I Fought The Battle Of Trinidad And Tobago [Song]


I FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
By Loney, Dear

Dedicated to my homeland, T&T


I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been listening to your voice from the other side, I know you so well
I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well
I've longed for your voice from the other side, I know you so well.

I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you
I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you
I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you
I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you.

I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been wanting you so from the other side, I know you so well
I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been wanting you so from the other side, I know you so well.

I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you
I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you
I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you
I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you

I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well
I've been listening to your voice from the other side, I know you so well.
.............................................................................................




A Note From The Gull

Loney, Dear is is the pseudonym of Swedish singer-songwriter Emil Svanängen. I have no idea why he gave this song this name but I find my own meaning in it and am very glad that it was composed.

"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

Rhythm Of A People [Song]


Uploaded by nycgp

RHYTHM OF A PEOPLE
By Gypsy (Winston Peters)

Spoken words: How could you watch a people's creative energy at work and associate it with a negative mentality?

Ah hear dem say we have a Carnival mentality
And it might be true, but if that is true, it don't bother me
Cause the things that we do for Carnival, it is unsurpassed
Productivity at its highest, that's when we show we class
Our versatile creativity comes out for the world to see
Our people's cultural soul motivates and captures the world.

Chorus:
It's just the rhythm of a people,
Expression of their culture moving on
Man, is the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on.
Nobody could wine like we
Nobody will shine like we
Nobody could fete like we
No, not in the same degree
And even though they lay some claim
It would never be the same
We feting all day
We feting all night
And we working OK
Cause we moving all right
It's just the rhythm of a people,
Expression of their culture moving on
Moving on and on and on. Play mas!

From whence we came it was not the same things we brought with we
It took blood and tears, sweat and prayers to shape this entity
Calypso, roti, pelau mixed with soca and chutney
Pan, parang, callaloo and doubles helped shape our identity.
When is mauvais languing they can't beat we
But after all it comes naturally
Our cultural expressions and flair now is being practised everywhere. Why?

Chorus:
It's just the rhythm of a people
Expression of a culture moving on
Man, is the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on.
Nobody could wine like we
Nobody could shine like we
Nobody could fete like we
No, not in the same degree
And even though they try to lay some claim
It would never be the same
We feting all day, we feting all night
And we working OK, 'cause we feeling all right.
It's just the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on
Moving on and on and on. Tell dem!

In some places they have to go to school to learn to shake their waist
But in this blessed land --- the smallest child is commonplace
When it's time to pray, nobody in the world could pray like we
Our churches, mandirs and mosques sure bear our testimony
Of our way of life that only we know is our culture that have us so
Next time you talk about mentality make sure you check carefully.

Chorus:
It's just the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on
Man, is the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on.
Nobody could wine like we
Nobody would ever shine like we
And nobody could fete like we
No, not in the same degree
And even though they try to lay some claim
It would never be the same. Watch we!
We feting all day
We feting all night
We working next day
We feeling all right
It's just the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture moving on
Moving on and on and on. Play mas!...

Rhythm of a people, expression of their culture
It's just the rhythm of a people
Expression of their culture
Watch we!

Shango, bongo
Limbo, kaiso
Pan, parang
Soca, tassa
Carnival, bacchanal...

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

We Need More Love [Song]


Uploaded by trinidesi

WE NEED MORE LOVE
By Gypsy (Winston Peters)

I hear clamouring in the world saying Satan is in control
Of mankind mind, body and soul
Then I pose this question to you, Do you firmly believe that's true?
Or is people like me and you who just making the whole world blue?
When we show no consideration for the man that is on the ground
And we act without hesitation in doing a next man wrong
Then we talk 'bout evil and blaming the devil
Let's examine ourselves.

Chorus
We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail
No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb
Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help
No load is too heavy to help him carry
What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of
People, this world needs more love
We need more love. Oh yeah.

I listen to us everyday talk 'bout love in the best of way
Pray we really mean what we say
And every Sunday morning we perch on the first tune inside the church
Love's the reason we congregate then we poison our minds with hate
When we pass someone by the wayside, seeing suffering evermore
And be the first one to pass judgment
Is he sins that he paying for. Good God!
But while we judge people and what we think they do
We are being judged too.

Chorus
We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail
No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb
Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help
How could a load ever be too heavy to help him carry
What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of
I know this world needs more love
We need more love. Oh yeah.

