Ribbons [Song]

Uploaded by Clynton Mann
RIBBONS
By Marilyn Williams

When the winds get cold in December, your love's the flaming ember
That's a fire that keeps up together when those chilly breezes blow
As the nights get long and lonely, if you're not around to phone me
Just to say you love me only and you know I love you so.

Let's stay together through this Christmas and forever
Tie your ribbons of love all over me
Be my present on my tree, stay with me.

Tis not the cards or bells a-jingling or the shops where friends are mingling
It's your love that keep me tingling through those city's traffic jams
All the parang, all the singing, all the cheer that friends are bringing
Well it all adds up to nothing if you're not here in my arms.

Let's stay together through this Christmas and forever
Tie your ribbons of love all over me
Be my present on my tree, stay with me.

There is no Christmas without your love
There is no Christmas without your love.

See my eyes are flushed with feeling when I think that I'm believing
How your love just keeps me reeling through this Christmas and New Year
Let our love lights always glimmer, keep our love forever tender
And wrap me all December in the ribbons or your care.

Let's stay together through this Christmas and forever
Tie your ribbons of love all over me
Be my present on my tree, stay with me, stay with me
Won't you stay with me?
Baby, stay with me
Come and stay with me, stay 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, Marilyn Williams.

"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

Christmas [Poem]

CHRISTMAS
By E. Hilton Young

A boy was born at Bethlehem
that knew the haunts of Galilee.
He wandered on Mount Lebanon,
and learned to love each forest tree.

But I was born at Marlborough,
and love the homely faces there;
and for all other men besides
'tis little love I have to spare.

I should not mind to die for them,
my own dear downs, my comrades true,
But that great heart of Bethlehem,
he died for men he never knew.

And yet, I think, at Golgotha,
as Jesus' eyes were closed in death,
they saw with love most passionate
the village street at Nazareth.

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

Bella Trinidad! [Song]

Uploaded by Mastamindproductions

BELLA TRINIDAD
Lyrics written by Leon Coldero
Music produced and composed by Shawn Mastamind Noel

ANY HELP WITH THESE LYRICS WILL BE APPRECIATED

Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, cancho de melodía
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, isla de alegría.

Cristopher Colon --------------------------------
Buscando el oro si no nada de ------------
Cristopher Colon --------------------------------
Buscando el oro si no nada de ------------

Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, cancho de melodía
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, isla de alegría.

Tres picos ---------- es --------- en el mar
Y ---------- les nombró Trinidad.
Tres picos ---------- es --------- en el mar
Y ---------- les nombró Trinidad.

Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, cancho de melodía
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, isla de alegría.

En el playa de Mayaro, ha eso de melodia
--------------- cantaron ------------- comida
En el playa de Mayaro, ha eso de melodia
--------------- cantaron ------------- comida.

Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, cancho de melodía
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, isla de alegría.
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, cancho de melodía
Bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, bella Trinidad, isla de alegría...

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!
..............................................................................................................................
"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

Mi Burrito Sabanero [Song]

Uploaded by LaMusicDeNavidad

MI BURRITO SABANERO
By Hugo Blanco (Venezuela)

Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén

[With my little plains donkey, I am on my way to Bethlehem]

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

[If you see me, if you see me, I am on my way to Bethlehem.]

El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

[The little morning star illuminates my path]

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

Con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando
Con mi cuatrico voy cantando mi burrito va trotando

[With my little cuatro I go singing, my donkey goes trotting]

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquita
Apúrate mi burrito, que ya vamos a llegar
Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquitu
Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus

[Hurry up, my little donkey, we are almost there
Hurry up, my little donkey, we are going to see Jesus.]

Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

Con mi cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando
Con mu cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén

Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquita
Apúrate mi burrito, que ya vamos a llegar
Tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuqui tuquitu
Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus

Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de Belén
Con mi burrito sabanero voy camino de Belén

Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven...

