following the closure of many American military bases in Trinidad in the post-war period.[1]
-snip-
"Jean And Dinah" (1956)was the first of Mighty Sparrow’s eight road wins marches.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadmarch
"The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. Originating as part of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the term has been applied to other Caribbean carnivals."

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COMMENTS ABOUT THE SONG "JEAN AND DINAH"
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20021127/ent/ent1.html
"Sparrow, the concerned Caribbean villager"
November 27, 2002 By Mel Cooke
..."Sparrow integrated concerns of nationalism into his music from the beginning of his recording career, which started with the immortal Jean And Dinah. He had 'words but no song' and, hearing jingles by other calypsonians on the airwaves, he was determined to do one himself. So the ambitious young lyrical Slinger did one and approached the largest company, as each jingle was sponsored by a particular business.

"I thought it was good, but after five attempts the owner of the place said 'no thanks', but we will give you two dollars for your trouble," Sparrow recalled.

However, Sparrow was totally entranced by the tune and when the Americans left the military base in Chaguaramas some time later, it was the foundation of Jean and Dinah.

"When they were here we could not get any girls. The girls were always meeting 'Joe' (as the US soldiers were called). Then when they decided to leave I wrote a song, Jean and Dinah," Sparrow said, going back in time musically and vocally, his voice going high and youthful as he sang, ending with:
'De Yankee gone
Sparrow take over now'"

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From http://www.ecaroh.com/bmp/think/jeananddinah50.htm "'Jean and Dinah' turning 50" by Keith Smith
..."In July 2004 Keith Smith published ‘Jean and Dinah’ turning 50 “to acclaim not simply the singer [The Mighty Sparrow] but the song”. In this 2006 carnival season, we join in that acclaim to the calypsonian of the century.

...since the day following the night Sparrow sang "Jean and Dinah'' on that Savannah stage, calypso was never to be the same again, Sparrow remembering:
"I can see it as if it happening now. I got up there the night and I started to sing, the crowd, man, the crowd. From the first verse the stands were in an uproar...'', the good Dr Rohlehr, (Gordon, of course) writing for history (Calypso and Society in Pre-Independence Trinidad) that the topic (the Yankee withdrawal) "had been explored ad nauseam in the post-1945 period by Kitchener, Invader, Lion, Growler, Beginner and others. It was therefore remarkable that Sparrow was able to resuscitate it ten years later. It may be that the bitterness evoked by the presence of American soldiers as wealthier competitors in the skin-trade had outlasted them by a decade. It is, however, more likely that the calypso made its impact through the personality of Sparrow: his youth, vigour, confidence and the sense that he represented the newness of the time...Another reason for the popularity of "Jean and Dinah'' was the vitality and biting cynicism with which Sparrow was able to invest a worn-out theme. Consider the final stanza:
It's the glamour boys again
We are going to rule Port of Spain
No more Yankees to spoil the fete
Dorothy have to take what she get
All of them who used to make style
Taking their two shillings with a smile
No more hotel and Simmons bed*
By the sweat of thy brow shall thou eat bread.....
-snip-
“Simmons bed” a high quality type of mattress; From http://www.simmons.com/about “For over 140 years, Simmons has been introducing technological innovations to help the world sleep better… Today Simmons is one of the world’s leading names in bedding”…

I find this transcription interesting as that line is usually given as "No more hotel to rest your head".

Click http://www.elyrics.net/read/c/calypso-lyrics/jean-and-dinah-mighty-sparrow-lyrics.html for the complete lyrics to Mighty Sparrow's song "Yankee Gone" ("Jean And Dinah") that include that ending.

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Thanks to Slinger Franscico (Mighty Sparrow) for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who I quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these sound files on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Roaring Lion - African War Call (Calypso sound file & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases the early Calypso song "African War Call" by Roaring Lion. Information about Roaring Lion & lyrics for that 1939 song are also included in this post. This post also includes information about Roaring Lion as well as brief information & comments about that song, with particular focus on the orisas [orishas] that are mentioned in that song.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT ROARING LION
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaring_Lion
"Roaring Lion (22 February 1908 – 11 July 1999)[2] was a calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), "Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", which are still performed today. The song "If You Wanna Be Happy", which hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on 18 May 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart,[3] is based on Roaring Lion's "Ugly Woman".