Many conflicts and many wars are ignited simply because
Lack of love is really the cause
So much squabble and so much fight that goes on between black and white
And even though we know it's not right, hate's the reason we can't unite
We show contempt for God's creation and the beauty that lives within
------ class and position and the simple colour of one skin
Ignoring that the creator say, Love one another
How could we disobey such rule?

Chorus
We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail
No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb
Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help
No, no load is too heavy to help him carry
What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of
I know this world needs more love
We need more love. Oh yeah.

Let us swallow our foolish pride, put petty jealousy aside
And by the laws of nature abide
Check the wind, the rain and the sun,
Though they different, they exist as one
Through the great love of nature's plan
Don't they help us all to move on?
Shouldn't that be a perfect example for all mankind to follow
And like nature, the great provider
The same tender love we should show
For all God's creation, include man to man
The answer is on our hands.

Chorus:

We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail
No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb
Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help
How could a load ever be too heavy to help him carry
What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of
I know this world needs more love
We need more love. Oh yeah.

We need more love, [we need more love]....
We need more love, we need more love
We need more love, we need more love
If we must have peace
If we must have justice
If we must have fair play, I say
Unity is strength
We must go to any length
to find more love
We need love
If we must end apartheid
We need more love, we need more love....

Shadow In The Dark [Song]


SHADOW IN THE DARK
By Ataklan

It's been a while...
Shadow, sunlight
Shadow, sunlight

Man, I'd rather be a shadow in the dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
Than a loud bark without a bite.
Ah rather be a shadow in the dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
Than a loud bark without a bite.

They have a plan to keep we drunk and foolish [we must disappoint them]
They have a plan to keep we blind and dumb [we must disappoint them]
They have a plan to keep we vex and stupid [we must disappoint them]
They love yuh weak, can't stand when we strong
This is why ah tell them.

They have we pregnancy, we dependency
And we still can't see how they killing we
Hear my cry and open your eye
Untie these lies for the youths to fly
Every day we ask them for transparency
Love and support with consistency
Strong moral leaders with integrity
Until they set example for me...

Chorus:
Man, I'd rather be a shadow in de dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
Than a loud bark without a bite.
Ah rather be a shadow in the dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
than a loud bark without a bite.

Listen, these leaders out dey
-----the youths frustrated
Everything getting so damn inflated
The place real heated, they act conceited
Like they want '99 to repeat
----------- ah' just dont care
The only thing to motivate fools is fear
People tired suffering, yuh acting blind
You must expect an increase in crime
Some mightn't see where I'm coming from
Cause they favour one party, I like none
While dem puppets tell yuh jump and wine
Ataklan doh mess with yuh mind.

Chorus:
'Cause I'd rather be a shadow in the dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
Than a loud bark without a bite
Rather be a shadow in the dark
Than a big fool in spotlight
Rather be a dog without a bark
than a loud bark without a bite

They have a plan to keep we drunk and foolish [we must disappoint them]
They have a plan to keep we blind and dumb [we must disappoint them]
they have a plan to keep we vex and stupid [we must disappoint them]
They love yuh weak, can't stand when yuh strong
This is why ah tell them.

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

Can't TakeTrini Outta Me [Song]


Uploaded by 0trini0

Can’t Take Trini Outta Me - JMC 3Veni ft Remmi-D
Written and composed by Remmi-D

Oh oh oh Calling me home
Oh oh oh Calling me home

Verse 1

She had to leave
Dunno when she’d come back again
A better life away from the strife, that’s what she say
But long lonely days
Longer, lonelier nights, oh ohhhh
Bring back a thought of a happy day
On an island so far away
She want a cure to make the solitude go away
She say...

Chorus:
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
‘Cause I got a vibe down inside of me
Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me

Verse 2
On-the-job assignment
A contract lasting two years
They put him on a rig in country they call Nowhere
Confinement for so
Like piranha eating he brain (he brain)
He gone searching on the AM band
See him searching like a mad, mad man
And if yuh see the joy when he hear the soca play,
He say...