Source: The lyrics posted on this blog are 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

This song happens to be my favourite Christmas song in the parang category. It is best sung, I think, by children, but I have heard it sung by adult performers in Trinidad. This Christmas song or villancico de Navidad was composed by the Venezuelan, Hugo Blanco and that's as much as I know about its origins. It contains everything that I like, innocence, music making, singing, travelling through nature, starlight, a little plains donkey and the excitement of finally meeting the baby Jesus.

"Apúrate mi burrito, vamos a ver a Jesus!"
"Hurry up, little donkey, we are going to see Jesus!"

Thank you, Hugo Blanco.

"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

Ronda De Navidad [Song]

Uploaded by LARZperu

RONDA DE NAVIDAD [Villancico Peruano]
By Niños Cantores de Huaraz

Somos los niños cantores
Que vamos a pregonar.
La natividad Señores
Del Rey de la Humanidad.

[We are the singing children
We're going to announce to you
The birth of the King of Mankind.]

Venid amigos que esta noche es Noche Buena
Venid a ver el nacimiento de una estrella
Venid deprisa que ha nacido un chiquitín
El mas hermoso que se ha visto por aquí.

[Come friends, tonight is Christmas Eve
Come and see the birth of a star
Come quickly, a little boy is born
The most beautiful that has been seen here.]

Somos los niños cantores
Que vamos a pregonar.
La natividad señores
Del Rey de la Humanidad.

Danzad pastores que esta noche es Noche Buena
Haced que suenen el palillos y panderetas
Danzad pastores que ha nacido un chiquitín
Danzad pastores porque ya esta el Niño aquí

[Dance shepherds, tonight is Christmas Eve
Sound the castanets and tambourines
Dance, shepherds, a little boy is born
Dance, shepherds, because The Child is already here.]

La Virgen va caminando llegó ya, Navidad
A la puerta de Belén; llegó ya, Navidad
Como se pone muy mala se lo dice a San José.
Como se pone muy mala se lo dice a San José.
Llegó ya, Navidad llegó ya navidad.

[The Virgin is walking, Christmas has already arrived
At the gate of Bethlehem, Christmas has already arrived
As it gets really bad, say to St. Joseph.
As it gets really bad, say to St. Joseph
Christmas has already arrived, Christmas has already arrived.]

No te asustes dulce esposa llegó ya, Navidad
Que nada malo ha de ser; llegó ya, Navidad
Es el Señor que te anuncia que su hijo va a nacer.
Es el Señor que te anuncia que su hijo va a nacer.
Llegó ya, Navidad llegó ya navidad.

[Do not panic, sweet wife, Christmas has already arrived
Nothing is wrong, Christmas has already arrived.
It is the Lord who announces that your child is going to be born
It is the Lord who announces that your child is going to be born
Christmas has already arrived, Christmas has already arrived.]

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, Los Ninos Cantores de Huaraz!

"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

Nino Lindo [Song]

   Uploaded by cincuentaypico
NINO LINDO [Villancico Tradicional Venezolano]
By La Rondallita

Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.

[Beautiful boy, before you I surrender,
Beautiful boy, you are my God.]

Con tus ojos lindos, Jesús mírame,
Y sólo con eso, y sólo con eso, me consolaré.
Con tus ojos lindos, Jesús mírame,
Y sólo con eso, y sólo con eso, me consolaré.

[With your pretty eyes, Jesus look at me,
And only with that, and only with that, I will be consoled.]

Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.

Esa tu hermosura, ese tu candor
El alma me roba, el alma me roba
Me roba el amor.
Esa tu hermosura, ese tu candor
El alma me roba, el alma me roba
Me roba el amor.

[Your beauty, your sincerity
Steals my soul, steals my soul,
Steals my love.]

Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.
Niño lindo, ante ti me rindo,
Niño lindo, eres tú mi Dios.

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, niños La Rondallito. Beautiful sentiments expressed beautifully.

"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

Cholito Jesus [Song]

  Uploaded by lizita65
CHOLITO JESUS [Villancico Peruano]
By Los Toribianitos

Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalala la Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la

Al niño Dios le llevamos un ponchito de color,
Al niño Dios le llevamos un ponchito de color,
Un chuyito muy serrano, zapatitos de algodón.
Un chuyito muy serrano, zapatitos de algodón.

