Parang In The Sun [Song]

  Uploaded by Jrscope
PARANG IN THE SUN
By Colly Garcia

Goodbye my friends, I have to go
Can't take this cold, can't take this snow
This place has a chilling breeze
That will make your pot freeze
And shrink your nuts like pigeon peas.

Goodbye, my friends, I'm heading home
T&T is where I want to roam
Here, there is sun the whole year
Pretty woman everywhere
When you miss me, I'll be there.

I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care 'bout no crime, 'cause I'll be drunk all the time
I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care what you say, I going home anyway.

Goodbye, my friends, when you miss me
I'll be on a plane to T&T
To check out Manning and Panday
Cuss one another all day
While I lime and break away.

Goodbye my friends, I had fun
But Christmas time here ent have no sun
Last week I look up in the sky
A snowflake hit me in mih eye
I nearly die, that ent no lie.

I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care 'bout no crime, 'cause I'll be drunk all the time
I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care what you say, I going home anyway.

Goodbye my friends, please don't cry
When my plane take off to the sky
I will look down from the air
Laugh at all you down there
I won't care nor shed a tear.

Goodbye my friends, as I reach
I'm heading straight for Maracas Beach
Bring me a good bake and shark
Drink a Carib and skylark
Lie on the sand 'til it get dark.

I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care 'bout no crime, 'cause I'll be drunk all the time
I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care what you say, I going home anyway.

Goodbye my friends, I'm in the mood
To eat real Trini Christmas food
McDonalds doh make no pastelle
Ponche a creme, they don't sell
Neither mauby nor sorrel.

Goodbye my friends, I'm out of here
Taco Bell ent have no ginger beer
I going home for manicou
Lappe, tattoo and babash too
Trini Christmas is the best for true.

I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care 'bout no crime, 'cause I'll be drunk all the time
I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care what you say, I going home anyway.

I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care 'bout no crime, 'cause I'll be drunk all the time
I'll make joy, I'll have fun, I will parang in the sun
I don't care what you say, I going home anyway...

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, Colly Garcia! I can identify with your need to leave the cold behind and head home to T&T.

Fall is marching on here and after the first frost the huge flocks of geese have started urgently leaving in droves. I look up at the sky whenever I hear them and a big smile splits my face. I don't know where they are heading but their urge to move is exhilarating and contagious as I stand on the earth way below them. I want to be with them. Take me with you!!!! I can never tire of watching and listening. I love how their untidy lines after takeoff organise gradually into the V-formation typical of the migratory flight of these geese. The sound of their honking draws me out of the house. I want to feel their excitement. I want to feel the strength in their hearts and beating wings as they push onwards. I wish them good health and good eating along the way to make the journey to wherever they are heading.

This blog is increasingly being queried for Christmas songs. Visitors, like the geese, are turning with the seasons and thoughts of Christmas are calling.  Life goes on.

Be safe, countrymen. 

"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

Couper Le Moteur, Couper La Rage!

  Uploaded by UCw4zccuelUnjvcskPfa_kYw 

In my country people are being murdered for "bad drives", for "bad tackles", and now I have the horror of viewing on video how another citizen with just the slightest twist of fate could have been murdered for "bad talking" another person's lack of consideration.

When I saw the video above on YouTube, I was deeply shocked. I will not be returning to view it another time because what I saw left me sick to my stomach and very disappointed in some of the fellow Trinbagonians captured on camera.

Forget for a while, whose son the assailant is, what shocked me even more was:

1. The arrogance and complete disregard for the life and well-being of another human being displayed by the assailant, and

2. The reactions, or lack thereof, of both the vendor, his assistant and the other customers, while this incident was happening.

Did the victim of this assault look for his licks? Is it that a citizen is not allowed, if he values life and limb, to complain about a countryman's actions which are causing him/her distress? And wasn't this citizen also seeking the interests of the others since whether they know it or not, or, whether they care or not, they would also have benefited from not continuing to inhale harmful fumes while eating?

I am quite certain that all of the persons at the scene had cellphones on their persons, yet I noted that no one even took out a phone even as an empty threat to call the police, not during and not after the incident. From what I could see on the video, no one asked the victim if he had been injured or if he needed assistance. No one extended a hand of concern. To be very generous maybe the doubles eater whose back is to the camera did manage to say through a packed mouth..."Boy, ... [munch-slurp]...dis place real [slurp-munch] gone through!!" [belch].

Instead, all I saw was one customer in a striped jersey loping briskly away from the scene when he saw the assailant returning with the weapon. He hustled up the street and moved back onto the pavement beside the third car up where he stopped to look back and maco the doings from a safe distance. When he saw the assailant leave the scene, he proceeded to come back down the street towards the vendor's stand. I noted the vendor's assistant distancing herself and backing smoothly into a doorway as her client was being assaulted. I observed with some morbid fascination how the vendor's hands were never raised in protest but continued like a robot to prepare the doubles for his clients and even going on to serve the assailant! [I would have flung his money back at him and told him that I don't serve thugs.] I also noticed the red crested doubles gobbler continuing to pack his cheek pouches with food and yet another bystander playing the cool operator. If he had pursed his lips and started bug-eyed to whistle idly into the air, I would not have been surprised.

Back to the complaint that triggered this incident, there was absolutely nothing foolish about the older gentleman's concern with the idling motor where people were serving and eating doubles. Where I am located there are anti-idling regulations to reduce pollution emitted by cars parked without turning off the engine. Check here for the fines across the USA. Although three minutes is the maximum for many states, there are some situations that allow NO minutes.

In Canada there are laws which provide fines for drivers leaving their engines running for more than three minutes when the car is stationary.

We see variations of the sign below which tell us to shut off the motor if we are not in motion:

 

Removing the ignition key when your vehicle is stationary according to Idlefreebc.ca would reduce fuel expenses by 20% per year. They have calculated that if every Canadian were to cut his engine three minutes a day, the entire population would save 630 million gallons of fuel and avoid $945 million in smoke each year, and the issuance of 6.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Yes, this assailant's diesel powered vehicle was left idling for less than three minutes but the victim was only aware of the spewing fumes. His concern was that it was idling in a location where persons were eating, and that commonsense or common courtesy should have guided the assailant to turn off his engine.

