Dedication (A Praise Song)


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DEDICATION (A PRAISE SONG)
By Charlie's Roots

Out of pain this culture was born
In life's shadowed places the magic was spawned
Well, the tribes they regrouped again
Fought their wars on a brand new plane
And through their strife their manhood was reborn
And so from all this bacchanal life is now a festival
And you can hear the children sing... hear them singing,

Chorus:
This praise song was written for the panman
To all those who've shown their dedication
Out of yesterday's rejection, onward to a new perfection
From a hunger came a feel
From that feel we shaped the steel
So we sing this song of praise for those who
Helped to clear the path that we could see through
So now we children they have a source
So very Trinbagonian, of course
Out of a muddy pond, ten thousand flowers bloom!

Not one name, not one will I call
Because to name a few will make the others seem small
But I hope when they hear my song
It will keep them proud and strong
And a once bitter man might just shrug and sing along
And anytime we catch him doing that
We could beat we chest and that's a fact
'Cause we know this song could never be in vain... leh we sing it,

Chorus:
This praise song was written for the panman
To all those who've shown their dedication
Out of yesterday's rejection, onward to a new perfection
From a hunger came a feel
From that feel we shaped the steel
So we sing this song of praise for those who
Helped to clear the path that we could see through
So now we children they have a source
So very Trinbagonian, of course
Out of a muddy pond, ten thousand flowers bloom!

There will be fools and fools always play their game
But as we forward on we shall always know their names
For just as the fire expands the steel
So too our minds will grow to reveal
A tomorrow that today we can only feel
And between the wrist and the rubber
There is a new truth to discover
That new melody, that glorious song of songs... leh we sing it,

Chorus:
This praise song was written for the panman
To all those who've shown their dedication
Out of yesterday's rejection, onward to a new perfection
From a hunger came a feel
From that feel we shaped the steel
So we sing this song of praise for those who
Helped to clear the path that we could see through
So now we children they have a source
So very Trinbagonian, of course
Out of a muddy pond, ten thousand flowers bloom! [Repeat]

And I will sing a song to you about these simple men I knew
Behind the naked river that drew the line on who was who
Me and you and you and me will share the final victory
You will see, you will see, come the day we'll know our way
The drum has found its place in another time and space
So let's celebrate, celebrate!

The following verse, supplied by Trinidesi, was composed after the album was recorded.

One day we shall SPREE,
We shall shine like SILVER STARS.
This CROSSFIRE we face to see the RISING SUN
But I heard an old CAVALIER say
We would live to see our STARLIFT some day
And like the RED ARMY will will march across the land to victory.
He say from the EAST SIDE it will appear
WEST, NORTH & SOUTH, ALL STARS will be there
As we leave HELL YARD and walk through heaven's door to PHASE II.

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!

This well-deserved song of praise is for the Trinbagonian panman but I want to extend the praise to all Trinbagonians, whether departed or still with us today, who because of their lives and their talents have brought so much beauty to our culture and so much richness to our everyday lives. And to those who just love their country and culture and are tempted to say that they've created nothing in comparison, I want to insist that the gift of appreciation inspires your compatriots to continue giving their best. We are one. We all make a contribution.

"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:

Liane Spicer said...

One of my favorites from the Roots/Rudder collaboration, along with High Mas and Song for a Lonely Soul. I'm sure there are others that I can't recall right now. Great poetry, great music, great message.

Guanaguanare said...

Liane!,
So glad you are enjoying the music. It must also be because of your writer's appreciation of the magic and power of words. I know that these lyrics are probably available in libraries but I do not have easy access to them so I transcribe most of the songs myself. This sometimes requires that I listen over and over and over to the songs, especially the parts where the words are not clearly articulated. The reward is the same wonder that you describe. After you've looked for so long into the beauty, it looks back with a smile at you and you go away blessed.
Thank you for sharing the experience with me.
Blessings

Trinidesi said...

My favourite verse was this incredibly written one after he recorded the album -

"One day we shall SPREE,
We shall shine like SILVER STARS.
This CROSSFIRE we face to see the RISING SUN
But I heard an old CAVALIER say
we would live to see our STARLIFT some day
and like the RED ARMY will will march across the land to victory.
He say from the EAST SIDE it will appear
WEST, NORTH & SOUTH, ALL STARS will be there
as we leave HELL YARD and walk through heaven's door to PHASE II"


Bless!

Guanaguanare said...

Thank you so much, Trinidesi.
Sorry about the delay but I am now adding your contribution to the lyrics for this song. Thank you also for the wonderful labour of love that is your YouTube channel - Trinidesi. My blog depends heavily on channels like yours.
Blessings for this new year and always,
Guanaguanare.