To the God-child we carry a coloured poncho 
An Andean cap, little cotton shoes.

Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú

And everyone will shout: Cholito! 
From where have you come? Cholito! 
Everyone will believe: Cholito! 
That you were born in Peru. 

 Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la

A la Virgen le llevamos un mantón abrigador
A la Virgen le llevamos un mantón abrigador
A San José una quena, un charango y un tambor.
A San José una quena, un charango y un tambor.

To the Virgin we carry a warm shawl 
To San Jose, a flute, a charango and a drum. 

Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Y todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú

Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala la Lalalalala la

[Instrumental]

Cholito! Cholito! Cholito!

Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la

Los indiecitos pastores trigo y quinua llevarán,
Los indiecitos pastores trigo y quinua llevarán,
José y la Virgen María buena chicha tomarán
José y la Virgen María buena chicha tomarán

The Indian/Indigenous shepherds will carry wheat and quinine 
Joseph and the Virgin Mary will drink good chicha. 

Y todos le gritarán: Cholito!
¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito!
Y todos le creerán: Cholito!
Que naciste en el Perú.

Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalalala la Uy!
Lalalalala Lalalalala Lalalala la Lala la lalala

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

In this joyful and rousing Peruvian villancico the story of the Nativity is told with a Peruvian twist. The shepherds in the fields are indigenous "Indiecitos pastores" and they bring gifts of "trigo" wheat and "quinua" quinine and "chicha" a fermented corn drink. The travellers who visit the child of God are carrying gifts of "un ponchito de color" a colourful little poncho, "un chuyito muy serrano" a cap typical of the Andean Highlands and "zapatitos de algodón" little cotton shoes [Remember the woven cotton "sapats" that Trinidadians used to wear?] To Mary they bring "un mantón abrigador" a warm shawl and to San Jose they bring "una quena" an Incan flute, "un charango" a charango [higher pitched string instrument like a tiny cuatro] and "un tambor" a drum. 

They sing: Y todos le gritarán: Cholito! ¿De dónde llegaste tú?: Cholito! Y todos le creerán: Cholito! Que naciste en el Perú. Here "Cholito" is used to address the child, Jesus. It is a way of claiming Him as one of their own - "naciste en el Perú" who was born in Peru. Cholito is generally used as a term of endearment usually used to refer to a child but it has other connotations. It can describe a person with Indigenous heritage, whether "pure" or mestizo, an individual of mixed heritage - indigenous and european. I think that this is the meaning that is appropriate for this song. Jesus is born among the people of the land. Like the "n" word however, how the meaning of the word "cholito" is intended and taken depends on who is using it and the tone with which it is used. Some have described it as a pejorative, racist word used to put down morenos or indigenous persons or people from the Highlands, or native peoples who are being derided for adopting Western ways.

I provide these details solely to inform and with the conviction that nothing can detract from the unbridled affection and joy of the warm welcome that this song expresses at the birth of the Saviour.

"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 Gull's Top 25 Trini Christmas Dancing Songs

The following is the Laughing Gull’s top 25 list of simply must have, shake up yuh bum feathers, bus out yuh stereo speakers, Trinbagonian Christmas dancing songs. Regretfully, I had to arbitrarily restrict myself to 25 but I can think of nearly fifty that I had to exclude and that is not including instrumentals which were also excluded. A further restriction was that the choices were made from my very small personal collection. Final selections were based on the liveliness and quality of the music and the degree to which they tempted me to dance. When I looked at the final list, I realized that many of the songs are contained on the CDs shown below. I wish that Baron would produce a compilation of his soca parang songs. I would have liked to see his CD included. However you will find some of his wonderful Christmas songs in the top 25 list.