And don't tell me that it was only a planassing. Even as a cocoa payol born with a cutlass in my hand,  I would not in my wildest dreams rest as much as a cocoyea stick on the person of another human being just for talking? - and even worse, an elder who is admonishing me only with words that reportedly cannot break my bones? How the hell did we get to the point where we can injure another human being for voicing a complaint that is justified?

If the reports are correct, this victim was injured by the beating so if this assailant, caught in the act for the entire Internet connected world to witness, is not punished by law, I will be left to draw even more unfortunate conclusions about what is happening in my country. 

MORE OF THE SAME
Saw this today 18/10/2012. The time is different but the place - that is, uncontrolled rage - is the same. Uploaded by PopulusBroadcasting  .............................................................................................................................. 
"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

 

Government Information From A Government In Formation.

"The Government wants one hour per day of State-produced programming on its accomplishments to be aired on local radio and TV stations."

From some of the comments by online readers, I see that there are real fears about this development. As with all tools, they are as dangerous or as beneficial as the intentions of their wielders, and if many of us are disinclined to trust the government, it is understandable why we would react negatively to what we perceive as the feverishly spreading tentacles of a propaganda machine. Only time will tell whether this government information will be part of a genuine, intelligent Bootstrap event from a government in formation, or an aggressive, tactical manoeuvre of a band flying in formation for the attack.

I have always been a supporter of communication between the government and its employer - the people. When the Leader of the Opposition's motion of no confidence called the government to give an account, I thanked him and I advised the government to learn that there was a real need to be more transparent, to provide progress reports.  So the current fog of shocked disbelief and rage being experienced by many citizens coinciding with the government's realization only now that it needs to communicate does not surprise me but it also does not change my view that we need this information. If this government is now fighting for its survival, if it hopes to overcome and to grow into a creature worthy of trust and respect, this could be the beginning of its recovery. As a citizen, I'd be interested in being supplied with information. Let me decide if to take it or leave it or query it. I'd certainly prefer this over screaming silence or plenty, plenty garbled talk only when the heat is on. 

Having said that, I am not at all interested in a  "Sit back passively, dear citizen, and let us tell you what your caring government has accomplished on your behalf" approach. I believe that the most important facet of any accomplishment would be the consultative process. So this is why I would divide each issue into two parts. The first day would be for highlighting a particular issue which the government is addressing and I use the present participle - is addressing - since it is my belief that no issue goes away entirely. First there is a problem or a planned development, then there is the work that goes into addressing its eradication or introduction and then there is the ongoing monitoring/maintenance/tweaking. The issue could be introduced by a panel of government and other experts and they can discuss what has been tried in the past in this country, what has been done elsewhere, how this government is thinking about, or actively approaching the issue. This introduction should stimulate thought and would allow the interested population to mull over the issue for a day and then be ready the next day to offer their two cents. You can take inputs by e-mail to sift out the pranksters but I think that those genuinely interested in making a serious contribution would have the satisfaction of knowing that it is not only when their heels are pounding pavements that their voices will be respected, that their government will listen.

To adapt some lines from Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall:

"We don't need no propaganda

We don't need no thought control!"

 LET US HAVE INTELLIGENT, GENUINE FEEDBACK - FEEDBACK - FEEDBACK!

The communication has to involve information flows in both directions. There must be feedback from the nation. It must be solicited. In fact, it is sometimes the feedback mechanism that alerts the managers to issues requiring attention.  Of course, this feedback should not be limited only to what is solicited during this programme. It would be impossible given the limitation of time to take all submissions but these can be directed to an address off air. Like I mentioned before in a previous post, other countries have recognised the importance of feedback and have implemented systems to harvest and harness this valuable resource towards national improvement. 

About local content: 

"He [Minister Jamal Mohammed] used Canada as an example of a country which implemented legislation to increase local content." ....

"She [Kiran Maharaj] also used the example of Canada but pointed out that this country's population was substantially larger than Trinidad and Tobago's and there was a sizeable market for local content there.

"However, in Trinidad and Tobago, the format of local stations was dictated by what society wanted to hear and watch."

My thoughts on this are that if our local content is of good quality, there will be a local demand for it. So is it that "society" has in the past rejected good quality local content in favour of foreign content? I am asking. I have no idea. I don't think that "society" is going to start preferring something if it does not exist. Also, if it is of good quality, use the same substantially larger Canadian/North American/European/World market and target the Trinbagonian/Caribbean diaspora. My personal preference is always the sweet relief of seeing and hearing Caribbean landscapes, faces and voices. Many of you must have seen the film "The Mystic Masseur". I've seen that over half a dozen times on cable television here and if it comes on again I will be most present. Why? Because it is set in Trinidad, there are some Trinidadian actors and the book on which it was based was written by our V.S. Naipaul. I have no doubt that our local film industry can produce similar or superior products.

The diaspora wants your local programming so if Trinbagonians at home have developed a taste for American content, come to the Trinbagonians outside where we are located all over the world. Maybe like with so many other indigenous products, the status and the demand for it will increase locally only after it has been exported and come full circle. If there were any Caribbean channels offered by our cable provider I would have already selected those. Right now I rely on YouTube for snippets of everything Trinbagonian, even when how we present ourselves there cuts me to the soul.

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

Address To The Nation On The Occasion Of Republic Day, 2012.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

TRINIDAD 

REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 

Address to the Nation by His Excellency Timothy Hamel-Smith, Acting President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on the occasion of Republic Day 2012.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO...A Nation at the crossroads 

As we celebrate Republic Day it is a time to take stock. At this juncture we must ask ourselves where we are and what we have achieved after 50 years of Independence.

We have much to be thankful for. We have been blessed in so many ways. No matter what the naysayers claim, I believe, over the last 50 years, we have started on the journey to forging our unique national identity. We have a long way to go yet and there is much to be done. Let us focus on the future that we want to create for our beloved Trinidad and Tobago.