Chorus
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could put me in a Tokyo or Sydney
Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me

Bridge
That’s where my heart is
That’s where my love is
That’s where my navel string bury, oh ohhhh
That’s where my mind is
That’s where my soul is
Even a blind man could open he eye and see…

Chorus
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Just give me mih soca and mih chutney
Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Machel, Shurwayne, Traffik and 3veni
Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Throw me in a fete and let me be
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
A rainbow sea of humanity
Say yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Yuh could take me outta Trini
But yuh can’t take Trini outta me...

Revolution [Song]


Uploaded by canalcrew.


REVOLUTION
By 3CANAL

Yeah, yeah, bless
Are you ready, are you ready,
Are you ready for the real revelation?

Revelation time!

Children, children gather round
The ark, the ark is coming down
And it go take ten thousand to bar this one
Tell them, a revolution coming
Sound your horns, let the walls fall down
One by one, we go bring it down
No more might is right, no more wrong and strong
Tell them, a revolution coming
A revolution coming.
A revolution coming.

Way down in the valley of decision
All man have to save they position
Break the chains from this mental prison
And prepare for the real revelation
No more stand up on the pavement
Now is time to make a statement
Get up, stand up, watch it, check it
Say to yourself, "This land is mine."
A revolution coming.
A revolution coming.

A revolution coming down
A revolution coming down
a revolution coming down
A revolution coming
A revolution coming down
A revolution coming down
The ark, ark is coming down
Tell them, a revolution coming.

Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go

Ah say we forged from de fire
And together we aspire
Just to take this dam thing higher, higher
Higher, higher, higher
In this quest we never fail never falter never tire
Never sacrifice yuh freedom
Fire, fire in yuh wire
We free, we free, we free
No, no, nobody can hold me
We free, we free, we free
No, no, nobody can hold me

Free up, party going non-stop
This one for de -----
And we doh care what nobody say
Just doh stop we party
Everything go be irie
Keep de music pumping
People want to keep jumping

Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go
Take a wine!
We wining on corruption
Wining on frustration
Wining down oppression
we wining on the system
Wining up for unity
Wining for equal opportunity
Wining with integrity
We wining fuh we country

We free, we free, we free
No, no, nobody cyah hold me
We free, lemme go
We free, lemme go
we free, lemme go
No, no, nobody cyah hold me...

We free!

.....................................................................................................................................
"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

We Ent Arrive As Yet [Song]


Uploaded by IsDePanInMe


WE ENT ARRIVE AS YET

By Watchman

Don't tell me 'bout no big ship or small boat or who sink or who float
'Cause as man me ent really care
About no Pinta or Nina or if your grandfather swim the Nile to reach over here.
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
We, West Indians are often said to be our very own worst enemy
Though we have a common history yet everybody bad talks everybody
They say Trinidadians lazy and foolish and Guyanese is thief and pickpocket
You can't talk sense with a Jamaican and never ever bend in front a Bajan
And every little rock have its own dollar but some not even good for toilet paper
So if we cannot integrate, well then I regret
That it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.

Don't tell me 'bout no white man or Indian, Chinese or African
'Cause as man, those with eyes can see
All the races and cultures and mixtures of colours that exist in everybody
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
Our people are seen as exotic just because of their ethnic mix
But I hear that the Indicians opposing any integration
They say that the Negroes, they have a plan to impose douglarisation
So they start to lock their women indoors
And searching all their cupboards and then their 'drawers'
Is alright to mix with Chinese or white
But too much of black blood does make you blight
So if the colour of your skin make you a reject
Then it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.

Don't tell me 'bout the raping of woman and the exploitation
'Cause as man, it does get me vex
To hear 'bout planters and masters and how we grandmothers were abused
When they wanted sex
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
Our women are always said to be our very most precious commodity
But when tourism not doing well, is the women, the West Indian men does sell
Every little island has its sea and sand so them tourist could get a lovely tan
But when a cruise ship land on we shores, the first thing the men ask,
"Where are the whores?"
I think that it's high time we take a stand
When I say 'take a stand', don't misunderstand
Once the women have a 'For Sale' sign on their neck
Then it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.

For the dependent people who can't see that independence cannot come independently.

Don't tell me bout no slaveship and bondage and no Middle Passage
'Cause as man, I know my history
How the white French and Spanish and then the British exploit us since slavery
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain
Our history will teach us that Haitians fought the French for their liberation
But now the blacks in their own army forcing them to turn refugee
And over in Jamaica they'll criticise apartheid in South Africa
Yet they does shoot down one another for two white men named Manley and Seaga
Stalin should stop begging oppressors,
Bush and Reagan could never be our saviours
If we could only shake ourselves from their grasp
Is only then that all of we will arrive at last.

