I FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By Loney, Dear Dedicated to my homeland, T&T
I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well I've been listening to your voice from the other side, I know you so well I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well I've longed for your voice from the other side, I know you so well.
I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you.
I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well I've been wanting you so from the other side, I know you so well I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well I've been wanting you so from the other side, I know you so well.
I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you I've been to heaven and I've been to hell over you I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you I've been a loser and I've been a fool over you
I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well I've been dreaming of you from the other side, I know you so well I've been watching you from the other side, I know you so well I've been listening to your voice from the other side, I know you so well. .............................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
Loney, Dear is is the pseudonym of Swedish singer-songwriter Emil Svanängen. I have no idea why he gave this song this name but I find my own meaning in it and am very glad that it was composed.
"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.
Spoken words: How could you watch a people's creative energy at work and associate it with a negative mentality?
Ah hear dem say we have a Carnival mentality And it might be true, but if that is true, it don't bother me Cause the things that we do for Carnival, it is unsurpassed Productivity at its highest, that's when we show we class Our versatile creativity comes out for the world to see Our people's cultural soul motivates and captures the world.
Chorus: It's just the rhythm of a people, Expression of their culture moving on Man, is the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on. Nobody could wine like we Nobody will shine like we Nobody could fete like we No, not in the same degree And even though they lay some claim It would never be the same We feting all day We feting all night And we working OK Cause we moving all right It's just the rhythm of a people, Expression of their culture moving on Moving on and on and on. Play mas!
From whence we came it was not the same things we brought with we It took blood and tears, sweat and prayers to shape this entity Calypso, roti, pelau mixed with soca and chutney Pan, parang, callaloo and doubles helped shape our identity. When is mauvais languing they can't beat we But after all it comes naturally Our cultural expressions and flair now is being practised everywhere. Why?
Chorus: It's just the rhythm of a people Expression of a culture moving on Man, is the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on. Nobody could wine like we Nobody could shine like we Nobody could fete like we No, not in the same degree And even though they try to lay some claim It would never be the same We feting all day, we feting all night And we working OK, 'cause we feeling all right. It's just the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on Moving on and on and on. Tell dem!
In some places they have to go to school to learn to shake their waist But in this blessed land --- the smallest child is commonplace When it's time to pray, nobody in the world could pray like we Our churches, mandirs and mosques sure bear our testimony Of our way of life that only we know is our culture that have us so Next time you talk about mentality make sure you check carefully.
Chorus: It's just the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on Man, is the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on. Nobody could wine like we Nobody would ever shine like we And nobody could fete like we No, not in the same degree And even though they try to lay some claim It would never be the same. Watch we! We feting all day We feting all night We working next day We feeling all right It's just the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture moving on Moving on and on and on. Play mas!...
Rhythm of a people, expression of their culture It's just the rhythm of a people Expression of their culture Watch we!
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!
I hear clamouring in the world saying Satan is in control Of mankind mind, body and soul Then I pose this question to you, Do you firmly believe that's true? Or is people like me and you who just making the whole world blue? When we show no consideration for the man that is on the ground And we act without hesitation in doing a next man wrong Then we talk 'bout evil and blaming the devil Let's examine ourselves.
Chorus We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help No load is too heavy to help him carry What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of People, this world needs more love We need more love. Oh yeah.
I listen to us everyday talk 'bout love in the best of way Pray we really mean what we say And every Sunday morning we perch on the first tune inside the church Love's the reason we congregate then we poison our minds with hate When we pass someone by the wayside, seeing suffering evermore And be the first one to pass judgment Is he sins that he paying for. Good God! But while we judge people and what we think they do We are being judged too.
Chorus We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help How could a load ever be too heavy to help him carry What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of I know this world needs more love We need more love. Oh yeah.
Many conflicts and many wars are ignited simply because Lack of love is really the cause So much squabble and so much fight that goes on between black and white And even though we know it's not right, hate's the reason we can't unite We show contempt for God's creation and the beauty that lives within ------ class and position and the simple colour of one skin Ignoring that the creator say, Love one another How could we disobey such rule?