Lara Brothers - The Best of the Lara Brothers
Scrunter - A decade of Scrunter: De Parang Now Start
Strictly Parang: Vol I
Los Tocadores -Featuring Jennifer McPherson
Los Tocadores -Del Corazón

1. Cristo Adonis (Rebuscar) - Don Alberto
2. Baron – Caminante
3. Baron – Come Go [Who can resist his unmistakable and welcome signature “uhhhhhHueya! Deyng, deyng, deyng...”] Lyrics
4. Baron – It’s Christmas Lyrics
5. Baron – It’s Christmas Again Lyrics
6. Daisy – Hurray, Hurrah! Lyrics
7. Gypsy – Sereno Say Lyrics
8. Lara Brothers - La Gaita
9. Lara Brothers – El Que Toca La Guitarra
10. Machel Montano – Soca Santa Lyrics
11. Singing Francine - Hurray Hurrah
12. Scrunter – Drinking Anything
13. Scrunter – Dat Eh Wukking Here Tonight(Cocotte) [Nearest thing in soca parang to “Shame and Scandal”]
14. Scrunter – De Parang Now Start Lyrics
15. Scrunter – Eat Something
16. Scrunter – Homemade wine
17. Scrunter – Madam Jeffrey Lyrics
18. Scrunter – Anita
19. Scrunter – Ah Want Ah Piece Ah Pork
20. Los Tocadores – Anda Parrandero
21. Los Tocadores - Baila La Parranda
22. Los Tocadores - Gente del Caribe
23. Los Tocadores – Sereno
24. Los Tocadores –Ya Es Navidad
25. Los Tocadores – Vamos De Parranda

Los Tocadores
These days I am really liking the crispness, fluidity and clarity of Los Tocadores’ lyrics and music and their wonderful control of the rhythm. My favorite Tocadores CD is the one featuring Jennifer McPherson. They have successfully produced festive music that encourages joyful expression in dance. The singers have a natural, spontaneous sound and their comfort with the language leaves you free to relax and really enjoy the entire product. I have included some of their songs which for me capture and ignite that special something required to sincerely welcome the spirits.

Special, special mention...
Kelwyn Hutcheon's "Christmas Classics" is like delicious, golden, doodoose mango nectar to the ear and heart. A beautiful addition to your Christmas music collection. But be warned: If you are a Trinbagonian who is not in Trinidad for Christmas and you are alone and deeply homesick without anything or anyone to distract you, you should avoid this CD. It’s going to make you cry, no, actually, it’s going to make you curl up against the stereo and bawl! ...and Uncle Kelwyn will not be interrupting his crooning to give you a hug and a KC dinner mint, so you'll be on your own. Don't say I didn't tell you.

You haven’t spent Christmas til you’ve spent
Christmas here in sweet T and T,
No, haven’t spent Christmas till you
and yours have seen these isles in the sea
Smell the pastelle and ham, hear sweet parang jam…”

Listen to his well loved:

Oh how I wish I were a child again

and his wonderful rendition of the Pat Castagne composition,

Kiss me for Christmas
..............................................................................................................................
"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

Eat Someting Before Yuh Go!

Consuming Christmas
I am going through my collection of Trini Christmas music and listening with wonder to the prominence which is given to eating and drinking in many of these songs. I’d be really interested to hear similar songs from any other culture in the world. Thinking about it, the only other group that I have ever known to broadcast with such vocal gusto their unbridled excitement about feasts are the birds. You would have had to stand under a tree laden with ripe fruit, like series or pommerac to appreciate the similarity. Bacchanal! Yes, I have heard some non-native songs about Christmas food like the one that begins with "Chestnuts roasting" but somehow the lines “Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe/ Help to make the season bright” seem to be discussing fingerfood when compared with the feast described in Baron’s "It's Christmas":

De parang does start on Christmas day
And we doh stop until Ash Wednesday
So bring out de souse, bring out de pelau
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Bring out de dasheen and de bacalau
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We drinking sorrel, gingerbeer, whiskey
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Anyting yuh bring is all right with we,
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We eating black cake, apple, grapes or prune
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Bring out something salt before de next tune
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We drinkin puncheon, home made wine and Vat
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
But if yuh bring babash, we drinking dat
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Is Christmas! [Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Merry Christmas! [Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]

Many Trinbagonian Christmas songs are literally odes to food and drink. Some preferring to focus on a single delicacy, for example, Camacho’s “Garlic Pork”:

