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.