There is no one coming to the rescue of Trinidad and Tobago. That is the job which we must do. We must chart our own destiny into the future - that is the real significance of our becoming a Republic in which the supreme power lies with the People. I believe as Trinbagonians we have the potential - we have the inner resourcefulness - to achieve great things. The size of our Nation is no impediment to fulfilling our dream for Trinidad and Tobago. Smaller countries with less resources have left us behind and charted their own course towards fulfilling their dreams as a people.

It is our turn now. We must give up the notion that some fairy godmother is going to emerge to transform our land and fulfil our dreams. It is we the people, each of us individually and collectively working together, who will gain for us the prosperity which we desire. Yes it will involve hard work and sacrifice but I am convinced we can do it and even experience the joy and fulfilment which comes from a job well done.

So what must we do to achieve our dream for Trinidad and Tobago? We must look to the only thing over which we have control - the man in the mirror. How we as a people lead our lives will determine our ultimate destiny. We cannot and must not permit the small ring of criminals and misfits in our land, to determine who we are as a people. As a nation we must demonstrate that we are far greater and much too talented to let our history be defined by the criminal minority in our land.

It means that as a people we have to adopt values and attitudes which will serve to transform our nation. Yes this will demand of us hard work and discipline and even passionate devotion to our work. Regrettably, we as a Nation have adopted bad habits and

-- pg. 2

have allowed ourselves to become undisciplined and lawless. We will have to reverse that trend. We will have to undertake a National Commitment to integrate into the fabric our lives new values, virtues and attitudes, so all that we do is underpinned by these character building principles.

So what are the values, virtues and attitudes that we must develop as part of our national character to enable us to achieve our dreams for Trinidad and Tobago? I believe these must include Patriotism, Family Life, Peace, Thanksgiving, Discipline, Forgiveness, Productivity, Justice, Co-operation, Love of the Environment, Honesty and Kindness.

I believe that our starting point must be to develop a sense of patriotism and love of Country. And what better way to achieve that goal than through music? For me, our musical talent is what typifies the native genius of our people. Imagine if over the next 12 months of our Jubilee Year, commencing with our 50th Anniversary of Independence we offer rewards to our best composers, performers, artistes and students of all ages to encourage them to use their artistic talents to compose music to touch the hearts and minds of all our people with love for Country. Would that not be a rich tapestry on which to weave all of the other virtues we must pursue as a Nation? Imagine bringing such musical talent to a crescendo in a joyful celebration of unity, love and respect as we honour Republic Day next year.

And while we develop a sense of patriotism and love of Country over the coming year, let us focus exclusively on building one virtue each month so that we can emerge as a Nation which fulfils its dreams for Peace and Prosperity. Research tells us that we can integrate a new habit into our life if, over a period of at least 21 days, we repeat that habit on a daily basis so that it becomes a permanent part of our character. Over a period of 12 months it would therefore be possible to transform our national character by adopting one new habit or virtue each month. If we do this, we will dramatically change the path of our Nation towards fulfilling our dreams and aspirations for Peace and Prosperity for all.

So let us start with the month of October by focusing our energies on Family Life. As we look around we wonder how will we ever emerge from the darkness of crime, indiscipline and lawlessness which threatens to overrun our Country. What better way to start to reverse that trend than to focus on family life and parenting skills. Is not the breakdown of family life at the very heart of the tragedy of crime in our Country? Children are the most precious of God's gifts to us. It is vital that we place significant resources and energies into developing parenting skills. This is the starting point if we hope to reverse the drift towards gang membership by our young people. We must allow them to dream of a far greater life than gang membership. Each of us has a duty to create a loving and caring environment for all children and, in particular, those who do not have a supportive family life. In this coming month of October, let each of us adopt as our motto "I will cherish my Family and hug and kiss my children each day".

In the month of November let us all focus on the ways in which each of us can be Ambassadors of Peace by adopting the daily motto: "I will walk the Path of Peace at all times". This will require each of us to promote harmony and goodwill among all and to act with dignity. While, in some situations, Justice demands that I confront an unjust situation,

-- pg. 3

I will not allow myself to become judge, jury and executioner. In humility there is strength. There is so much anger in our society - No matter the provocation I will not contribute to its increase.

In December let's make Thanksgiving our focus. This virtue means that I understand that God is the source of our creativity and giftedness. Let us, therefore, develop a sense of thankfulness for all the blessings we receive. In developing the virtue of Thanksgiving, I undertake as my motto for this month: “I will nurture, love and care for others as I seek out their best interests in every situation”.

As we emerge into the New Year, in January, let us place our focus on the virtue of Discipline. A starting point for making the greatest impact on discipline would be to change our behaviour on the roadways. This virtue will require that I do not drive on the shoulder or break traffic lights or drive recklessly. I will ensure that, in any car in which I drive, seatbelts are worn at all times. I will not drive if I have been drinking. I will practise defensive driving and obey all traffic regulations. I understand that my actions on the road have a significant impact on others and may either promote harmony and discipline or be the cause of disintegration and ill-will.

I am convinced that if we truly adopt this virtue of Discipline as a Nation as a part of our everyday life, as a Nation, we will have developed the foundation for realising our dreams for Trinidad and Tobago. I, therefore, undertake as my motto for each day during the month of January that “I will exercise Discipline in all of my actions and, in particular, I will drive carefully and be courteous to other users of the roadway”.

In February let us focus our energies on the virtue of Forgiveness knowing I too am in need of Mercy. I understand that forgiveness is at the heart of love and that my behaviour has often fallen short of the ideal. How then can I be less than forgiving when others do me wrong? So many conflicts smoulder into resentment and the desire for revenge and yet, such resentment grows like a cancer in me and does more harm to me than my foe. Each day in February I will adopt as my motto, “I promise to seek the Path of Forgiveness and Reconciliation".

In March it is a time for us to focus on the virtue of Productivity, without which we can never aspire to greatness. I understand this will require me to perform every single task to the best of my ability. I will play my part in producing the highest quality products and performing extraordinary services. I understand that if I perform my work poorly all of us suffer, including my self-worth, particularly when this impacts on the general public. I recognise that getting it right sometimes means trying more than once and that giving up is not an option for strong people and strong nations. As my motto for March, I undertake that “I will strive for excellence by seeking to get it right the first time”.

