In 2004 Joseph was selected by renaissance one, Decibel and the Arts Council of England as one of fifty Black and Asian writers who have made major contributions to contemporary British literature, appearing in the historic Great Day photo. In 2005 he was selected as the British Council’s first Poet in residence at California State University, Los Angeles.
Joseph lectures in creative writing at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is a AHRC scholar and doctoral candidate at Goldsmiths College.
As a musician he has released three critically acclaimed albums with his band the Spasm band; all released to coincide with book publications. His debut album with the band, Leggo de Lion was released in 2007, and featured lyrics taken from his novel The African Origins of UFOs. Bird Head Son followed in 2009, with lyrics from the Bird Head Son collection. The band’s third album Rubber Orchestras was released in 2011, alongside a new collection of poems with the same title.
Joseph has also collaborated with several artists including Archie Shepp, Joseph Bowie, Laurent Garnier, Othello Molineaux, Malcolm Catto, Mop Mop, Robert Aaron, Roger Raspail, Keziah Jones and Jerry Dammers of the Specials as part of the Spatial AKA Orchestra.
Totem
Anthony Joseph Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fifty-foot-high with electric eye
To survey your land
To survey the barbadine tree
To survey the lime
You woulda never see
How in silence before dawn
Jumbie does break cane
cn' run through the yard
You woulda never see
How them animal does conspire
To put ghost in front your eye
You survey the land, you survey the coconut leaf
You survey the gate, you never see the mystery of life
Yes, Poopa, come Poopa
Unless you build a flagpole
Ninety-foot-high on a steel beam
Put up camera, put up barb wire
Leggo eye above the dark
You woulda never see
You survey your land
You survey the pomcetrye tree
You survey the soursop
You survey the lime
You woulda see
How spirit does build nest
In the old woman beard
cnd leave arse behind
Yes, Mister
Unless you build fowl coop
Unless you build a hotel
For crapaud and he friend
Your jaw goes burst like fire
Every time the power blow
But I beg you, Poopa
I beg you no sorrow reach
I beg no sorrow reach
cnd peace a'greet me
Not the backside of your hand
The lyrics of Anthony Joseph's song "Totem" depict a reflection on the importance of observation and awareness in order to truly understand and appreciate the world around us. The lines "Unless you build a steeple / Fifty-foot-high with electric eye" suggest that one must elevate their perspective, both physically and metaphorically, in order to gain a broader understanding of their surroundings. By surveying the land and various elements of nature such as the barbadine tree, zaboca, and lime, the singer suggests that one can uncover hidden aspects of life that would have otherwise remained unnoticed.
The mention of "Jumbie" breaking cane and running through the yard before dawn alludes to the mystical and supernatural forces that exist just beneath the surface of everyday life. This indicates that there is more to reality than what meets the eye, and it is through silence and attentiveness that one can become aware of these hidden aspects. The lyrics also touch upon the idea that animals conspire to reveal the unseen, putting "ghost in front your eye." This suggests that even the natural world holds secrets and messages that can be deciphered through careful observation.
The second verse continues the theme of observation, emphasizing the need to build a flagpole and utilize surveillance technology to truly see and understand one's surroundings. Despite surveying the land, the coconut leaf, and the gate, there is still a failure to recognize the true mystery of life. The song then shifts its focus to the spirit world, implying that spirits build their nests in unexpected places and leave behind remnants of their presence, such as in the old woman's beard. The lyrics suggest that there is a hidden realm intertwined with our own, waiting to be discovered by those who are willing to look closely.
Overall, "Totem" encourages the listener to be attentive, to open their eyes and senses to the world around them, and to recognize that there is an underlying mystery and beauty in the everyday if one takes the time to truly observe and understand.
Line by Line Meaning
Unless you build a steeple
If you don't have a tall structure with a surveillance camera to observe
Fifty-foot-high with electric eye
At a height of fifty feet, equipped with an electronic monitoring system
To survey your land
To examine and observe your property
To survey the barbadine tree
To inspect and understand the significance of the barbadine tree
To survey the zaboca
To analyze and comprehend the zaboca (avocado) tree
To survey the lime
To assess and grasp the lime tree
You woulda never see
You would never have noticed or realized
How in silence before dawn
The quiet moments before sunrise
Jumbie does break cane
Supernatural spirits (jumbie) disrupt and damage sugar cane crops
cn' run through the yard
Running freely through the yard
How them animal does conspire
How the animals collaborate
To put ghost in front your eye
To present illusions or supernatural occurrences
You survey the land, you survey the coconut leaf
You examine the land and the significance of the coconut leaf
You survey the gate, you never see the mystery of life
While observing the gate, you fail to comprehend the enigmatic nature of life
Yes, Poopa, come Poopa
An exclamation to emphasize a point and call attention
Unless you build a flagpole
If you don't construct a tall flagpole
Ninety-foot-high on a steel beam
Standing ninety feet high on a steel structure
Put up camera, put up barb wire
Install surveillance cameras and barbed wire fences
Leggo eye above the dark
Elevate a watchful eye above the darkness
You woulda never see
You would never have noticed or realized
You survey your land
You observe and assess your property
You survey the pomcetrye tree
You examine and understand the significance of the pomcetrye tree
You survey the soursop
You analyze and comprehend the soursop fruit
You survey the lime
You assess and grasp the lime tree
You woulda see
You would have noticed and understood
How spirit does build nest
How spiritual beings construct their dwelling places
In the old woman beard
Within the facial hair of an elderly woman
cnd leave arse behind
And leave their physical presence behind
Yes, Mister
An exclamation to denote respect or acknowledgement
Unless you build fowl coop
If you don't construct a chicken coop
Unless you build a hotel
If you don't create a habitat for frogs
For crapaud and he friend
For the toad and its companions
Your jaw goes burst like fire
Your mouth will be filled with intense emotion
Every time the power blow
Whenever calamity strikes
But I beg you, Poopa
However, I implore you, Poopa
I beg you no sorrow reach
I request that no sorrow befall you
I beg no sorrow reach
I plead for no sorrow to come about
cnd peace a'greet me
And may peace embrace me
Not the backside of your hand
Avoiding any kind of violence or harm towards me
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: ANDREW SINCLAIR JOHN, ANTHONY DEREK JOSEPH, JASON CHRISTOPHER YARDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind