Paramin [Song]


Uploaded by caribbeanvibes2 
Singing Sandra's "Paramin" also courtesy Skellion.com.
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PARAMIN
By Singing Sandra (2008)

Well, look I need a break from ham and black cake
So this Christmas I intend to chill
And I feel to eat some sweet wild meat
So this year I heading for the hills
Where folks smile as they meeting
Where a cock crowing doh stop de lime
Where, as they wish you "Season's Greetings!"
Same time they hand you some chive and thyme.

Ah heading for Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To hear a string bass and a mandolin
Paramin, is parang, Paramin, real parang
The kind that Daisy Voisin used to sing
Up dey you coulda canta, canta
Up dey you coulda baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho." Ayee!
'Cause they have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Take me back to Paramin.

Well boy, ah want to smell the real pastelle
Wrap in fig leaf, melting in your mouth
Ey, and I waiting too for the Mountain Dew
The one that bound to done as you bring it out
Where people bake bread in ah wood oven
Where they still boil ham in a pitchoil pan
Is as though you dead and you gone to heaven
'Cause everybody dey have a real sweet hand.

Ah going to Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To see ah old time creche fill with cherubim
Brother, is Paramin, for parang, Paramin, roots parang
The kind the Lara Brothers used to sing
Up dey ah go canta, canta
Up dey ah go baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho."
You know they have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Take me up to Paramin.

Oh gosh, ah tired hear about reindeer
About Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Is long time I want to sing a true Trini thing
So mih native talent I could expose
Where the people doh need plenty money
The true meaning of Christmas celebrates
Where, as you wake voices sweet as honey
Serenading you right outside your gate.

Go up to Paramin
For Christmas, Paramin, this Christmas
To hear a string bass and a mandolin
Ah going to Paramin
For parang, Paramin, sweet parang
The kind dat Daisy Voisin used to sing
Come up dey and canta, canta
Come up dey and baila, baila
Say, "Me gusta mucho, mucho."
They have it genuine
Dancing, dancing, little children prancing, prancing
Everyone romancing
Leh we go to Paramin!

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!
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A Note From The Gull

I found this gem on Toronto Lime's collection of Caribbean Christmas music. Singing Sandra, you've done it again! One of the most refreshing soca parang songs that I've heard in a while.

I must admit that I've never been to Paramin so I am experiencing it vicariously through Singing Sandra's descriptions. These are the songs about Trinbago that I love, the ones that celebrate its people and places and creatures.

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

3 comments:

Liane Spicer said...

Wishing you all the best for the season and in the new year, Seagull.

I am loving the Trini Christmas music, and I look forward to reading your blogs in the new year. Every time I visit I leave refreshed - and hopeful, which is saying a lot. Keep up the good work!

Maximilian C. Forte said...

Hey, you are really swept up in the deep whirlpool of beautiful Parang and Trini Christmas I see!

Thanks so much for sharing, and I wish you a happy, healthy, safe, productive, rewarding, tranquil, beak-filled new year!

Guanaguanare said...

Thanks, Liane and Maximilian for dropping by on Christmas Eve and leaving your kind comments. All the best to you too!!

I'm glad you enjoyed the music. If I ever needed to be convinced (and I do not) that Trinbagonians are golden, I'd turn first of all to our best music and musicians. There are many other great fruits to be found on our Trinbagonian tree but I happen to LOVE music.

I used to be involved in parang but away from my homeland my guitar is mostly silent. Tonight I went walking through the snow -illuminated park. I was all alone. People have better things to do on Christmas Eve I suppose. I trudged slowly through the deep, heavy snow singing at the top of my voice:

"Feliz nochebuena, noche de la Navidad
Noche de alegria, noche de felicidad.
Feliz nochebuena, noche de la Navidad
Noche de alegria, noche de felicidad."


There was no one to see me or hear me except the naked trees and maybe the nocturnal critters who remained concealed and maintained a polite silence.

For me, our music is like an umbilical cord. It keeps me connected to my homeland and to another life that I never want to leave behind.

[Aunque] En la nochebuena me voy a parranda
[Aunque] En la nochebuena me voy a parranda
[Aunque] En la nochebuena me voy a parranda
[Aunque] En la nochbuena me voy a parranda


Blessings!