Moore was born in Port-of-Spain in Trinidad. According to AllMusic: "After attracting attention with his soulful singing in Trinidad and Tobago, Lord Beginner was sent by expatriate Portuguese businessman Edward Sa Gomes to New York City, along with Attila The Hun and Growling Tiger, to record for the Port-Of-Spain label in May 1934." These recordings by Moore with other leading members of Trinidad's "Old Brigade" of calypsonians helped to spark a renaissance of the calypso genre in the 1940s and '50s, and introduce the music to the world.
In July 1948 Lord Beginner emigrated to England with fellow calypsonians Lord Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts) and Lord Woodbine (Harold Philips) in 1948. They arrived near London on the Empire Windrush, the first of many voyages conveying West Indians wishing to start a new life in Britain. Beginner began playing clubs throughout London and was a success, recording for the Parlophone label in 1950.
Lord Beginner signed a recording contract with Parlophone in 1950. Two of his more well known calypsos were "Victory Test Match" (including the lyrics "Cricket, lovely cricket, at Lord's where I saw it") and "General Election". The first was reputedly devised on the spot following the West Indies cricket team's victory against England at Lord's in 1950, inspiring Beginner and Lord Kitchener to begin a musical march from the ground to Piccadilly followed by dancing spectators. "General Election" was inspired by Clement Attlee's victory in the 1950 British general election.
Mix Up Matrimony
Lord Beginner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With racial segregation, I can see universally, fading gradually
Mix marriage is the fashion and the world is saying so
Lovers choosing partners of every kind they know
This is freedom from above, so what they thinking of
Is to grab the one that they love
The organs are always playing and the parsons are saying
Marriages are fixing and the races are mixing
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Long ago it was so difficult to see two different race in matrimony
A Chinee man never used to change his life
Until he get a Chinee girl for his wife
Now, any colour is a colour, any race is a race
Life is short so they mean to embrace
This is real equality, human rights, as I see, with this mix-up matrimony
The organs are always playing and the preachers are saying
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Be holding together before it's too late
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Racial segregation gone to hell, the happenings nowadays can tell
Mix marriage seems to have a stronger tie than the pure one
For I don't know why
The races are blending harmoniously
White and coloured people are binding neutrally
It doesn't take no glass to see how it come to pass
Coloured Britons are rising fast
The organs are always playing and the preachers are saying
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Though some are seeing well and others catching hell
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
The great part that Seretse Khama played
We appreciate the move that he made
The Bamangwato tribe he always thinking of
He lost his throne for the girl he love
For he knew that a good wife today is hard to find
So he find one, so he had to treat her kind
So if you are in your prime, run to the preacher anytime
For who you love, it is not a crime
The organs are always playing and the preachers are saying
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Marriages are fixing and the races are mixing
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Lord Beginner's song "Mix Up Matrimony" is an upbeat tune that celebrates the fading away of racial segregation and the rise of mixed-race marriages. The lyrics express the idea that love knows no boundaries and that diversity in relationships is a sign of true equality and freedom. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that the trend of interracial marriage is becoming more popular and widely accepted. He suggests that people are choosing partners based on mutual attraction and not societal norms, as they may have done in the past. The chorus emphasizes the role that religious institutions play in promoting this progressive idea and encourages people to come together in love and unity.
In the second verse, the singer argues that mixing races in matrimony is a sign of progress and human rights. He predicts that those who embrace this type of diversity will be the ones who rise up and succeed. The song references the story of Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana, who lost his throne for marrying a white woman. This story serves as an example of the social and political obstacles that people of different races had to overcome to be together. Overall, the song is a joyous ode to the power of love and the beauty of diversity.
Line by Line Meaning
With racial segregation, I can see universally, fading gradually
I can observe that racial segregation is gradually disappearing all around the world.
Mix marriage is the fashion and the world is saying so
Interracial marriage is currently popular and accepted globally.
Lovers choosing partners of every kind they know
People are selecting romantic partners regardless of their race or ethnicity.
This is freedom from above, so what they thinking of
Is to grab the one that they love
This trend represents a form of freedom which allows people to choose their partners based on love.
The organs are always playing and the parsons are saying
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
Marriages are fixing and the races are mixing
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
The church and its organists are encouraging and facilitating interracial marriage through their teachings and sermons.
Long ago it was so difficult to see two different race in matrimony
A Chinee man never used to change his life
Until he get a Chinee girl for his wife
Now, any colour is a colour, any race is a race
Life is short so they mean to embrace
This is real equality, human rights, as I see, with this mix-up matrimony
In the past, it was challenging to see interracial couples, but now, couples of all races are celebrated. Equality and human rights are being realized through interracial marriage.
Be holding together before it's too late
"Incorporate and amalgamate"
We should all come together and promote interracial marriage before it becomes too late to do so.
Racial segregation gone to hell, the happenings nowadays can tell
Mix marriage seems to have a stronger tie than the pure one
For I don't know why
The races are blending harmoniously
White and coloured people are binding neutrally
It doesn't take no glass to see how it come to pass
Coloured Britons are rising fast
Racial segregation is decreasing, and interracial marriages seem to have stronger bonds than same-race marriages. People of different races are living in harmony, and colored Britons are on the rise.
The great part that Seretse Khama played
We appreciate the move that he made
The Bamangwato tribe he always thinking of
He lost his throne for the girl he love
For he knew that a good wife today is hard to find
So he find one, so he had to treat her kind
So if you are in your prime, run to the preacher anytime
For who you love, it is not a crime
We appreciate the actions of Seretse Khama, who fought for the woman he loved, even at the cost of his throne. If you find love with someone of a different race, don't hesitate to marry them, because it's not a crime to do so.
Contributed by Hunter L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@1957Hepcat
Great calypso about interracial marriage! As a white man happily married to a sweet black woman born in the Bahamas, I really dig this song. Lord Beginner (Egbert Moore) was a major calypsonian from Trinidad & Tobago. Good song with a good message!
@Strimbles
Important and rare song!!
@nexabro
I'm really digging the laid back vibe on this track. Will def' check this dude out more.