Chorus We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help No, no load is too heavy to help him carry What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of I know this world needs more love We need more love. Oh yeah.
Let us swallow our foolish pride, put petty jealousy aside And by the laws of nature abide Check the wind, the rain and the sun, Though they different, they exist as one Through the great love of nature's plan Don't they help us all to move on? Shouldn't that be a perfect example for all mankind to follow And like nature, the great provider The same tender love we should show For all God's creation, include man to man The answer is on our hands. Chorus: We should firmly believe no sea's too rough for me to sail No mountain, no mountain is too high for me to climb Just to help my brother, to help my brother if he needs my help How could a load ever be too heavy to help him carry What I'm speaking of, what I'm speaking of I know this world needs more love We need more love. Oh yeah.
We need more love, [we need more love].... We need more love, we need more love We need more love, we need more love If we must have peace If we must have justice If we must have fair play, I say Unity is strength We must go to any length to find more love We need love If we must end apartheid We need more love, we need more love....
It's been a while... Shadow, sunlight Shadow, sunlight
Man, I'd rather be a shadow in the dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark Than a loud bark without a bite. Ah rather be a shadow in the dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark Than a loud bark without a bite.
They have a plan to keep we drunk and foolish [we must disappoint them] They have a plan to keep we blind and dumb [we must disappoint them] They have a plan to keep we vex and stupid [we must disappoint them] They love yuh weak, can't stand when we strong This is why ah tell them.
They have we pregnancy, we dependency And we still can't see how they killing we Hear my cry and open your eye Untie these lies for the youths to fly Every day we ask them for transparency Love and support with consistency Strong moral leaders with integrity Until they set example for me...
Chorus: Man, I'd rather be a shadow in de dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark Than a loud bark without a bite. Ah rather be a shadow in the dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark than a loud bark without a bite.
Listen, these leaders out dey -----the youths frustrated Everything getting so damn inflated The place real heated, they act conceited Like they want '99 to repeat ----------- ah' just dont care The only thing to motivate fools is fear People tired suffering, yuh acting blind You must expect an increase in crime Some mightn't see where I'm coming from Cause they favour one party, I like none While dem puppets tell yuh jump and wine Ataklan doh mess with yuh mind.
Chorus: 'Cause I'd rather be a shadow in the dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark Than a loud bark without a bite Rather be a shadow in the dark Than a big fool in spotlight Rather be a dog without a bark than a loud bark without a bite
They have a plan to keep we drunk and foolish [we must disappoint them] They have a plan to keep we blind and dumb [we must disappoint them] they have a plan to keep we vex and stupid [we must disappoint them] They love yuh weak, can't stand when yuh strong This is why ah tell them.
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.
Can’t Take Trini Outta Me - JMC 3Veni ft Remmi-D Written and composed by Remmi-D
Oh oh oh Calling me home Oh oh oh Calling me home Verse 1 She had to leave Dunno when she’d come back again A better life away from the strife, that’s what she say But long lonely days Longer, lonelier nights, oh ohhhh Bring back a thought of a happy day On an island so far away She want a cure to make the solitude go away She say...
Chorus: Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me ‘Cause I got a vibe down inside of me Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Verse 2 On-the-job assignment A contract lasting two years They put him on a rig in country they call Nowhere Confinement for so Like piranha eating he brain (he brain) He gone searching on the AM band See him searching like a mad, mad man And if yuh see the joy when he hear the soca play, He say...
Chorus Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could put me in a Tokyo or Sydney Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me
Bridge That’s where my heart is That’s where my love is That’s where my navel string bury, oh ohhhh That’s where my mind is That’s where my soul is Even a blind man could open he eye and see…
Chorus Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Just give me mih soca and mih chutney Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me Machel, Shurwayne, Traffik and 3veni Say yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Throw me in a fete and let me be But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me A rainbow sea of humanity Say yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me Yuh could take me outta Trini But yuh can’t take Trini outta me...
Yeah, yeah, bless Are you ready, are you ready, Are you ready for the real revelation?