In April, as a Nation, let us focus on the virtue of Justice. I understand this to require me to avoid discriminatory practices and to guarantee equal treatment and opportunity for all in areas such as gender, age, race, religion and nationality. I therefore commit to support any endeavour that promotes equality of treatment, justice and fairness among fellow citizens.

-- pg. 4

In May, it is time for us to focus on the virtue of Co-operation. By fostering the full potential of all those within my circle of influence, I am helping to build my Nation. I will seek out opportunities to contribute my time, talent and treasure in the service of others and for the benefit of the common good. As my motto for each day of the month of May, “I will put people at the centre of all that I do”.

In June, it is time for us to focus on our Environment and to treat it with care and respect. I will ensure that my Family and friends dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly manner. In support of this, I will demand that business activities promote sustainable development and prevent environmental degradation and waste of resources. I, and my Family, will play a lead role in preserving and enhancing the physical beauty of our environment. My commitment for this month must be: “I will not litter”.

In July, let's make Honesty the virtue on which we focus our energies. I understand honesty to include transparency, truthfulness and honouring of my obligations. I understand this will require that in all my activities I will show a special concern for the less powerful and the disadvantaged. This can be done through charitable donations, participating in the activities of civic organisations and advocating the cause of justice and fair play. I understand that this commitment demands that the wage level of the lowest ranking workers be such as to permit them and their families to enjoy an acceptable quality of life. Each day in the month of July, I adopt as my motto, “I will be honest and fair, treating all persons with dignity and respect”.

In August let us focus our energies on the virtue of Kindness. I understand that the ripple effect of any act of kindness promotes harmony and touches the lives of others in ways that I cannot imagine. Such actions on my part will play a significant part in changing the habits of our citizens. Each day in the month of August, I undertake that “I will perform one random act of kindness each day”.

And so as we integrate these virtues each month into the fabric of our daily lives, together we will transform our Nation. We the People, without waiting for any government or fairy godmother, will have sown the seeds of greatness for Trinidad and Tobago. We would have set the foundation for the Peace and Prosperity of our Nation.

Today, as we approach the crossroads of our destiny after 50 years of Independence, I urge all citizens of goodwill to join in this Commitment to Nation Building by integrating these virtues which are all vital to the people of Trinidad and Tobago achieving their dreams.

I understand that this “Power of One”, which underlies this character building movement, will involve my having the courage to take such steps, within my circle of influence, as will bring about change and I will not shirk this responsibility. This can be done by participating in community and civic affairs and through educational and cultural contributions.

-- pg. 5

To embark on this program of Nation Building, it will require time, money and energy. The daily Commitments which I have outlined above will have to be reinforced each day through marketing efforts. Many of us will remember the campaign to “Chase Charlie away”. A similar marketing campaign will have to be developed to promote the virtues and character building which Trinbagonians must adopt if we are to transform our dreams of peace and prosperity into reality. The question is: “Will we take up the challenge so that, at the end of the day, we can each say with conviction "I am proud of my T&T, a wonderful place to live, work, and retire".

May Almighty God richly bless each one of you and, on this our Republic day, may God bless our Nation.

Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen.

SOURCE 

 ..............................................................................................................................

A Note From The Gull

I want to thank His Excellency Timothy Hamel-Smith, Acting President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for this Address to the Nation on the occasion of Republic Day 2012. I will comment on this beautiful address later today but for now I want to wish those in our nation who can celebrate, a Happy Republic Day. For those who are in mourning for whatever grievous loss you have suffered recently, my prayer is for your healing and my hope is that many hands will reach out to support you at this time.

6:19 PM

If the Acting President had said nothing after these opening lines of this address, I would have received his entire message:

"We have much to be thankful for. We have been blessed in so many ways. No matter what the naysayers claim, I believe, over the last 50 years, we have started on the journey to forging our unique national identity. We have a long way to go yet and there is much to be done. Let us focus on the future that we want to create for our beloved Trinidad and Tobago."

But he did not stop there. He goes on to turn some keys and to light many candles. Self reliance - Although he is telling us that our nation is our business and that there will be no deus ex machina that will appear magically to fix our business, he is also telling us that we are abundantly capable of being the authors of our success. This is the tone of the entire address. He lists what he sees as the values, virtues and attitudes that we must develop as part of our national character to enable us to achieve our dreams for Trinidad and Tobago - Patriotism, Family Life, Peace, Thanksgiving, Discipline, Forgiveness, Productivity, Justice, Co-operation, Love of the Environment, Honesty and Kindness. Based on these he suggests a To-Do List that gives us a focus for each month in the year ahead.

"Let us focus exclusively on building one virtue each month so that we can emerge as a Nation which fulfils its dreams for Peace and Prosperity. Research tells us that we can integrate a new habit into our life if, over a period of at least 21 days, we repeat that habit on a daily basis so that it becomes a permanent part of our character. Over a period of 12 months it would therefore be possible to transform our national character by adopting one new habit or virtue each month. If we do this, we will dramatically change the path of our Nation towards fulfilling our dreams and aspirations for Peace and Prosperity for all."

I felt energised seeing it presented to us like this. Although I have thought about all of these values/virtues/attitudes, the Acting President was urging us to move beyond thinking to making these accomplishments a reality, to move beyond the fog of a bewildering, unnamed hope to discrete, approachable, doable tasks. We can accomplish a great deal in a year, if we work individually and together on adopting good habits and virtues.

"We the People, without waiting for any government or fairy godmother, will have sown the seeds of greatness for Trinidad and Tobago. We would have set the foundation for the Peace and Prosperity of our Nation."

As I read the address I got the feeling that these are not just empty words, that this was not just another speech. I felt that real love had gone into preparing it. I don't know if a speech writer wrote it for the Acting President but something about the tone of this address was down to earth - a challenge and a promise from the heart.

