Named after the American general Douglas MacArthur, Rose's earliest years were a crowded environment - 19 people in a one-bedroom house. When she was 9, she moved to live with an uncle in Barataria
She began writing songs at the age of 15, and has written over 800 songs. In 1966 she wrote the song Fire in Me Wire, which has since become a calypso anthem. Rose was the first female to win the Trinidad Road March Competition, in 1977 with her song Tempo. She won the Calypso Queen title five years running. She has also won both the Trinidad Calypso Crown and Road March competitions in 1978, the Sunshine Award in 1989 and the Trinidad and Tobago Hummingbird Medal in 2000.
Abatina
Calypso Rose Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Few were inclined to believe her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
She was lucky to marry
A rich, rich man handsome like Harry
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Harry was a charmer
No one believed he could harm her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina, Aba Tina
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
The wedding was the talk of the town
Went down the aisle in a long, long white gown
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
They said she wanted to marry above her
All she want was someone to love her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
News came first, they called her a liar
She had no sound, she mouth full of wire
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
In the end Tina was buried
By the church where she got married
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Tina should have outlived us
Now we pray that she will forgive us
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Tina was no deceiver
Few were inclined to believe her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina
Aba Tina oh
Aba Tina oh
Aba Tina oh
The song "Abatina" by Calypso Rose tells the story of a woman named Tina who marries a wealthy man named Harry. When someone starts breaking down the door, everyone wonders who it could be, since Harry was thought to be a charming man who could never harm Tina. The wedding was the talk of the town, but rumors soon began to circulate that Tina had lied about something, and that she had no sound and a mouth full of wire. Eventually, Tina dies and is buried by the same church where she got married. Although everyone thought she was a liar, the community came to regret their mistrust of Tina and hopes that she can forgive them.
The lyrics of "Abatina" can be interpreted in a number of ways, but at its core, the song is a cautionary tale about how quickly truth can be distorted in the court of public opinion. Tina is unfairly judged by her community, which ultimately leads to her death. The repeated refrain of "Aba Tina" serves to remind listeners of the tragedy that befell her and encourages them to reflect on their own biases and assumptions.
Line by Line Meaning
Tina was no deceiver
Tina was an honest person and did not deceive others.
Few were inclined to believe her
Despite being honest, not many people believed Tina.
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Someone is breaking down Tina's door and the singer is asking who it is.
She was lucky to marry
Tina was fortunate to get married.
A rich, rich man handsome like Harry
She married a wealthy man who was also good-looking, similar to Harry.
Harry was a charmer
Tina's husband Harry was very charming.
No one believed he could harm her
Nobody suspected that Harry could cause harm to Tina.
The wedding was the talk of the town
Tina's wedding was a very popular topic in the town.
Went down the aisle in a long, long white gown
Tina walked down the aisle wearing a long white bridal gown.
They said she wanted to marry above her
Some people assumed that Tina wanted to marry someone above her social status.
All she want was someone to love her
All Tina wanted was to be loved by someone.
News came first, they called her a liar
Some news came out that portrayed Tina as a liar.
She had no sound, she mouth full of wire
It was rumoured that Tina couldn't speak well in public as if she had a mouth full of wire.
In the end Tina was buried
Tina died and was buried.
By the church where she got married
Tina was buried near the church where she got married.
Now we pray that she will forgive us
The artist and others hope that Tina can forgive them now that she is gone.
Aba Tina
The artist is addressing Tina.
Aba Tina oh
The singer is addressing Tina with emphasis.
Lyrics Β© Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Rafael De Leon, Manu Chao, Ivan Duran, Drew Gonsalves, Calypso Rose
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@notmkx.
Tina was no deceiver,
Few were inclined to believe her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
She was lucky to marry
a rich rich man handsome like Harry
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Harry was a charmer
No one believed he could harm her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
The wedding was the talk of the town
The gyal gone down in a long long white gown
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
They said she wanted to marry above her;
all she want was someone to love her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
News came first, they called her a liar;
she had no sound, she mouth full of wire.
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
In the end Tina was buried
By the church where she got married
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Tina should have outlived us
Now we pray that she will forgive us
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
Tina was no deceiver,
Few were inclined to believe her
Aba Tina oh, who you have there breakin' down the door?
@eleanorrahamut-ali9314
She is The Queen of calypso! I fell in love with her music when I first heard her in Trinidad πΉπΉ
@patriciakhan3998
Happy Birthday Rose. Long may you thrive.
@justineles1020
African power
@Beeloved33
Who would dislike this queen!? πΉ
@fruktu871
She is our Calypso Queen!!
@Supersk2310
love frome greece!
@canadaone2385
the nightingale of trinidad
@FernGray
Beautiful leading lady! I love this song and the video was very well done ! Domestic and gender based violence continues to be a tragic issue plaguing my Caribbean region.. thank you to this legend for illuminating this issue so artfully!! Thumbs all the way up!!
@namcleod
Also, highlights the harm that can result from gossip. And people do like to gossip...
@SNowo-ql4js
ΡΡΠΎ Π²ΠΎΠ»ΡΠ΅Π±ΡΡΠ²ΠΎ ΠΊΠ°ΠΊΠΎΠ΅ ΡΠΎ, Π½Π΅ ΠΌΠΎΠ³Ρ ΠΎΡΠΎΡΠ²Π°ΡΡΡΡ. ΡΠ»ΡΡΠ°Ρ Π²Π΅ΡΡ Π΄Π΅Π½Ρ ΠΎΠ΄Π½Ρ ΡΡΡ ΠΏΠ΅ΡΠ½Ρ ΠΈ ΡΠ°Π½ΡΡΡ.