Revelation time!
Children, children gather round The ark, the ark is coming down And it go take ten thousand to bar this one Tell them, a revolution coming Sound your horns, let the walls fall down One by one, we go bring it down No more might is right, no more wrong and strong Tell them, a revolution coming A revolution coming. A revolution coming.
Way down in the valley of decision All man have to save they position Break the chains from this mental prison And prepare for the real revelation No more stand up on the pavement Now is time to make a statement Get up, stand up, watch it, check it Say to yourself, "This land is mine." A revolution coming. A revolution coming.
A revolution coming down A revolution coming down a revolution coming down A revolution coming A revolution coming down A revolution coming down The ark, ark is coming down Tell them, a revolution coming.
Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go
Ah say we forged from de fire And together we aspire Just to take this dam thing higher, higher Higher, higher, higher In this quest we never fail never falter never tire Never sacrifice yuh freedom Fire, fire in yuh wire We free, we free, we free No, no, nobody can hold me We free, we free, we free No, no, nobody can hold me
Free up, party going non-stop This one for de ----- And we doh care what nobody say Just doh stop we party Everything go be irie Keep de music pumping People want to keep jumping
Lemme go, lemme go, lemme go Take a wine! We wining on corruption Wining on frustration Wining down oppression we wining on the system Wining up for unity Wining for equal opportunity Wining with integrity We wining fuh we country
We free, we free, we free No, no, nobody cyah hold me We free, lemme go We free, lemme go we free, lemme go No, no, nobody cyah hold me...
We free!
..................................................................................................................................... "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.
Don't tell me 'bout no big ship or small boat or who sink or who float
'Cause as man me ent really care
About no Pinta or Nina or if your grandfather swim the Nile to reach over here.
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
We, West Indians are often said to be our very own worst enemy
Though we have a common history yet everybody bad talks everybody
They say Trinidadians lazy and foolish and Guyanese is thief and pickpocket
You can't talk sense with a Jamaican and never ever bend in front a Bajan
And every little rock have its own dollar but some not even good for toilet paper
So if we cannot integrate, well then I regret
That it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.
Don't tell me 'bout no white man or Indian, Chinese or African
'Cause as man, those with eyes can see
All the races and cultures and mixtures of colours that exist in everybody
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
Our people are seen as exotic just because of their ethnic mix
But I hear that the Indicians opposing any integration
They say that the Negroes, they have a plan to impose douglarisation
So they start to lock their women indoors
And searching all their cupboards and then their 'drawers'
Is alright to mix with Chinese or white
But too much of black blood does make you blight
So if the colour of your skin make you a reject
Then it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.
Don't tell me 'bout the raping of woman and the exploitation
'Cause as man, it does get me vex
To hear 'bout planters and masters and how we grandmothers were abused
When they wanted sex
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain.
Our women are always said to be our very most precious commodity
But when tourism not doing well, is the women, the West Indian men does sell
Every little island has its sea and sand so them tourist could get a lovely tan
But when a cruise ship land on we shores, the first thing the men ask,
"Where are the whores?"
I think that it's high time we take a stand
When I say 'take a stand', don't misunderstand
Once the women have a 'For Sale' sign on their neck
Then it is clear that none of we ent arrive as yet.
For the dependent people who can't see that independence cannot come independently.
Don't tell me bout no slaveship and bondage and no Middle Passage
'Cause as man, I know my history
How the white French and Spanish and then the British exploit us since slavery
Once we building a region, them things shouldn't matter again
But if you want my opinion, no bones, let me tell you plain
Our history will teach us that Haitians fought the French for their liberation
But now the blacks in their own army forcing them to turn refugee
And over in Jamaica they'll criticise apartheid in South Africa
Yet they does shoot down one another for two white men named Manley and Seaga
Stalin should stop begging oppressors,
Bush and Reagan could never be our saviours
If we could only shake ourselves from their grasp
Is only then that all of we will arrive at last.
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, Watchman!
"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.
There is not west india There is not west india There is not west india There is not west india
So how dare you baptise our emerald isles home to Carnavales?