His Excellency spoke about the time, money and energy that will be required to embark on this program of Nation Building, a marketing campaign like the one behind “Chase Charlie away” so I am left wondering if this has already been put in place and if we will begin in October this year.  Will the planning and execution involve cooperation between government, schools, religious bodies, cultural organisations and business enterprises, to name a few?

The address ends with the question:  

“Will we take up the challenge so that, at the end of the day, we can each say with conviction "I am proud of my T&T, a wonderful place to live, work, and retire". 

Yes, yes, yes, I will, in whatever way I can from this distance.

I will repeat His Excellency's closing prayer:

"May Almighty God richly bless each one of you and, on this our Republic day, may God bless our Nation."

"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

One Love [Song]

Uploaded by cool4rocknroll
ONE LOVE
By David Rudder [1988]

"Love to the world." I would like to say
"Peace to the world." I would like to see the day
Of peacefulness, happiness and togetherness.

I would like to see the day when love will come to stay [One love, one love]
It's a happiness to see such a unity [One love, one love]

[Hey hey hey, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey now.]

L-O-V-E is such a unity
L-O-V-E was meant to be the master key
Of peacefulness, happiness and togetherness.

I would like to see the day when love will come to stay [One love, one love]
It's a happiness to see such a unity [One love, one love]
I would like to see the day when love will come to stay [One love, one love]
It's a happiness to see such a unity [One love, one love.]

[Hey hey hey, hey hey hey
hey hey hey, hey hey hey now.]

I would like to see the day when love will come to stay [One love, one love]
It's a happiness to see such a unity [One love, one love]
I would like to see the day when love will come to stay [One love, one love.....]
It's a happiness to see such a unity....

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 Trinbagonians, keep that flame of solidarity burning!

"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

The Power Of The Children [Song]

Uploaded by TheSocaMann THE POWER OF THE CHILDREN
By Poser

If wasn't for children in this world
A lot of ugliness would unfold
But the children give us reason to live
Their presence make us think positive
I observe in every walk of life,
How the love of children does avoid strife
Whether foreign or local, black or white, be it foe or friend
We all have a soft spot for the children.

Hear them fathers...
If wasn't for them children, girl, I leave you
If wasn't for them children, I done gone
If wasn't for them children, I'd ah take off already
Is them children saving you presently. You damn lucky!

Children are the power in our lives
Because of the children we sacrifice
Look at when relationship going wrong
Is childen does help to bring it back strong
In some situation you will find
Children does get hatred out of we mind
When love turn to war domestically and man turning beast
Is the little ones that help create peace

Hear them mothers...
If wasn't for them children, man, you gone through
If wasn't for them children, you in  pain
If wasn't for them children, you done get horn already
Is them children keeping mih head steady. Not to doubt me!

Any time I hear a baby cry
I does have to wipe tears from mih eye
I'm a father, I love children too
To children, nothing wrong I will do
Blessed are the children everywhere
To the children, adults should show more care
In every home and in all countries, you'll agree with me
Children help to maintain stability.

Hear them fathers...
If wasn't for them children, girl, I beat you
If wasn't for them children, you get shaft
If wasn't for them children, I'd ah dunk you already
I'd ah put your whole life in jeopardy. Dem stopping me!

Save the children, save them for me, please
Children does guarantee love increase
And if you all already good Mum and Dad
You should not do things that would make them sad
Domestic violence shouldn't be
Please don't let them see that hostility
You are the ones they look up to, be humble and mild
Try and set an example for the child.

I like to hear...
Because of the children, I stop liming
Because of the children, I off the drugs
Because of the children, I doh drink, I doh gamlble
Them children must know I responsible. Show example!

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, Poser. This song takes me back to my childhood and although I never heard either of my parents ever say to the other that we had changed their lives completely and that they lived their lives around us and for us, I understand today that this is exactly what they did without a murmur.

 "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

'Nancy Story Time [Song]

Uploaded by TheSocaMann
NANCY STORY TIME
By Gene Lawrence

'Nancy story time when moon shine
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine

Tanty swear she see shadows under the mango tree
------- was looking like one, oh lord, what could it be?
Some say man, some say woman, some say not human
And then the boy push the girl back
"You see dat? You see dat? You see dat?!" Ha ha ha-ha-ha!

The night sweet with sounds of voices young and old
Children playing hide and seek, waiting for stories to be told
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine.

The village on a dark night, so quiet you could hear
Whispering of the night creatures, their music fills the air
And no one is bold enough to go outside to see
If the noise that they hearing
Is just the wind whistling in the tree. Ha ha ha-ha-ha!

The night sweet with sounds of voices young and old
Children playing hide and seek, waiting for stories to be told
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine.

Ha ha ha-ha-ha!

The night sweet with sounds of voices young and old
Children playing hide and seek waiting for stories to be told
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine.

When moon bright, the place transform like night become the day
Cards and rum, mauvais langue talk sharing while children play
Lovers hide behind the tree to escape Tanty
The village people lucky that this moon
Wouldn't talk what it see. Ha ha ha-ha-ha!

The night sweet with sounds of voices young and old
Children playing hide and seek waiting for stories to be told
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine
Is 'Nancy story time when moon shine.

'Nancy story time, 'Nancy story time
'Nancy story time, 'Nancy story time
'Nancy story time, 'Nancy story time
'Nancy story time, 'Nancy story time...

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, Gene Lawrence!

"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

No Call Dem Name [Song]

Uploaded by foreignmovies
NO CALL DEM NAME
By Maestro

Peace on earth, goodwill to men
They'll say dem want to be my friend
Prophets of hypocrisy, culprits of democracy
Pretending to be honest and true
And verily I say unto you.

Me no calling name but dem got no shame
No calling name, dem got no shame
No shame! No shame!

Conniving [Ain't got no shame]
Backbiting [Dem got no shame] ...yeah
No shame! No shame!

Saying listen, listen well,
A wealthy man ah going Hell
While I ride on honestly,
Dem dey fighting currency
And want me to be in poverty
So goodness and mercy will follow me.

I don't calling name but dem got no shame
I don't calling name but dem got no shame
No shame! No shame!