From a young age, Roaring Lion (de Leon's adopted stage name) became known for his skill in creating calypsos (particularly in his ability to extemporize lyrics on any subject). Contrary to his humble origins, he cultivated a refined stage persona and always appeared sharply dressed. His career officially began in 1924; he cut his first sides in his late teens. He recorded extensively between the 1930s and 1950s, and was one of the calypsonians who deserves the most credit for the increasing international popularity of the genre during this period...

Roaring Lion achieved fame for his linguistic prowess as much as for his catchy tunes. His lyrics, delivered in rapid-fire style, show an impeccable command of the English language (as well as Trinidadian slang), and are replete with witty turns of phrase, humorous metaphors, and clever alliteration and internal rhymes. Of all the early calypsonians, he was by far the most scandalous, with the most banned songs by a large margin."...

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FEATURED SOUND FILE: Roaring Lion & Cyril Monrose Orchestra - African War Call



hectorfromselecta, Uploaded on Dec 14, 2010

shango-related calypso recorded jan 1939 and one of the "war" calypsos of the time...essentially challenges to rival calypsonians by means of lyrical dexterity
-snip-
Another YouTube sound file of this now classic Calyso song can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw2KIwPsH44. That sound file has a black & white photograph of Roaring Lion.

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LYRICS: AFRICAN WAR CALL
(Roaring Lion, 1938)

La da de da da de da da dum-a
Ah de de da da de de da de dum
La da da da de de da da da
Ah de de da de la da de da Aja ju oku ro
(Calling the god Ajaja, "Saint Jonaj," who lives in the sea: "Ajaja, my friend")

Yea, aku ro sho aku ro sho
(emphatically requesting Ajaaja to mount a devotee)

Chorus- Ajaja oku ro
Lion- Yea, aku ro sho
Chorus- Ajaja oku ro
Eh ku ro sho aku ro sho
Ajaja oku ro
Sababo !
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o !
(This call signals the mounting or posession of a dancer by a spirit or god. In this song, a call to several gods, there are several mountings)
All- Ajaja oku ro
Lion- Ku ro sho aku ro sho
Chorus- Ajaja oku ro
Sababo !
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
All- Ajaja oku ro
Lion- Yea, aku ro sho aca 'bailar-oh
Chorus- Ajaja oku ro
Lion- Oku ro
Chorus- Oh-ro kuro ba' me (Oro is a god, a follower of the Ifa god of Medicine and Divination; a possible translation is that the devotee is asking the god Oro to leave but the god stops his request.)
Lion- Oku ro
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba' me
Lion- Vayase di-yeah
(good bye to the god that has possessed a devotee)
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba' me
Lion- Son abatala
(son of Abatala; e.g., the person devoted to Abatala and whom is possessed in the dance by Abatala)
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba' me
Sababo !
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Lion- Yea oku ro
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba' me
Lion- Emanja
(or Yemanja, Saint Anne, Oshun's sister, a river goddess)
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Lion- 'Batala
Chorus- oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Lion- Ajaja
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Sababa !
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Lion- Oh ku-ro
Chorus- oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Sababo !
Lion- Vayese di-yeah
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Lion- Yea a new-war-e [?]
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Lion- Son Ah-p[v]a-lo-pa
Chorus- oh-ro ku-ro ba me
Lion- Son ah-gu-ro
(The person mounted by Ahguro dancers)
Chorus- Oh-ro ko-ro ba me
Sababo !
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!
Lion- Eh! A gu ro
All- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me
(Drums)
Lion- Eh! A gu ro
Chorus- Oh-ro ku-ro ba me.