There is not west india
These mountain tops of Atlantis, aquamarine basin of unclaimed shipwreck treasures soothing drunken dreams of criminals, pirates, buccaneers, and slave traders
There is not west india
Here still live humming bird, bacchac, golden frog, manatee, caiman and 'gouti
There is not west india There is not west india
Look, take back identities you gave my windswept volcanic rocks St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Eustatius, St. Vincent, St. Thomas these names of saints made hallow by some christian praise yet who have never ever tread our shores bitten by sandflies nor mosquitoes dem never even feel a hurricane or even suck mango or sugar cane.
There is not west india There is not west india
Look, we reclaim ayiti, xaymaca, iere, wadadli, laimuiga, aloi, yuluma, playground of julica our rainbow
There is not west india
Anguilla, that eel remains my secret retreat maluhana with reverence to jocaho in rainy season
there is not west india
sadogla the salt of our tears get thee hence, St. Maarten! patron of tourism, spending US dollars yet not half French, not half Dutch, but plenty cruise ship, plenty cruise ship, plenty cruise ship.
There is not west india
Look, look, look! Raleigh on fire, cancer and legal hysteria multinational tobacconist running for cover Oh Tobago, aloe vera, was never home to Man Friday or Robinson Crusoe (there is not west india)
There is not west india.
Neither can la isla de la trinity replace my paradise, Iere, home of Yaya
There is not west india
Here is not west india, here is not west india! nor the Taino mistaken Sarawak how dare you call the Galibi a Carib?
There is not west india
Warahoon and karifuna children still eating pone Yaya!
There is not west india There is not west india
Yaya! Yaya!
Source: Reprinted with the kind permission of the author. .............................................................................................
A Note From The Gull
Thank you Roi! Your spirit lives on!
Thank you, Max Forte, for remembering Roi and sharing his work.
"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.
LAND OF OIL AND MUSIC
By David Rudder and Machel Montano
Time when the waistline and the bass line takes control. This is the land of oil and music, music for the soul. Children are you ready?
I say, wine [take a jump up]
Grind [take a jump up]
Wine [take a jump up]
I say, out of the oil drum came a sound and they call it the steelpan
Made the badjohns dem put down dey guns and exchange them for iron
And when we rub that oil on we body and you hear that steelpan melody calling,
Is J'Ouvert morning!
We so down to earth that they say it's something in the soil
And for all it's worth, some say is oil wey in we coil
But deep down inside this nation, we could hear a song and rhythm calling
Hear the voices bawling!
This is the land of, the land of oil and music
When you hear the rhythm, I tell you, you can't refuse it
Is we make the steel drum, when you hear they start to beat it
Dis thing going bam bam bam-bam-------
It could make you jump, [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
It could send you wild, [wild] make you misbehave [have] - wheel and tumble
It's a rhythm to make you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, doh wine outta time.
Mister Rudder say,
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music - plenty music!
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music - yes, we have it!
Where we come from? I tell you is oil and music
Open the gate, Legba! I tell you, we have it.
There's a rhythm on the street, the beat making bacchanal
And one set ah rukshun [one set ah rukshun dey making]
Woman start to tumble down in the Carnival, dey feeling the doption, ooh-yay,
Dey sweet on the street, dey knees getting weak [weak] some talking in tongues
Dey remind me of Laventille when the --------- moving, baby,
The hill coming down, the hill coming down.
'Cause this is the land of, the land of oil and music
Sweet soca and kaiso, ah tell you, you can't refuse it,
Plenty tassa rhythm, when you hear dey start to roll it
De thing going, rang-tang tang-ah-tang--------
It could make you jump [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
It could send you wild [wild] make you misbehave [have]
It's a rhythm to make you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, doh wine outta time.
Mr. Rudder say,
Legba, open the gate now! Papa Legba, open the gate! [oil and music]
Legba, open the gate now! Legba, open the gate! [oil and music]
Throw out your sorrow, children
Throw out your sorrow, children [oil and music]
Throw out your sorrow, --------- [We have it]
Listen wha ah telling you, THIS is the Trinidad
Not the one that does make we blue, but the one we love too bad.