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!
..............................................................................................................................




A Note From The Gull


Thank you, Watchman!

"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

West India [Spoken word]

WEST INDIA from Maximilian Forte on Vimeo.


[Poem begins at position 1:38 in video]

WEST INDIA
By Roi Guanapo Ankhkara Kwabena

There is not west india
There is not west india
There is not west india
There is not west india

So how dare you baptise our emerald isles
home to Carnavales?

There is not west india

These mountain tops of Atlantis,
aquamarine basin of unclaimed shipwreck treasures
soothing drunken dreams of criminals, pirates, buccaneers, and slave traders

There is not west india

Here still live humming bird, bacchac, golden frog, manatee, caiman and 'gouti

There is not west india
There is not west india

Look, take back identities you gave my windswept volcanic rocks
St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius, St. Vincent, St. Thomas
these names of saints made hallow by some christian praise
yet who have never ever tread our shores
bitten by sandflies nor mosquitoes
dem never even feel a hurricane
or even suck mango or sugar cane.

There is not west india
There is not west india

Look, we reclaim ayiti,
xaymaca,
iere,
wadadli,
laimuiga,
aloi,
yuluma,
playground of julica
our rainbow

There is not west india

Anguilla, that eel remains my secret retreat
maluhana with reverence to jocaho
in rainy season

there is not west india

sadogla
the salt of our tears
get thee hence, St. Maarten! patron of tourism, spending US dollars
yet not half French, not half Dutch, but plenty cruise ship, plenty cruise ship, plenty cruise ship.

There is not west india

Look, look, look! Raleigh on fire, cancer and legal hysteria
multinational tobacconist running for cover
Oh Tobago, aloe vera, was never home to Man Friday or Robinson Crusoe (there is not west india)

There is not west india.

Neither can la isla de la trinity
replace my paradise, Iere, home of Yaya

There is not west india

Here is not west india, here is not west india!
nor the Taino mistaken Sarawak
how dare you call the Galibi a Carib?

There is not west india

Warahoon and karifuna children
still eating pone
Yaya!

There is not west india
There is not west india

Yaya! Yaya!

Source: Reprinted with the kind permission of the author.
.............................................................................................





A Note From The Gull


Thank you Roi! Your spirit lives on!

Thank you, Max Forte, for remembering Roi and sharing his work.

"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

Land Of Oil And Music [Song]


Uploaded by cool4rocknroll


LAND OF OIL AND MUSIC
By David Rudder and Machel Montano

Time when the waistline and the bass line takes control. This is the land of oil and music, music for the soul. Children are you ready?

I say, wine [take a jump up]
Grind [take a jump up]
Wine [take a jump up]

I say, out of the oil drum came a sound and they call it the steelpan
Made the badjohns dem put down dey guns and exchange them for iron
And when we rub that oil on we body and you hear that steelpan melody calling,
Is J'Ouvert morning!

We so down to earth that they say it's something in the soil
And for all it's worth, some say is oil wey in we coil
But deep down inside this nation, we could hear a song and rhythm calling
Hear the voices bawling!

This is the land of, the land of oil and music
When you hear the rhythm, I tell you, you can't refuse it
Is we make the steel drum, when you hear they start to beat it
Dis thing going bam bam bam-bam-------

It could make you jump, [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
It could send you wild, [wild] make you misbehave [have] - wheel and tumble
It's a rhythm to make you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, doh wine outta time.

Mister Rudder say,
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music - plenty music!
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music - yes, we have it!
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music
Open the gate, Legba! I tell you, we have it.

There's a rhythm on the street, the beat making bacchanal
And one set ah rukshun [one set ah rukshun dey making]
Woman start to tumble down in the Carnival, dey feeling the doption, ooh-yay,
Dey sweet on the street, dey knees getting weak [weak] some talking in tongues
Dey remind me of Laventille when the --------- moving, baby,
The hill coming down, the hill coming down.

'Cause this is the land of, the land of oil and music
Sweet soca and kaiso, ah tell you, you can't refuse it,
Plenty tassa rhythm, when you hear dey start to roll it
De thing going, rang-tang tang-ah-tang--------

It could make you jump [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
It could send you wild [wild] make you misbehave [have]
It's a rhythm to make you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, doh wine outta time.