No calling name, dem got no shame
No calling name, dem got no shame
No shame! No shame!

[No shame!] Some people live in bungalow [No shame]
[No shame!] And other people crying in the ghetto
[No shame!] Some keep on having
[No shame!] While some again keep on starving
[No shame!] "Live peacefully." they telling me
[No shame!] How could a man be peaceful and hungry?
No shame! No shame!

[No shame] They keep on taking everything
[No shame] And other people ent getting nothing.

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, Maestro!

Trinidad and Tobago, I am proud of the turnout and the peaceful protest action yesterday and I am reminded of the line from one of our parang songs:

"Somos caminantes, tenemos que andar..."

Photo by Trinidad Express Newspapers

As long as we have not reached, as long as we need to continue to travel towards our goal, we have to walk. Tenemos que andar. Until there is a mechanism in place for referendums, as was promised to us, there will be no other way outside of elections for citizens to register their opinions en masse. Tenemos que andar. We have to walk. Until there is a style of government that continuously and actively solicits input from those who have contributions to make, we have to keep moving.

Government of the people, where is the shame in heeding the voice of your employer - the people? Who, among those who cherish democracy, can accept any government that is ungovernable? Make a bold move now for the change that was promised to the people when they made a bold move for you.

I look forward to a just and peaceful resolution.

"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

New Light [Song]

New Light: Behind the Music | Uploaded by Stephen Taylor

Uploaded by Stephen Taylor

NEW LIGHT
By Til Shiloh ft. Gary Acosta & Lou Lyons

Raindrops falling from my eyes
And I know things could never be the same... yeah, yeah
Walking through the dark I see your shiny spark
'Cause you have given me new light with the hope that I would find you
Emmanuel! Emmanuel!

Greetings to a new sunrise because he has survived another night
where corrupted thoughts and gutted corpse
are mixed into a new concoction
strained smiles and heartless force
means salvation will never be an option.
So Satan's unwanted, adopted son stands still by lamp posts
as flambeaus flank empty street corners
and even grieving mourners can't fix
this remorseless consumption by the mouth of a demon
but they say each action feeds fruitfully from sort of reason
Well, the term broken home cannot even begin to define his residence,
a pupil of pestilence and a product of first ---------
so a blank space is placed under the birth father
found in his birth papers
mother's occupation was too illegal to list it and
he witnessed these nocturnal -----------
--------- strangers from knocking headboards
but a ------ baby was not was what she meant for
was not what she dreamt for
so he dislodged, --------- and slammed doors
and because of this grudge he joined gang wars
where he heard of great prophets walking amongst us
but he would never believe them
and he heard of police brutality --------- the youths
and every day he sees them so
he prays with his hands clasped and a pistol gripped between them so
who will save him? who can save him?

'Cause you have given me new light with the hope that I would find you
Emmanuel! Emmanuel!

Some voices can't be heard by the natural ear
So it's natural to fear the worse case scenario
It's not the favelas and barrios in Brazil
time comes to a standstill when the only thing a young man feels is a bullet
police threaten to pull it
- the trigger, that is the plug that is the lifeline
oil rich pipelines don't filter down to the ghetto
where I live, I give my life to be a better person
this is beyond stealing and cursing
the situation only worsens
teachers couldn't reach us and preachers were out of style,
out and running wild
my change begins with a smile
new shoes to walk a green mile
new life, new light, salvation for the fool's child
rules were meant to be broken
but spoken words of freedom lead on to new light.

'Cause you have given me new light with the hope that I would find you
Emmanuel! Emmanuel!

'Cause you have given me new light with the hope that I would find you
Emmanuel! Emmanuel!

Raindrops falling from my eyes
And I know things could never be the same... yeah, yeah
Walking through the dark, I see your shiny spark...

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

Against the backdrop of the expected and the usual, revelation glows and sings. I am bowing low...

Thank you, Til Shiloh ft. Gary Acosta & Lou Lyons for your thoughtful and inspiring words, music and video!!

Recently I discovered a whole new world of beauty when I visited goLocal's Facebook page which is owned by Sean Annandsingh. GoLocal - a TrinidadTunes.com & Press Play Jukebox initiative describes itself as a non-governmental organisation "supporting local cultures, young entreps and cultural ambassadors!... "goLocal is all about providing a stage for exposure, a medium by which artistes can showcase their work and develop their potential and further their craft. goLocal aims to support local artistes in an environment of foreign market concentration by providing a broad platform to get their music heard by the masses." Being outside, I depend on resources like these to be guided to the latest developments in our music scene. My visit to this site left me very grateful and very proud.

Lou Lyons says "my change begins with a smile" and I make the connection with another spirit's song. Nasio Fontaine from Dominica says in his song "Turn Your Hate Around":

"Fighting fire with fire couldn't turn your wrongs to right,
Countenance of one man brightens up another".

Nasio and Lou understand that when it comes to the hearts of men, you cannot use iron against iron to bring about change for the better. Iron sharpens iron, force may only exacerbate or entrench the problem.

I used to talk to the violinist featured at the start of the video. The beauty of his music would light up any location in which he happened to be busking and the strains would accompany my smiling spirit long after I was out of earshot. What a joy to see him once more! We are blessed.

"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

Our Land Of Sun And Seas [Song]

Uploaded by Livingwatercommunity
OUR LAND OF SUN AND SEAS
By George Carlton Sampson

Featuring: Eastern Performing Arts Fraternity, Alternative Quartet, Dane Gulston, Maxine Greaves, Jesse Rahaman, Daniel De-Cranie-Pierre, John Thomas, Tevin Gall, Issac Blackman and Kizzy Ruiz.

Produced by: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Send down Thy blessings on our land, O God, and make us free,
Let love and wisdom lead our hearts to dwell in unity, to dwell in unity!

Our land of sun and seas, our beauteous flowering trees
Our hills, our rills, our songbird trills
Our fields, our people free, we offer God to Thee!
Improve our Arts, make pure our hearts to dwell in unity.

Spoken: Let us always be able to say with the psalmist: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

Let mighty nations far and near, revere our nation small
May we show forth to countries great, a peace surpassing all
A peace surpassing all.