Gimme some garlic pork. All ah want is garlic pork

or, Sugar Aloes with his “Black Cake Lover” and Merc’s “Puncheon:”

She does treat me good [puncheon]
Way a woman should [puncheon]
Ah want to fall down [puncheon]
Rolling on de ground [puncheon]
She does treat me good [puncheon]
Way a woman should [puncheon]
Leon Coldero joins the currying of Christmas trend with his “Curry Christmas”

Ah curry Christmas, ah curry Christmas,
Ah curry Christmas with Indrani family
Ah curry Christmas, ah curry Christmas,
Ah curry Christmas down dey in Caroni

Curry ham, curry pork, curry pastelle,
even had curry duck
Curry black cake and manicou
Dey even put curry in de callaloo

Was curry chicken, curry souse,
curry turkey, dey curry everything
So much food I eh leaving now
Dey even had curry chow chow

Some of these songs sound like menus gone mad. I’m thinking especially about Scrunter’s “Eat Something Before Yuh Go.” Obviously at Christmas time in Trinbago, when it comes to eating, if yuh eating, you are expected to eat like a Viking.

Yuh know today is Christmas Day
Anyting yuh want to eat, jus say
Yuh could eat it right down to be bone
Boy, make yuhself at home
Ah ha black cake, turkey, wild meat,
lappe an 'gouti, grapes, apple
Boy, come an sit round de table

Eat someting before yuh go
Eat someting before yuh go
Eat someting before yuh go
Eat someting before yuh go

Maicoo’s Trini Christmas Is De Best” is more of the same:

Ah give him bread and ham together with a pastelle
Ginger beer, punch a crème and sorrel
A glass of local wine went to his head
He turn to me and said "Oh yes, Trini Christmas is de best!"
Even Santa falls in line in Scrunter’s “Backyard Jam” as he anticipates the eating and drinking to be enjoyed when he arrives in Trinidad to spend the Christmas:

Get all de bush rum ready and de wild meat too
And a room somewhere in Santa Cruz
To relax when a take mih booze

Ah pack mih suitcase already, ah just waitin on a flight
So tell everybody, ah coming in Christmas Eve night
I eh comin on no reindeer, dat take too much time
Ah cyah wait to reach here, to hold somebody and wine
Woy yo wo yo yo yoy, Ah want a pelau,
Woy yo woy yo yoy, With dasheen and bacalau
Woy yo woy yo yoy, Santa want to jam
Woy yoy woy yo yoy, Woy yo woy yo yoy…Baila!

And when it come to drinking….
Sundar Popo's Nani and Nana were among some of the earliest Trinbagionians to have their thirst for alcohol exposed in song and in more recent years there have been a spate of rum ditties hitting the airwaves. Some of these Christmas drinking songs are not on the same level as "Rum Till I Die," but they do come quite close.

They cover the spectrum from the “Drink Ah Rum” and Lara Brothers' "Vamos A Tomar Un Trago" which are innocent enough, to Scrunter’s rabid “Drinking Anything:”

Ah drinking white, ah drinkin black,
Ah drinking puncheon, drinking Vat,
Ah drinking Bacardi and cherry

and Gypsy’s “Sereno Say”:

Man, I know you have your mistletoe
And I know you have your snowman
And I know you have chandeliers hanging high
But dat just doh make me feel blue
Because I have mih own share too
Ah have mih belly full of rum
And a big sky full ah sun
And a West Indian Christmas, a West Indian Christmas
Drink yuh rum until yuh belly buss, buss, buss
Den yuh go cross by yuh neighbour
Say, Nabe come cross by me later
With a old cuatro and ah old guitar singing sereno, sera

Sereno, sereno, sereno, sera ha
Sereno, sereno, sereno, say rum
Sereno, sereno, sereno, sereno, say rum
Sereno, sereno, gih yuh neighbour some, ay yay.