Mr. Rudder say,
Legba, open the gate now! Papa Legba, open the gate! [oil and music]
Legba, open the gate now! Legba, open the gate! [oil and music]
Throw out your sorrow, children
Throw out your sorrow, children [oil and music]
Throw out your sorrow, --------- [We have it]

Listen wha ah telling you, THIS is the Trinidad
Not the one that does make we blue, but the one we love too bad.

This is the land of, the land of oil and music
When you hear the rhythm, I tell you, you can't refuse it
Is we make the steel drum, when you hear they start to beat it
I telling you,----------------

It could make you jump, [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
Wild outta yuh mind, [wild] make you misbehave [have]
It's a rhythm to make, you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, [wheel and tumble], doh wine outta time. [wheel and tumble]

It go make you jump - wheel and tumble [jump!]
It go make you wave - wheel and tumble [wave!]
It go send you wild - wheel and tumble [wild!]
Make you misbehave - wheel and tumble [have!]

Legba, open the gate! Legba, open the gate!
Legba. open the gate! Legba, open the gate!

Never refuse it [oil and music]
Never refuse it [oil and music]...

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!
..............................................................................................................................
 

A Note From The Gull

Thank you, David Rudder and Machel Montano

"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

Sit Down For The Anthem [Song]



SIT DOWN FOR THE ANTHEM
By Kurt Allen

Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, wohowoh
Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, wohowoh

When I hear the national anthem, I does always feel elated
Everybody standing together, such unity is demonstrated
From "Forged from the love of liberty" to "God bless our nation"
What a lovely sight to see, so much people standing up as one

Yet we don't apply the same principle to stand up in all areas of our lives
Hence the reason we country facing so much struggles and strife
I am sure you have all heard the long-time saying
Thing to cry for and people laughing,
Thing to stand up for, Trinbagonians does be sitting.

Because we stand up when we hear the anthem play
to demonstrate our respect
Yet we don't stand up when it matters the most
[Stand up!] like putting we country first
We stand up stiffly at attention to show solidarity
Yet we don't stand up to the Venezuealites and dem
[Stand up!] that licking up our fishermen
Millionaire get off on murder charge
because he have money like chicken
Those are the things that we standing for
in this blessed land I am living in
Well if we can't find it in our national conscience
To firmly stand up against these wrongs
Next time the anthem plays, everybody better sit down.

Cause if we can't stand up to stop this hypocrisy
[Stand up] and protect our democracy
When the anthem start, ask for excuse to go and pee
Then offer Sat Maharaj your presidency
If you know you can't stand up for T&T.

Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago cyring

Murder and rape, headless bodies
Daylight shootouts, that is the norm
We get used to this like we get used to
The foul smell on the Beetham
Bad reports on Time magazine
Still we don't ------- shame
We have lost all sense of national pride
Oh God, mih country going down the drain
If young boys could storm a police station
Take a cutlass and chop up two police man
Tell me how can we feel safe as normal citizens
In disgrace and pain, Burrowes done dead and gone
But when he was in charge dem things couldn't go on
His memory we should reward
Bring back the A team and flying squad

Because we stand up when we hear the anthem play
And we say here is Paradise
Yet we don't stand up
so much vagrants in the city [stand up]
could overthrow the Chinese army
we stand up stiffly at attention
and we say this land is the best
Yet we don't stand up for
things like truth and justice
[stand up] integrity in public office
Imagine your business eh prospering
So you check someone to give you backing
You made a promise as an upright man
To repay your "backe" when yuh catch yuh hand
But now that things going in your favour
You betray and making style on your "backer"
You thought that you could escape
But your "backer" have you on tape.
If we can't stand up for principles and ethics
[Stand up!] in our national politics
When the anthem start just pretend that you feeling sick
Then stoop down in pain and hold yuh belly
If you know you can't stand up for T&T.

Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, Wohowoh

Protest 'bout discrimination at some nightclubs in town
Deja vu of the 1970's legislation forming to shut them down
But murder charge reduced to manslaughter today
Bad -------- is out on bail
Yet they say justice have no colour
But if it was ah black ----- he'd still be in jail
We rejoice when they found Dole Chadee guilty
A vicious murderer we all agree
But that's discrimination in the drug trade
for all who have eyes to see
'Cause everybody know that the real drug barons
Are untouchable Caucasians and Syrians
They get police protection
But look ah Indian sentenced to hang.