May long our heroes last, who gave this nation birth
To the Church, to the State, all small and great
In wisdom hold them all and never let them fall.

Improve our Arts, make pure our hearts to dwell in unity
Improve our Arts, make pure our hearts to dwell in unity
O never let them fall.
Amen

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

A heartfelt thanks to all involved in the production of this beautiful prayer for our nation.

"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

Bear With Me [Song]

Uploaded by UCqrxlzIMotgygs-D4YNy3gg
BEAR WITH ME
By Chucky Gordon

Spoken: I was born in the year 1962 and my father at the time, Dr. Eric Williams, attempted to instill the principles and values of Discipline, Tolerance and Production within me. And though I may not have followed through entirely with those ideals, I am still learning.

Only fifty years old...

So why you losing patience with me when I now start this journey?
Just fifty years, only fifty years old
It's my Golden Jubilee, forged from the love of liberty
I am fifty years, only fifty years old
There is so much to be thankful for
No racial strife or no civil war
No neighbouring troops try attack my shore
When you look at me, potential for law, but like you ent sure?

[Bear with me] Bigger nations are in crisis
[Bear with me] My development is a process
[Bear with me] It's our welfare, so show some interest
[Bear with me] Our aim now is social justice.

I'm begging you, exercise some restraint
All the negative pictures, no need to paint... no, no!
'Cause I am not your enemy, work along with me and you will see
We'll be on the road to prosperity.

Only fifty years old...

When compared to Iraq and them, I just have minor problem
In fifty years, only fifty years old
In the Caribbean, a gem, so don't be quick to condemn
Fifty years, only fifty years old
In the world out there, I'm still young at heart
Though I may not have the perfect start
If each of you were to play your part
Knowledge to this world, we could impart, so start thinking smart.

[Bear with me] Tolerance is one of we watchwords
[Bear with me] So to give up now would be absurd
[Bear with me] Doh feel production on a go slow
[Bear with me] Dem who talking that, well, they don't know.

I'm begging you, exercise some restraint
All the negative pictures, no need to paint... no, no!
I am not your enemy, work along with me and you will see
We'll be on the road to prosperity.

Only fifty years old. I now start to live.

Some will paint a dismal portrait and don't appreciate
I'm just fifty years, only fifty years old
Some would even exaggerate, saying that I deteriorate
In just fifty years, only fifty years old
We founding fathers turning in their grave
To see at times the way you behave
The sacrifices, the freedom they gave
But like in we mind we still enslaved in we lil enclave.

[Bear with me] In our destiny we must have faith
[Bear with me] 'Cause I am your land, I'm your estate
[Bear with me] It's not good enough to sing my anthem
[Bear with me] But examine the words and live by them.

I'm begging you, exercise some restraint
All the negative pictures, no need to paint
'Cause I am not your enemy, work along with me and you will see,
You will see, you will see, you will see...
We'll be on the road to prosperity.

Spoken: All the negativity, you know sometimes I, as Trinbago, does forget how blessed I am? Come nah man!

Only fifty years old...only fifty.

So come and join the celebration of this model nation
In fifty years, only fifty years old
Your elders' contribution, use it as motivation
In just fifty years, only fifty years old
Some fought for Independence are still around
So to you, I dedicate this song
To Mama Trinbago, you all belong
Your efforts make peace in my land abound, so keep standing strong and...

[Bear with me] Kaiso and pan is we creation
[Bear with me] Blessed with talent and innovation
[Bear with me] Penny and Wendy, they are home grown
[Bear with me] Their exploits on stage, they are well known.

I'm begging you, exercise some restraint
All the negative pictures, no need to paint, no, no!
'Cause I am not your enemy, work along with me and you will see
We'll be on the road to prosperity.

Only fifty! People, I want you to bear with me, ey ey, I want you to come and join with me.

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 for this inspiring performance, Chucky Gordon, and congratulations on winning the Lord Brynner 50th Anniversary Independence Calypso Competition. I happen to agree with you. Fifty years is at most about two and a half generations. We have to have patience with our nation because we must have patience with ourselves.

Readers, please do not think that I am not as dismayed as you are by the troubles that we are seeing. I am trying to refrain from commenting on these and the general baptism by caca to which we are being treated. I try to look past the things that trouble to find the good because that is my mission but I am well aware of the mischief and worse than that. There are other Trinbagonians who man the ramparts and are vigilant and vocal. I applaud them. I still believe, however, that more effort is put into publicising the bad than is invested in announcing the good news and that this imbalance helps to nurture a vicious cycle. For those who have the eyes to see danger, it is not easy to have to stare wickedness in the face, to be driven to sound the alarm again and again. For those who seek out the good, it is not always easy to keep the faith, to keep a rhythm going and a song of praise on our lips but we do whatever the Spirit moves us to do for the good of each other and this nation.

Leader, your promise was that you would do better. If, at this point in time, you, like the song above, need to ask us in good faith to bear with you, and to assure us that you have every intention of doing right by this nation, then do so.

2012 is our national Jubilee, a time of celebration, to recount the blessings of the past and to look forward to all the good ahead. It crossed my mind that if we all observed Mosaic law and the ancient traditions of those of the Jewish and Christian faiths, a more generous Section 34 might have been acceptable to many more as a way to celebrate the Jubilee - the year of remission or universal pardon:

Anni favor jubilaei
Poenarum laxat debitum,
Post peccatorum vomitum
Et cessandi propositum.
Currant passim omnes rei.
Pro mercede regnum Dei
Levi patet expositum.

The blessing of the year of jubilee
releases the obligation of punishments.
After sinners have been purged,
the cause against them ends.
All the guilty go free
by the mercy of God's kingdom,
as set forth in the law of Levi.

Free ALL then! Make the pardon universal. Free the platinum collar criminals, the white and the blue. Empty the jails and the courtrooms. Let there be rejoicing in the ghettos and in the gated communities. As each tier broke the law according to their means, let them celebrate according to their means from puncheon to Dom Pérignon. Commit each freed citizen according to their means to perform a significant act of charity of benefit to the nation. Announce to the nation and to the world that we are starting afresh in this year of Jubilee.

