Words by Quinton Scott, Duncan Brooker and Stephen Bolles—
Trinidad’s Mighty Sparrow is rightly recognized as the King of Calypso, and has been hailed for the socially conscious, politically savvy lyrics in songs such as “Kennedy & Krushchev” and the incredibly poignant “Slave.” For those with their minds somewhere less lofty though, his words are no less notable for their pioneering use of “slack talk” in song. One of the first Calypsonians to speak of sex outside of crafty allusion (see 1960’s Road March winning “Mae Mae”), Sparrow’s lyrics frequently rely on not-so-subtle double entendre (dubiously feline “pussy” references abound) to address everything from interracial relationships to oral sex to infidelity in all it’s forms. Below are some of his naughtier verses, showing once again that a pre-occupation with sex isn’t limited to any particular generation. Strut Records’ Sparrowmania!, which collects Sparrow material ranging from the ribald to the refined, is out now.
10. “Water De Garden”
Read it in the paper / Lucy wanted a gardener / So I made my application/ If you see this lovely woman papa she wasn’t making joke/ As I enter de yard she put me to work / She tell me water de garden / Sparrow, I want you to water de garden… I hopped back and forth and I reel out my hose/Water de garden
9. “Love African Style”
I love to see when Black people make love / Whether on the screen, or in a private scene / Lord the excitement they generate / Look so much like hate / It bound to be great
8. “Hairy Spider”
Before de mother could have tell she no, how yuh dun no, she opened de door/Stand up straight jam up to the wall / She eye open big and she start to bawl / Daddy, daddy, there’s a spider on top of mummy / Ah sure she ah know / Otherwise she’d a make it go / Take a piece of wood / And make sure you flog it good.
7. “Ah Fraid Pussy Bite Me”
Let me tell you, stranger, pussy cat is danger / Ah fraid, ah fraid, ah fraid pussy bite me!
6. “The Lizard”
The Lizard run up she foot and it disappear / Everybody keeps searching everywhere / Where the lizard, teacher Mildred? / Under she dress, taking a rest / The way she jolly and happy, I swear the lizard must be tickling she…
5. “Sell the Pussy”
Well ah hungry/And I’m more broken than a louse/Nothing left for me to pawn in the house/Me girlfriend she have a pussy cat they call Big fat lazy puss/I tell she nah sell it/Get some cash cause she ain’t no use/ If you hear me, sell de pussy…and bring all the cash to me…
4. “Pussy Quarreling”
These girls and their pussies living next to me / I can’t rest, I can’t sleep, I can’t read, I can’t eat when their pussy meet / Cos all day, all night, pussy quarrelling!
3. “Pussy Fraid Water”
A clean pussy is a rare thing / you don’t see them very often / very seldom they go near water
2. “Big Bamboo”
I asked my woman what must I do, what must I do / To make her honest and keep love too, and keep love too / She said Sparrow all I want from you, I want from you/Is a little little piece baby, just a little little piece of the big bamboo.
1. “Saltfish”
Some like it hot, some like it cold / No matter what, I take it young or old / When it serve with wine, man does stew it fine / Put no pepper, the bone in the centre does be sweet like sugar / Saltfish…Some men does get drunk to taste it / Saltfish… Some does go and hide to face it / Saltfish… It’s sweeter than meat when you want to eat / All saltfish sweet
“Bag Ah Sugar”
Don’t let she get away, she has a bag o’sugar down dere.
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