This is the land of, the land of oil and music
When you hear the rhythm, I tell you, you can't refuse it
Is we make the steel drum, when you hear they start to beat it
I telling you,----------------
It could make you jump, [jump] it could make you wave [wave]
Wild outta yuh mind, [wild] make you misbehave [have]
It's a rhythm to make, you wine and make you feel fine
Wine outta yuh mind, [wheel and tumble], doh wine outta time. [wheel and tumble]
It go make you jump - wheel and tumble [jump!]
It go make you wave - wheel and tumble [wave!]
It go send you wild - wheel and tumble [wild!]
Make you misbehave - wheel and tumble [have!]
Legba, open the gate! Legba, open the gate!
Legba. open the gate! Legba, open the gate!
Never refuse it [oil and music]
Never refuse it [oil and music]...
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 Machel Montano
"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.
When I hear the national anthem, I does always feel elated Everybody standing together, such unity is demonstrated From "Forged from the love of liberty" to "God bless our nation" What a lovely sight to see, so much people standing up as one
Yet we don't apply the same principle to stand up in all areas of our lives Hence the reason we country facing so much struggles and strife I am sure you have all heard the long-time saying Thing to cry for and people laughing, Thing to stand up for, Trinbagonians does be sitting.
Because we stand up when we hear the anthem play to demonstrate our respect Yet we don't stand up when it matters the most [Stand up!] like putting we country first We stand up stiffly at attention to show solidarity Yet we don't stand up to the Venezuealites and dem [Stand up!] that licking up our fishermen Millionaire get off on murder charge because he have money like chicken Those are the things that we standing for in this blessed land I am living in Well if we can't find it in our national conscience To firmly stand up against these wrongs Next time the anthem plays, everybody better sit down.
Cause if we can't stand up to stop this hypocrisy [Stand up] and protect our democracy When the anthem start, ask for excuse to go and pee Then offer Sat Maharaj your presidency If you know you can't stand up for T&T.
Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago cyring
Murder and rape, headless bodies Daylight shootouts, that is the norm We get used to this like we get used to The foul smell on the Beetham Bad reports on Time magazine Still we don't ------- shame We have lost all sense of national pride Oh God, mih country going down the drain If young boys could storm a police station Take a cutlass and chop up two police man Tell me how can we feel safe as normal citizens In disgrace and pain, Burrowes done dead and gone But when he was in charge dem things couldn't go on His memory we should reward Bring back the A team and flying squad
Because we stand up when we hear the anthem play And we say here is Paradise Yet we don't stand up so much vagrants in the city [stand up] could overthrow the Chinese army we stand up stiffly at attention and we say this land is the best Yet we don't stand up for things like truth and justice [stand up] integrity in public office Imagine your business eh prospering So you check someone to give you backing You made a promise as an upright man To repay your "backe" when yuh catch yuh hand But now that things going in your favour You betray and making style on your "backer" You thought that you could escape But your "backer" have you on tape. If we can't stand up for principles and ethics [Stand up!] in our national politics When the anthem start just pretend that you feeling sick Then stoop down in pain and hold yuh belly If you know you can't stand up for T&T.
Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, Wohowoh
Protest 'bout discrimination at some nightclubs in town Deja vu of the 1970's legislation forming to shut them down But murder charge reduced to manslaughter today Bad -------- is out on bail Yet they say justice have no colour But if it was ah black ----- he'd still be in jail We rejoice when they found Dole Chadee guilty A vicious murderer we all agree But that's discrimination in the drug trade for all who have eyes to see 'Cause everybody know that the real drug barons Are untouchable Caucasians and Syrians They get police protection But look ah Indian sentenced to hang.