Instead, why do so many of us see this Section 34 as something that was tailored and timed for the highly favoured and merely collateral benefit for the rest?

"[Bear with me] In our destiny we must have faith
[Bear with me] 'Cause I am your land, I'm your estate
[Bear with me] It's not good enough to sing my anthem
[Bear with me] But examine the words and live by them."

"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

Nah Ease Up [Song]

...vigilant.

Uploaded by TheSocaMann
NAH EASE UP
By Black Stalin

Them power seekers in high places sitting
Yes, they vex like hell 'bout the song we singing
Yes, they warn Watchman, Aloes and Chalkie
You see they warn Cro Cro, yes, they even warn me
But you tell dem for me, I am not afraid, to give up, I must be crack
I'm the people's watchdog, elected for life so I dey always on yuh back.

Any time you mess with the people's business, the black man jamming
Stop seeking the voters' interest, the black man jamming
And if you take away ten percent from the worker, the black man jamming
And if you have no intention of giving back the COLA, the black man jamming.

I telling you, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up
Nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.

Me ent put no cocoa in the sun to dry
So brother, rain could fall, there's no need to cry
I ent get no play from no big pappy
So when I say mih ting, I got to say I'm sorry
I could say how I feel, when I feel, and doh care who make a fuss
Because Black Stalin know that he ent got no dirty linen to wash.

Any time you start giving kisses for favour, the black man jamming
And if you start to forget who put you in power, the black man jamming
Any time you start talking race in the country, the black man jamming
And between the masses spreading disharmony, the black man jamming.

I telling you, I nah ease up, we nah ease up, we nah ease up, we nah ease up
Chalkdust tell me, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.

I ent got no groove, I ent got no party
Every constituency is my constituency
Anywey poor people getting pressure
It is my duty to tell Mr. Divider
'Cause I could tell him how how I want, when I want, and really doh care a thing
'Cause nobody cyah talk up to me about party discipline.

Any time you stop consulting with the voter, the black man jamming
And you moving 'bout like a one man crusader, the black man jamming
I say you signing today, then telling we tomorrow, the black man jamming
And you only spreading ---- heartbreak and sorrow, the black man jamming.

I telling you, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up
Bally tell me, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.

They want me sit down and see wrong things happening
And sing 'bout smut and not 'bout the wrong thing
If I sing how they good, yes, they happy as ever
And if I sing how they bad, yes, they talking 'bout censor
But you tell them for me when I say mih thing, I doh care who happy or sad
For any time it come to the people business, I bad, bad, bad.

Anytime you making IMF the father, the black man jamming
And if you putting we in debt and saying we doing better, the black man jamming
And if you forgetting to do something for culture, the black man jamming
And if you try to be another messiah, the black man jamming.

I telling you, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up
Chalkdust tell me, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.
Cro Cro tell me nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up
Cro Cro tell me, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.
Watchman tell me nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up
Nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up, nah ease up.
Aloes tell me nah ease up, nah ease up...

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, Black Stalin!

"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

Political Dictionary [Song]

Uploaded by TheSocaMann
POLITICAL DICTIONARY
By Cro Cro

I writing a new dictionary - a political dictionary
August, you gone see all dem parents buying from me
For the benefit of this country, get a copy of mih new dictionary
College, high school or university, intelligently get your copy.

You see, the letter 'A' is not for apple, 'A' is for argument ---- and squabble
And the letter 'B' is for bobolee or "Bo" Tewarie
The letter 'C' is for confusion
'D' is for dotish politician
'E' is for every politician...'F'...is who fowling up we land.

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Check me for yuh new political dictionary
[Hurry hurry! Purchase early! Get yuh copy]
Check me for yuh new political dictionary.

They say bring a fairy godmother, some say a new administrator
A man went so far to say we need a new Prime Minister
But me ent blaming Robbie entirely, remember he met an empty Treasury
That is why I walk into my monastery and compiled this new dictionary.

You see, the letter 'G' is for if I had a gun, I'd a run and shoot down racialism
'H' is quite easy, 'H' is for too much hate in the party
'I' is for petty indifferences
'J' is for jackass in smart men places
'K' is for killing we mentally
'L' is for they should leave already.

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Check me for yuh new political dictionary
[Hurry hurry! Purchase early! Get yuh copy]
Check me for yuh new political dictionary.

They say how PNM corrupted, NAR, dey say, dey too dam high handed
They ent have no faith and so they run and dey form dey Club 88
But while they jumping 'round like a monkey
They ent doing nothing for the country
Let me stop, I ent printing no more, get yuh copy from the record store.

The letter 'M' dey say is for Mickey Mouse controlled by the Speaker of the House
'N' should get some licks. Who say Nizam was into narcotics?
'O' is for for Johnny O' - the big scamp
'P' is for put it in the Swiss Bank
'Q' is for question the Drug Report
'R' is for rush Nizam to the court.

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Check me for yuh new political dictionary
[Hurry hurry! Purchase early! Get yuh copy]
Check me for yuh new political dictionary.

They making the populace suffer and dem pledge that dey go do better
'S' for suffer bad, 'T' is for trouble facing Trinidad
But we must stay strong and face the pressure
We who went and redden we finger
We near to go, next year is '91, take yuh revenge on the voting ground.

The letter 'U,' I say, is for unity that we lack so much in the party
'V' is for vision of gloom that I see here in this nation
'W' is for weird decisions they make
'X' is for exile them, for heaven sake
'Y' for yes, they treat we like a child
'Z' for zoom dem into exile.

Hurry hurry! Purchase early! Get yuh copy!
Check me for yuh new political dictionary
[Hurry hurry! Purchase early! Get yuh copy]
Check me for yuh new political dictionary.

Spoken: All this thing supposed to be for Social Studies. I feeling to .... the Minister of Education to use this dictionary. This is a lively dictionary. This is Civics. Suppose to understand what happening in the nation. Watch it! Common Entrance!

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, Cro Cro.

"The letter 'U,' I say, is for unity that we lack so much..."

"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