Uploaded by caribbeanvibes2
GET TO HELL OUT!
By The Mighty Sparrow (1965)
I am going to bring back Solomon
Who doh like it complain to the Commission
None of them going to tell me how to run my country
I defy any one of you to dictate for me
I am no dictator, but when I pass an order
Mr. Speaker, this matter must go no further
I have nothing more to say
And it must be done my way
Come on, come on, come on, meeting done for the day.
This land is mine, I am the boss
What I say goes and who vex los'
I say that Solomon will be Minister of External Affairs
If you ent like it, get to hell outta here!
I am going to do what I feel to do
And I couldn't care less who vex or who get blue
And if you want to test how I strong in an election
Leh we bet some money, I giving odds, ten to one
I control all the money that pass through this country
And they envy me for my African safari
I am politically strong, I am the weight of town
Doh argue with me, you can't beat me in John-John.
Who's not with me, is my enemy
And thus will be their destiny
If I say that Solomon will be Minister of External Affairs
And you ent like it, get to hell outta here!
Who the hell is you to jump and quarrel?
Look! PNM is mine - lock, stock and barrel
Who give you the privilege to object?
Pay yuh taxes, shut up and have respect
I am a tower of strength, yes
I am powerful but modest ...unless
I'm forced to be blunt and ruthless
So shut up and don't squawk
This ent no skylark
When I talk, no damn dog bark.
My word is law, so watch yuh case
If yuh slip yuh slide, this is my place
And I say that Solomon will be Minister of External Affairs
And if you ent like it, get to hell outta here!
Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are often transcribed directly from performances. Although it is my intention to faithfully transcribe I do not get all the words and I have a knack for hearing the wrong thing. Please feel free to correct me or to fill in the words that I miss by dropping me a message via e-mail. I'd be forever grateful. Thanks in advance!
.............................................................................................................................."Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation
Blessed be my beautiful people
Blessed be the day of our awakening
Blessed is my country
Blessed are her patient hills.
Mweh ka allay!
Guanaguanare
4 comments:
The image is wonderful and the words, well, what can one say?
Thanks Mary, and about the lyrics, as always I just have to stand in my shoes and wonder. With this song, a leadership style with which we have become too familiar, has been etched with glyphic clarity into the record for posterity. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
I recently pulled a dusty copy of "Sparrow's Carnival 1965" out of storage, and was googling to find more about the context of the song, and to fill in some words that I couldn't identify, which is how I came across your blog.
In that recording, Sparrow sings three verses of the song, of which you've transcribed the first and third. Here's the middle verse, to the best of my ability to fill in the words - you'll notice a blank or two in my transcription. Here goes:
I am going to do what I feel to do
And I couldn't care less who ____ or who gets blue
And if you want to test how strong in an election
Then we bet some money, I give you odds, ten to one
I control all the money
that pass through this country
And they envy me for my African safari
I am politically strong
I am the wave of ______
To argue with me, you can't beat me in john-john
Who's not with me
is my enemy
and thus will be
their destiny
And if I say that Solomon will be Minister of External Affairs
And you ent like it
Get to hell outa here!
I'll check back in a few weeks in case you post improvements on my transcription. Direct emails also are welcome: rt0042 (at) gmail dot com.
This site, while more concerned with Sparrow's "Congo Man," mentions in passing "Dr. Eric Williams’s 1964 tour of eleven African states" which is presumably the African safari mentioned in this verse. And this one mentions Sparrow's "'Solomon Out' and 'Get To Hell Outa Here', the first about a cabinet minister who resigned, accused of using his office to free his stepson from police detention, the other quoting Williams's advice to those criticizing his handling of the incident."
Dunno how much of that background will interest you, but what the hey.
Dear low-tech cyclist,
As you can see, I've added the second verse which you so kindly submitted. Thanks a million for the comment. I cannot add to your transcription since I do not have the recording but I am very grateful for your contribution and the links. Feel free always to send anything that you feel is relevant.
Blessings,
Guanaguanare
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