Tony Deyal | From the calypsonians - rolling goals or holes?

Zeno Obi Constance is by far the best in the Caribbean and beyond. This article is part of an attempt to reach, teach and increase our knowledge and commitment to our development.

Lord Melody (Fitzroy Alexander), was a Trinidadian calypsonian best known for ‘singles such as Boo Boo Man, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Shame & Scandal, Jonah and the Bake, Juanita, and Rastaman Be Careful. That alone told us that he was not a totally “mellow” fellow and when he came with Hungry Barbers in Barbados, that was the start, not just in Trinidad but increasingly in the Caribbean, “Goal! Goal!/ More goal!/ like the goalie hand has a hole/ Goal! Goal!/ Barbers didn't have condition at all/ Dem hungry barbers can't play football/ They can't play cricket, they can't play draught/ So we give them four and we start to laugh ...” Then the Chorus came up with:

Who was the goalie?

Who score the goal in the' V '- Lord Melody;

Who was the goalie?

Dem hungry barbers suffer bitterly

I--me!

Only me coulda kick dem penalty

Sparrow--fail

Brynner should be making time in goal

I beat the forwards, I beat the back

I beat the right wing, then I attack

Settle the ball and I watch me girl

And as “ah shoot”, the barber ran out the goal.

While other performers like Nappie (a dribbling centre forward), Captain Nap Lord Coffee were clearing the lead, there was another of those who had not just started early but made sure the Trinis (Trinidadians) and Caribbean folks helped to move it from the schools to the “savana”. And this is where the great Lord Christo (Christopher Laidlow) from Trinidad took it over. During his days at school in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, this was the man with the football calypso. Every year, it celebrated what was known as the “Intercol” between the three colleges- CIC, Fatima and GRC. 

For example, “QRC! We want a goal!” was legendary. In fact, the prime minister of Trinidad, Dr Eric Williams, in 1928 was playing for one group, Queens Royal College vs St Mary’s and it went, “... Once a year in October, / Fete for so in Queen’s Park Savannah, / Carnival out of season, / Everyman knows the reason, / Colleges in the city, / Fighting for football supremacy, / And they shouting …”

(Chorus):

Ratatatatata Bing Boong Bang

St. Mary’s St. Mary’s Ra Ra Ra, and

No! No! No! Fatima No!

Not a goal!

No! No! No! Fatima No!

But of all the cries you hear,

This is the one from year to year,

QRC! We want a goal!

QRC! We want a goal!

What happened next was that thousands danced in the street, steel bands beating sweetly with police to stop the noise but, when things got hot, the police ended up jumping with the boys. 

In looking at those days, it was clear that many of the calypsonians, men and women, were involved. For example, Denyse Plummer was a Trinidadian Calypsonian and gospel singer. She expected that Trinidad and Tobago would qualify for the World Cup in Korea / Japan in 2002 and she sang for all to hear, “Tell Korea we coming! Tell Japan we coming!” Then there was “Williard Harris, The Relator.” On September 5, 1972, the great Pele visited Trinidad with his Brazilian club Santos. The occasion had a few things which overshadowed the match. These included: “Santos’ uniform left at the airport; the late start of the game made spectators restless; and a broken tree branch caused police to hastily react by throwing tear gas into the crowd. The game itself was shortened and the idea of raffling off Pele coveted boots as compensation did not help to please nor placate Relator. Then there was Licks like fire. Another calypso, in anticipation of the finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, played on the classic cry of “T&T we want a goal”. What happened though was, despite the song, the fame was denied by the USA’s lone goal.

Who went after all of them was Short Pants (Llewellyn Mac Intosh). He sang in 1996 one of the best calypsos in the Caribbean, Paris in 98. It was a brilliant social and political commentary to critique the leadership, unity, and selection of people in Trinidad and Tobago's government and society. Short Pants actually let the people know how a nation was run, famously questioning political choices with the lyrical refrain, "If we don't get to Paris ..."  He started with, “Paris in ‘98/ Bad luck in ‘90 when Strike Squad eh score/ They blame management for the team’s failure/ To go Mexico, Spain and Argentina/ But USA ‘94 show me/ That the players’ names really is the key/ Ah watch Italy playing Mexico/ As see something there the coaches eh know …”

Sigrori pass to Berti

Berti to Cassiragi

Cassiragi to Maldini

Maldinei to Alberi (he “lorse” the ball)

Alvez to Roriguez

Rogriuez pass to Ramirez

Ramirez back to Suarez

Suarez lay it on for Sanchez

So Trinidad is time 

Pic footballers who names do rhyme

Ollie Camps do not hesitate

We want to go to Paris in ‘98. 

Just as bad was, “We change coaches about eight times/ But once the players dey peck eh rhyme/ We football so stay here and suffocate/ We never reach Paris in ‘98.” 

Tony Deyal and Zeno Obi Constance might call for the Rolling Goals and not the Rolling Holes. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com