You see we stand up when we hear the anthem play and we say God bless our heroes yet we don't stand up Before the Lion and Kitchener dead [Stand up!] and put the Trinity Cross on dey head We stand up stiffly at attention Ent we say we love this artform? Yet we don't stand up to condem those ignorant fools [Stand up!] who doh want kaiso in schools So long the teachers' issue pending' And in the end the children suffer But to label them as criminals Aggravating and pushing the thing too far But we must not put the blame on Panday It was in London they feed him red beef and peas So his behaviour could be a sign of mad cow disease If we can't stand up to protect the nation's youngsters [Stand up!] from the Syrian drug mafia When the anthem start you better head straight for the bar Then badden yuh head with rum and whisky If you know you can't stand up for T&T.
Wohowoh, Mother Trinbago crying, Wohowoh
The country's future in the school bags So said the Father of the Nation, But in the bags of our school children Are knives and nine millimetre guns Tires for your car ten times cheaper Than some sneakers youths wearing on the street School children don't care 'bout what in they head They just concerned 'bout what on they feet ---------- complacency Institutionalised in this country Bacchanal, gossip and mauvais langue does give Trinbagonians orgasms Some does fight for money, some fighting for land Some for position, some fighting for man But no fighting for the life of our nation.
You see, we stand up when we hear the anthem play With our heads keep up proud Yet we don't stand up to those foreign embassies [Stand up!] who does treat we like a disease We stand up stiffly at attention and we say this land is the best Yet we don't stand up to ensure every creed and race slap racism in its face You love to hear me pound politicians to get a good laugh, hold yuh head and roll Then we leave with the same laughing attitude And we take it all the way to the polls But my message is no laughing matter For we to put our cares on a shelf Because in the end, my friend We only laughing at weself If we can't stand up to stop those Nazi Germans Stand up from buying out our sister land When the anthem start declare that you's not a citizen then hail Hitler or Mussolini if you know you can't stand up for T&T.
This was the promised Eden, yes, we used to call here Paradise... Woy yoy Now it looks like a savage garden, blood and human sacrifice... Woy yoy And from Caratal to Caura, there are daily tales of horror Rape and rampant torture, brutal murders and manslaughter
I feel to hold my belly and bawl I know that Peter go pay for Paul Lord, my country against a wall But before it fall, I chanting Om Shanti Om, down on my knees I kneeling, Om Shanti Om, please hear my song of healing Om Shanti Om, a lamentation for my home...
In this land of rhyme and rhythm, bongo drum and tassa did meet Now racist slurs and cynicisms walking naked on the street And from Laventille to Penal each man sticks to his tribe Why can't the drum and dhantal vibrate with just one vibe?
----------------------------- Like the massala we love to grind Until to racism we are blind To powers divine, ah chanting Om Shanti Om, please hear my song of healing Om Shanti Om, this --------------- Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...
This is a land of follow fashion, of mimic men and mamaguy Now incest and crimes of passion have hit an all time high A high price we pay for progress though the value of life still cheap Look, how they find baby Moses abandoned in a garbage heap
I want to hold my belly and bawl Baby Moses, he ent do nothing at all Like my ship need an overhaul But before it stall, I chanting Om Shanti Om, down on my knees I pleading Om Shanti Om, Mother Trinbago bleeding Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...
The soul of my nation wasn't stolen, no, is we who sell we own soul With lust and greed our hearts have swollen ---------------------- Is brother against brother, you don't know who to trust And for thirty pieces of silver, more than a million and one Judas
We can't afford this paradise lost Lord, is we children go pay the cost If we all share to bear the cross Then par for the course, we chanting Om Shanti Om, one million voices ringing Om Shanti Om, like heaven's choir singing Om Shanti Om, a spiritual lament for my home...
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, Singing Sandra!
"Patria est communis omnium parens" - Our native land is the common parent of us all. Keep it beautiful, make it even more so.
Blessed is all of creation Blessed be my beautiful people Blessed be the day of our awakening Blessed is my country Blessed are her patient hills.
Lord, Please walk beside me through this day. Clear the heavy air with the lightness of Your Presence. Guide my hands and steady my heart that I may give comfort when I cannot give hope, that I may give relief when I do not have a cure, and that I may radiate Your healing peace when the limits of science, time, and the human body overwhelm us all. Amen
Source
Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen
