We Are [My Trindad And Tobago] [Song]


Uploaded by Rembunction

WE ARE [MY TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO]
By Rembunction

My Trinidad and Tobago, wo-oh woh, my Trinidad and Tobago
Keep my heart full of fire that burns so bright
Dedicated to everything that's right
Keep unity and equality in La Trinity.

We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are [so brave, so bold]
We are, [building] we are, we are, [stronger] we ay-ay are [growing together]
We are, [climbing] we are, we are, [higher] we ay-ay are [reaching further]
We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are.

This land is my land and my legacy
Our forefathers and foremothers fought vehemently
United so that we stand independently
Celebrating our nation's first half century.
With a culture so inherently in all ah we
I love the way we walk and talk with rhythm and such melody
I salute my country.

My Trinidad and Tobago, wo-oh woh, my Trinidad and Tobago
Keep my heart full of fire that burns so bright
Dedicated to everything that's right
Keep unity and equality in La Trinity.

We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are [so brave, so bold]
We are, [building] we are, we are, [stronger] we ay-ay are [growing together]
We are, [climbing] we are, we are, [higher] we ay-ay are [reaching further]
We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are.

We are mas', pan and calypso birthed from her womb
We are bright Chaconia flowers in full bloom
We're the speedy Cocrico, the Scarlet Ibis in full flight
We are kings and queens and scholars
We's a soca fete in the night
We are food and mood and gas and crude
And such a breezy attitude
This longitude and latitude, I always show my gratitude.

We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are [so brave, so bold]
We are, [building] we are, we are, [stronger] we ay-ay are [growing together]
We are, [climbing] we are, we are, [higher] we ay-ay are [reaching further]
We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are.

Oh island, oh island here in the sea
Let us keep swimming in oceans of integrity
Aspiring and achieving with real unity
Believing and nurturing that philosophy
And though we are not free of controversy,
I always need you close to me
I cherish our democracy and our history.

My Trinidad and Tobago, wo-oh woh, my Trinidad and Tobago
Keep my heart full of fire that burns so bright
Dedicated to everything that's right
Keep unity and equality in La Trinity.

We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are [so brave, so bold]
We are, [building] we are, we are, [stronger] we ay-ay are [growing together]
We are, [climbing] we are, we are, [higher] we ay-ay are [reaching further]
We are, [one heart] we are, we are, [one soul] we ay-ay are.

I bleed Red, White and Black and there's no turning back
I see hope for the future, we must take it further
So much here to treasure, gifted beyond measure
We've done such great things and continue to do much more.

My Trinidad and Tobago, wo-oh woh, my Trinidad and Tobago
Keep my heart full of fire that burns so bright
Dedicated to everything that's right
Keep unity and equality in La Trinity.

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

Thank you, Rembunction! Beautiful, beautiful images and sentiments.

"We are mas', pan and calypso birthed from her womb
We are bright Chaconia flowers in full bloom
We're the speedy Cocrico, the Scarlet Ibis in full flight
We are kings and queens and scholars
We's a soca fete in the night
We are food and mood and gas and crude
And such a breezy attitude
This longitude and latitude, I always show my gratitude."

"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

2 comments:

John Hill said...

Having been brought up in Trinidad in the 1940s to 1960s I still consider Trinidad my true home (even though born in Canada and now living in Australia). So, I was thrilled and delighted to discover your website today. I was particularly excited to find that Carib culture still survives in Trinidad. I am so pleased you have managed to save so much. Unfortunately, my maternal ancestors, descended from the Beothuk - the so-called "extinct natives" of Newfoundland - manged to hand down almost nothing of their culture as they were ruthlessly suppressed and exterminated. But, as a proud descendant, I send you my greetings and blessings. Keep up the great work of saving what is left for your children and grandchildren and, indeed, you will thereby enrich the whole human race. Thank you for sharing so much! John Hill, Cooktown, Queensland, Australia. wynhill2@bigpond.net.au

Guanaguanare said...

John Hill, Citizen of the world!
Thank you for visiting and for your kind comments about your adopted homeland, T&T, and the blog. Yes, the First Nations people do persist in T&T and they do maintain traditions. I would not be so quick to bury your Beothuk people either. Before researchers like Dr. Maximilian Forte came along, the received knowledge in T&T was that the indigenous peoples there were extinct, had been decimated, wiped out, even though their descendants were living among us and many of us could confirm that we had Amerindian ancestry! There was also some preoccupation with racial purity resulting in refusal to acknowledge those of mixed ancestry as "authentic" Amerindians and a dismissal of other non genetic factors which influence ethnic self-identification.

I do not know that much about the Beothuk, the Mi'kmaq being more prominent where I lived, but it would be interesting to see what a researcher with fresh eyes may uncover about the persistence of Beothuk culture. I know that they have identified genetic survival in Iceland and you are all the way down in Australia among the gum trees, testifying, living proof of that genetic, if not cultural survival. The Beothuk will go on because you, John Hill, are Beothuk.

Thanks again for visiting and for taking the time to communicate. Very, very much appreciated.
Blessings