Scrunter wakes Madame Jeffrey from her bed to start the drinking:

Ma Jeffrey oye, get up! Is Christmas morning
Like yuh eh hear de cock crowing, oh gyul,
Is Christmas morning
Madam Jeffrey oye, get up! Is Christmas morning
Time to put some smoke in yuh kitchen, oh gyul.
Is Christmas morning
Madam Jeffrey oy, wake up Is Christmas morning
Ah hope yuh know is White Oak ah drinking, oh gyul.
Is Christmas morning
Madame Jeffrey oye, get up! Is Christmas morning…

Even in "El Caiman", a song originally from Colombia about a man who changed into a caiman and who was fed bread and cheese by his mother, the Trinidadian version has him drinking rum instead of the lemon refreshments that the original caiman drank. In "Caminante", Baron states that one of the qualities which his good parang men must have is the ability to hold liquor.

Sprangalang in “Bring Drinks” is gathered with his friends “in a thirsty way” and calls for the booze:

Bring me rum for my Christmas
We could drink a flask, we could drink a nip
If you have a bottle hiding, bring it out today

Or listen to Scrunter's “Homemade Wine” where he visits Miss Gloria, who spreads her vast selection of homemade wines before him and invites him to taste:

Ah eat black cake from Joan already [Aye Miss Gloria]
So right now ah doh want no more [Aye Miss Gloria]
But all dem local wine you present me [Aye Miss Gloria]
Ah got to taste some ah dem for sure [Aye Miss Gloria]
Oh Madam, which one is yuh favourite? [Aye Miss Gloria]
Bring it out quick, leh me taste it [Aye Miss Gloria]
Is you who make it and yuh mus know [Aye Miss Gloria]
Ah want a good head before ah go [Aye Miss Gloria]
She say, hog plum, [pa pa pa]
Pommerac, [pa pa pa]
Cashew [pa pa pa]
Guava [pa pa pa]
Balata, [pa pa pa]
Bandanya, [pa pa pa]
Aloes, [pa pa pa] and cane.

I want some homemade wine, Madam Gloria
Gih me de home de wine. It nice!
Ah want some homemade wine, Madam Gloria
Gih me de home made wine. It sweet!

and perhaps the most graphic scene of dissipation is captured in“Ah Want Ah Piece Ah Pork” where Scrunter describes his Christmas wish:

”When ah drinking mih babash, ah wah pork grease round mih mouth”

The hoarders and their marauders

In “Is Christmas Again” and “Something for Christmas” the singers, according to your point of view, seem to threaten or cajole the host into making his food and drink available to them:

Is Christmas again, is Christmas again
Bring out all de scotch, bring all de gin, yuh better bring everything
Feliz Navidad, dis is Trinindad
Spread de word around all over de town. Is soca parang
Vamos amigos, take one fuh de road…
And…

Ah say, yuh must give me something for Christmas
Yuh must gih mih something for Christmas
Yuh better run something fast
Cause ah walk with mih glass
Ah say yuh must gih mih something for Christmas.
Baron’s “It’s Christmas” unashamedly details the revellers’ strategy for denuding their hosts supplies:

Neighbour, neighbour, open de door, neighbour
Is Chistmas morning, you should be waking
Put de drinks on de table
Ah hope yuh bar able
Me and de boys come to give you a parang
We eh leaving till de liquor done
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Come on fellahs leh we take a next one
[Oy yo yoy, ay yay yay]
We have about ten more house to clean
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We drinking from paint to kerosene
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
Is Christmas, Merry Christmas!
Is Christmas, Merry Christmas!

Last year we went by Balliram
He play smart and hide de ham
Bring one bottle ah babash
De ting finish wit one lash
Had to leave de man house quick
He say he wife was feeling sick
Dat same night she was liming in de Croisee
Well if he tink dat he get away
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We going by he and spend de whole day
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
We eating and drink everything he bring
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
When we leave dey, he musn’t have a ting
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas.
It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas.

