Try Obeah [Song]


Uploaded by edward spencer·

TRY OBEAH
By Chalkdust

Quite in Clapton in London city, an old lady, she accosted me
Chalkie, like if Trinidad gone through and the government don't know what to do
Tell Robbie that long time old people when their problems were unbearable
They would never sigh, they would never cry
They knew what to do, so tell this guy...

The answer to all your problems, Mister Robinson
We must all return to our people's great tradition
Stop stretching out your hand and begging Washington
Is only obeah could save the nation.

To quiet John Humphrey [Obeah], to bail out Tewarie [Obeah]
To control the Speaker [Obeah], to shut up Sudama [Obeah]
Big speech in Washington can't solve the recession
Is only obeah to save the nation.

The old lady say to tell Robbie, Get some ratchette and ditay payee
Kuzay maho and some purple heart and with a lime take a good bush bath
Tell him wear a jersey back to front, rub with red lavender for a month
Tell Robbie take heed, wear some Jumbie bead
In his pocket put an obi seed.

She say...
The answer to all your problems, Mister Robinson
We must all return to our people's great tradition
Stop stretching out your hand and begging Washington
Is only obeah could save the nation.

To bring in more finance [Obeah], to pay civil servants [Obeah]
To keep down their pressure [Obeah], to make Karl stay down here [Obeah]
Stop privatization, forget your macro plan
Is only obeah to save the nation.

Tell Robbie that I'm serious, Chalkie, economic plans can't work for we
Eric fail with pioneer status, Pantin and all try to pray for us
George Chambers stress productivity, set up ADB and DFC
Chalkie, Williams tried state firms alongside
All them firms fell down by the wayside.

She say...
The answer to all your problems, Mister Robinson
We must all return to our people's great tradition
Stop stretching out your hand and begging Washington
Is only obeah could save the nation.

To quiet John Humphrey [Obeah], to bail out Tewarie [Obeah]
To control the Speaker [Obeah], to shut up Sudama [Obeah]
Big speech in Washington can't solve the recession
Is only obeah to save the nation.

Obeah, obeah

Tell Robbie that he has no excuse, try obeah, he has nothing to lose
Import substitution didn't work, export processing zone is a joke
Write ULF on piece of paper, in a frog's mouth seal it with wire
Put the frog to wait right by Panday gate, that will take care of Club 88.

She say...
The answer to all your problems, Mister Robinson
We must all return to our people's great tradition
Stop stretching out your hand and begging Washington
Is only obeah could save the nation.

To win them forever [Obeah], walk with two Jack Spaniards [Obeah]
Goat milk from Castara [Obeah], or ask J.D. Elder [Obeah]
Every Tobagonian know 'bout grave dirt and corn
Is only obeah to save the nation.

If you want to prosper [Obeah], you could ask Explainer [Obeah]
Bathe with chip-chip water [Obeah] from down in Moruga [Obeah]
Rub with salt and pepper [Obeah], dip in Bethel river [Obeah]
Nelson, Rose and Scrunter [Obeah] could direct you better [Obeah]
[Obeah, obeah, obeah...]

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, Chalkdust. Although this calypso was meant to inject some humour into the situation which existed at the time of its composition, I am not smiling tonight. My heart is very heavy. As I said before, I support the limited State of Emergency with the understanding that the task of finding sustainable solutions for the persistent crime problem remains and will not be erased by a SOE but I recognise this as a drastic measure required for unusual circumstances. If nothing else, many people would have felt safer over the period. According to the published sources, no one has gone missing since August 21st, the day when the limited SOE was declared.

I remember the last time a SOE was given serious consideration was in connection with the Summit of the Americas. The fact that it was being considered to ensure the security of outsiders was a slap in the nation's face. It was OK, it appeared, that we had been killing each other before and would continue to do so after.

I am deliberately refraining from commenting on everything that is causing me concern and from this distance I continue to white-knuckle my way through the daily news from home. Some of us might be saying about T&T, "This country gone through!" I cannot, cannot believe that. I keep whispering to us all, "Country, come through, come through!"

"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

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