You see we stand up when we hear the anthem play
and we say God bless our heroes
yet we don't stand up
Before the Lion and Kitchener dead
[Stand up!] and put the Trinity Cross on dey head
We stand up stiffly at attention
Ent we say we love this artform?
Yet we don't stand up to condem those ignorant fools
[Stand up!] who doh want kaiso in schools
So long the teachers' issue pending'
And in the end the children suffer
But to label them as criminals
Aggravating and pushing the thing too far
But we must not put the blame on Panday
It was in London they feed him red beef and peas
So his behaviour could be a sign of mad cow disease
If we can't stand up to protect the nation's youngsters
[Stand up!] from the Syrian drug mafia
When the anthem start you better head straight for the bar
Then badden yuh head with rum and whisky
If you know you can't stand up for T&T.

Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, Wohowoh

The country's future in the school bags
So said the Father of the Nation,
But in the bags of our school children
Are knives and nine millimetre guns
Tires for your car ten times cheaper
Than some sneakers youths wearing on the street
School children don't care 'bout what in they head
They just concerned 'bout what on they feet
---------- complacency
Institutionalised in this country
Bacchanal, gossip and mauvais langue does give
Trinbagonians orgasms
Some does fight for money, some fighting for land
Some for position, some fighting for man
But no fighting for the life of our nation.

You see, we stand up when we hear the anthem play
With our heads keep up proud
Yet we don't stand up to those foreign embassies
[Stand up!] who does treat we like a disease
We stand up stiffly at attention and we say this land is the best
Yet we don't stand up to ensure every creed and race
slap racism in its face
You love to hear me pound politicians
to get a good laugh, hold yuh head and roll
Then we leave with the same laughing attitude
And we take it all the way to the polls
But my message is no laughing matter
For we to put our cares on a shelf
Because in the end, my friend
We only laughing at weself
If we can't stand up to stop those Nazi Germans
Stand up from buying out our sister land
When the anthem start declare that you's not a citizen
then hail Hitler or Mussolini
if you know you can't stand up for T&T.

Song For Healing [Song]


Uploaded by trinidesi

SONG FOR HEALING
By Singing Sandra

This was the promised Eden, yes, we used to call here Paradise... Woy yoy
Now it looks like a savage garden, blood and human sacrifice... Woy yoy
And from Caratal to Caura, there are daily tales of horror
Rape and rampant torture, brutal murders and manslaughter

I feel to hold my belly and bawl
I know that Peter go pay for Paul
Lord, my country against a wall
But before it fall, I chanting
Om Shanti Om, down on my knees I kneeling,
Om Shanti Om, please hear my song of healing
Om Shanti Om, a lamentation for my home...

In this land of rhyme and rhythm, bongo drum and tassa did meet
Now racist slurs and cynicisms walking naked on the street
And from Laventille to Penal each man sticks to his tribe
Why can't the drum and dhantal vibrate with just one vibe?

-----------------------------
Like the massala we love to grind
Until to racism we are blind
To powers divine, ah chanting
Om Shanti Om, please hear my song of healing
Om Shanti Om, this ---------------
Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...

This is a land of follow fashion, of mimic men and mamaguy
Now incest and crimes of passion have hit an all time high
A high price we pay for progress though the value of life still cheap
Look, how they find baby Moses abandoned in a garbage heap

I want to hold my belly and bawl
Baby Moses, he ent do nothing at all
Like my ship need an overhaul
But before it stall, I chanting
Om Shanti Om, down on my knees I pleading
Om Shanti Om, Mother Trinbago bleeding
Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...

The soul of my nation wasn't stolen, no, is we who sell we own soul
With lust and greed our hearts have swollen ----------------------
Is brother against brother, you don't know who to trust
And for thirty pieces of silver, more than a million and one Judas

We can't afford this paradise lost
Lord, is we children go pay the cost
If we all share to bear the cross
Then par for the course, we chanting
Om Shanti Om, one million voices ringing
Om Shanti Om, like heaven's choir singing
Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...

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!
..............................................................................................................................


A Note From The Gull

Thank you, Singing Sandra!

"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