Lion's version of a Shango song that calls forth several gods who
in turn mount, or possess individual dancers.

Atila the Hun, the scholar-politician-calypsonian of this era, called the part of the song sung to the god Ajaja the "first calypso."

From insert, Calypso Calaloo, Early Carnival Music in Trinidad.
Reference to this era- Donald R. Hill, 1993, Calypso Calaloo: Early Carnival Music in Trinidad.

Posted on http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=138380"Songs from Trinidad" by Q, 16 Jun 11 - 02:16 PM

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EDITOR'S COMMENT
In 2011 I posted three comments about Roaring Lion's African War Call on that same Mudcat thread whose link is given above. Those comments provided brief descriptions & links to more information about the Yoruba [actually Lucumi or Candomble] orisas [orishas] whose names are mentioned in that song. Here's the link to the first of those comments: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=138380#3171672. My other comments about that song were posted at 16 Jun 11 - 09:49 PM and 16 Jun 11 - 10:01 PM. Also read Q's response to my first comment.

Among the points that I made in that first comment was that, although that song is entitled "African War Call", and the song's lyrics mentioned a number of orisa, it didn't mention Ogun, the Yoruba orisa of iron, and therefore of war. I therefore concluded that the title of that song was chosen for marketing purposes since the song didn't have anything to do with war. I rescind most of that portion of my comment as I failed to recognize that the war whoops which are heard periodically in that song might be considered to be imitative of stereotypical "African war calls". Those war whoops also sound like stereotypical American Indian war calls.

Also, in that linked comment I admitted that I was unsure about the orisa "Aja" who was mentioned in that song, and I wondered if that orisa was the same as "Ajaja", which is the title of a song performed by the Nigerian percussionist Oluntunji & his group. Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51O2ymTtsR8 for a video of that song.

Since then I've found this information about "Ajaja":
From http://www.olorishas.com/#!erinle--olokun/c1qxd
"Erinle is a hunter orisha. He is the patron deity of Ilobu, an Ijesha town located in south western Nigeria. Ilobu lies along the Erinlè River, a tributary of the Oshun River, on the road from Ogbomosho to Oshogbo. Ilobu is known as a trade centre for the yams, corn, cassava, oil palms, pumpkins, beans, and okra grown in the region.

There are many variations on this orisha's name, he is known as Eyinle in Egbado, Erinle in Ilobu and Enlè in Okuku. In Cuba and Trinidad he is known as Inlè or Erinle 'Ajaja'.* Ajaja is an honorific title meaning 'He who eats dog' and is punned as Àjàjà 'The ferocious one' (Warner Lewis, 1994.) In Brazil, Candomblé Ketu, he is known as Inle or Òxóssi Ibualama.

"Erinle" etymologically means 'elephant (Erin) in (ni) the-earth' (ilè) or 'land-elephant' in standard Yoruba. Erinle is a hunter, healer/herbalist and animal husbander. He has close ties with many orisha, especially Yemaya, Oshun, Oshosi, Ogun, Osain, Oba and Otin.

Inle is an orisha of wealth and prosperity. He bestows abundance to his worshippers and is propitiated in times of sickness and for fertility. Erinle works with Osain, Asohano, Yemaya and Oshun in order to provide medicie for the mind and body and nourishment for the soul. Inle is both telepath and adept diviner. He learned Odu from Orunmila and Yemaya. Inle is both telepath and adept diviner. Abatan accompanies Inle, activating and administering compounds and cures to patients under their care."

*Italics added to highlight that sentence.
-snip-
I leave it to the reader to suss out whether the comment given about the lyrics to Roaring Lion's song that "(Calling the god Ajaja, "Saint Jonaj," who lives in the sea: "Ajaja, my friend")
is accurate. Or maybe that descriptor is a result of the Lucumi syncretism since Oku [Olokun] is the orisa of the oceans [Olo=owner + Okun= oceans http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olokun.

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Thanks to Roaring Lion for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who I quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of that sound file on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More