Calypso is a style of music that was developed and made popular in Trinidad and Tobago. However, it is argued that Calypso was started by the African slaves in the Caribbean who, not being allowed to communicate with each other, they used calypso to mock their slave masters and to communicate with each other. Since then, Calypso has had a major impact throughout the Caribbean. Calypso is much more than party music. Calypso acts as a “barometer of social consciousness, an expression of collective identity, and a vehicle for anti-establishment critique”. Calypsonians are like storytellers, deep intellectually, and they have a passion to tell us about the current affairs in the country such as racism, politics and cost of living. Calypso is considered an art form. There is a general call for a return to social commentary, the root of calypso.
Grenadian -born, Trinidadian raised, Slinger Francisco, known as “The Mighty Sparrow”, transformed calypso in the 1950s as he helped calypso to transcend the world. However, my focus for this article is Antiguan-born Sir McLean Emanuel popularly known as King Short Shirt. As a young boy growing up, the Antiguan Calypso Competition was a like the “Super Bowl Party” for the Eastern Caribbean island, and was considered second to that in Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone was up late night with their ears glued listening to the radio.
King Short Shirt’s calypso legacy is one of critical social commentary against injustice of all kinds. His lyrics included black power themes in songs such as “Black Like Me” and “Afro Antiguan”. “Lamentation” (1973) was an indication of the disappointment he felt. “Power and Authority” and “Unity” are examples of his calypsoes with political messages.
Below are some of the social and political lyrics of King Short Shirt’s songs that will definitely bring back some memories and consciousness that are still relevant in these times.
In King Short Shirt’s song, “Without Love” the lyrics include, “Century after century past You would think we have at last learn to live in love and harmony. Mankind, we are just the same struggling for power and fame, raising for ourselves a tragedy, when will we change? There is so much inequity, crippling many countries. We are heading down the drain, living our lives in vain. There is no place for me in our society, without love where justice is harsh, wisdom is in vain, and power corrupts man brain. Without love, there is oppression and exploitation. That is why the whole system without love will go down in destruction.”
In his song, “When”, some of the lyrics consist of, “When when will we learn to live together. When when will we learn to love each other. When when will we learn to trust our brother. When when will we live one for another. Lord, I search and I search but I can’t find neither love, happiness nor peace divine. Sometimes I feel like I want to scream, and scream, and scream, and screaaaaaammm. Sometimes Lord I feel I could scream”.
For his “Power and Authority” song, the lyrics partly comprise of, “Power rules the world today, power corrupts this day. And absolute power corrupts you absolutely. It can change a man who has a heart of gold, make him cruel, wicked, self-centered and cold. Many men in this land, had a nice session, fought for freedom and justice throughout the land. When they have power and authority, they don’t give a damn about nobody, prostituting the island to all and sundry. They peddling my people dry. Exploiting, oppressing, less freedom. more suffering I wonder how we survive. Think it over my friend, think it over again. Think it over, don’t vex with me Shorty, think it over, I sing it as I see.”
Short Shirt in his song, “Illusion” sang: “You fool the youths that they were free and that slavery has lost its sting. But they are not foolish they can see, you are lying deep within. Slavery has not left our doors as yet I am sure. We have got to fight the battle some more. The time has come for every man in the Caribbean, to forge one common destiny. It is time to make our people free. We got to stand up for our rights, to live the life we choose, to change, to enhance or to refuse. If you think the battle is done, my brother you are riding on illusion, on illusion. The talk of progress, talk of justice peace and unity, all illusion. We have no hold on these of native islands, our hands are tied, we don’t control our actions. Come let we forward together in a social endeavor, our own social control. We slave no more, we slave no more.”
Short Shirt in “Lamentation” sang: “Lament oh my soul, Lament oh my soul, A cry for this cruel word. Mankind can’t find no solution. I say we are reaping the sour fruits of retribution. And I am now convinced, we are violent Lord, vulgar animals. And is we who say we are intelligent, we superior, we civilize and we are wise. Yet we making all kinda bomb blowing up everyone killing one another with gun. And who don’t have gun use knife. Lord I say that the time has come for us to get on our knees, lift our head to the trees to that very sky above. Oh Lord Oh Lord, let there be happiness in our soul, Oh Lord Oh Lord, let there be love not hate in our world. Oh, for the day when He comes down in all of His glory. Let there be peace, all them fighting cease.
Despite our current circumstances and plight, in Short Shirt’s song, “In Spite of”, he saw hope for us and he urged us to unite as stated in the following lyrics: “At last, at long last, at last. Out of chaos and strife, we found a hope we’ve never known. A glimpse, just a glimmer, just a gleam. But a flicker of light like I have never seen. The voices of my people tell me that they’re reaching maturity. Their spirit shows that determination for a new society. Though plagued by injustice, misfortune, and strain, and constant oppression, I foresaw a change. Though we fail to get along, is one thing we have in common. The oppression we bear, will forge us as one.” That day is soon here.