Big mouth Charlie invite we home by he
Boy he must be a madman,
to entertain dis parang band
When de music in we vein
And de liquor hit we brain
Dis band could drink down Carib and Fernandes
When you see we land in yuh house
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
De only ting remaining is yuh spouse
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay ]
People does lock dey door, run and hide
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
When dey see de size ah dis parang side
[Oy yoy yoy, ay yay yay]
It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas!
It’s Christmas, Merry Christmas!
Marcia Miranda voraciously demands that the ham be brought out to her in “Bring Out De Ham”

Neighbour, oye, yo, yoy, Bring out de ham
Neighbour, aye, yay yay, yay, Bring out de ham
Neighbour oye, yoy, yoy, Bring out de ham
Neighbour aye, yay, yay, yay, Bring out de ham
All ah want to do is eat, Bring out de ham
Ah doh want no other meat, Bring out de ham
When ah taste good salt Rufus, Bring out de ham
Oh yes, ah feel like is Christmas! Bring out de ham

But Melan Garcia in his “Pitbull” strikes back at these guests who under the pretense of being parranderos are in fact barely disguised locusts:

Ah want two pitbills for Christmas
For all who cyah leave mih Rufus
When ah had one pothound alone
By Christmas ah down to ham bone
But dis year ah have a plan
For all wayward parang band
Two pitbulls ah want
One in de back and one in de front
[No more hooray, hoorah]
Let dem sing dey parang from far
[No more hooray, hoorah]
Ah could hardly hear dey guitar
If was long time, dey have me peeping
See me creeping through mih kitchen
Now is pitbull in de puef’n
Dey eh comin here fuh nuttin
[No more hooray, hoorah]
Oh let dem sing dey parang from far
[No more hooray, horrah]
Ah could hardly hear dey guitar...

I know that there is connection between the big appetities and the parang tradition, especially the house to house kind, something also to do with heavy drinking and needing something salt, but the most important influence has I think more to do with the generosity shown and expected in the Christmas season, and what says that better than abundant supplies of good food to offer to and share with guests. Then there is the host's pride in knowing that the guests were well fed and on the flip side the fear, as expressed by the hostess in Scrunter's "Eat Something Before Yuh Go", that people will say that she did not feed him if he leaves her home with an empty stomach and is later seen throwing up.

If you haven't yet added Scrunter's CD, "De Parang Now Start" to your collection, you are missing a big slice of RUMbunctious Trini Christmas Music. Alcoholics Anonymous should be advised to put these songs on their members’ "SONGS TO AVOID" list. Coming to think of it, Scrunter’s voice should also be on that list and maybe Ripley’s Believe It Or Not should consider noting it for its fascinating ability to make stereo speakers exhale alcohol while pumping his songs into a room. This makes Scrunter, in my opinion, the chanticleer of carousing.

"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

Drink Ah Rum [Song]

Uploaded by wongkee83
DRINK A RUM
By Lord Kitchener

Chorus:
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.

Mooma, Mooma would you like to join your sonny?
I am over here, happy in the mother country
Darling, for the Christmas, your son would be really jumping
Listen to the chorus of what we all will be singing...

Chorus:
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Is Christmas morning!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Mama, drink if you drinking!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.
Let we fete if we feteing!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.

Again Mooma, I have invited Jamaica
Lovely Grenada, Barbados also Guyana
It's an invitation for a stupendous occasion
You can just imagine, we drinking till New Year's morning...

Chorus:
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Is Christmas morning!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Doudou, drink if you drinking!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Mama, sing if you singing
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.

The fete is grand, bottles of all description
You must understand, liquor to supply a nation
I have ordered whiskey, punch a crema, gin and brandy
Lime and tonic water, lemonheart and Angostura

Chorus:
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Is Christmas morning!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Mama, drink if you drinking!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.
No time for shivering!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.

On Christmas Day, when Big Ben alarm six thirty
We are underway to begin this festivity
Later in the evening, we passing through Picadilly
Everybody dancing and singing the same melody...

Chorus:
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Mama, drink if you drinking!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Is Christmas morning!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.
Let we drunk if we drunking!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum.
Come and see how we jamming!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Come and see how we feteing!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
---- we shivering!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Lord, Christmas morning!
Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a rum
Oh Mama come and see how we feteing!....

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!

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