Roberts was born in Arima, Trinidad, the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and housewife, Albertha. He was educated at Arima boys' government school until he was 14, when his father died. His father had encouraged him to sing and learn to play the guitar, and he became a full-time musician. He won the Arima borough council's calypso competition four times between 1938 and 1942.
He moved to Port of Spain and had his first commercial success in 1942 with the calypso song "Green Fig" (also known as "Mary, I am Tired and Disgusted"). By 1945, he was known as Lord Kitchener. He toured Jamaica for six months in 1947-8 with Lord Beginner (Egbert Moore) and Lord Woodbine (Harold Philips) before they took passage on the Empire Windrush to England in 1948. Upon his arrival, Kitchener improvised a short song titled "London is the Place to Be", which he sang live on a report for Pathé News
He found further success in the UK in the 1950s, building a large following in the expatriate communities of the West Indian islands. His fame continued throughout the 1950s, when calypso achieved international success. Kitchener became a very important figure to those first 5,000 West Indian migrants to the UK. His music[4] spoke of home and a life that they all longed for but in many cases couldn't or wouldn't return to. He immortalised the defining moment for many of the migrants in writing the Victory Calypso with its lyrics "Cricket, Lovely Cricket" to celebrate West Indies cricket team's first victory over England in England, in the 2nd Test at Lord's in June 1950. This was one of the first widely known West Indian songs, and epitomised an event that historian and cricket enthusiast C. L. R. James defined as crucial to West Indian post-colonial societies. The song, later recorded by Lord Beginner, is rarely credited to Lord Kitchener although Tony Cozier and many who attended the Test at The Oval can attest that it was a Kitch composition.[citation needed] In England, Kitchener started out working in London pubs. At first there were difficulties with English audiences who did not understand all the words, but that did not deter Kitch, and after the BBC gave him a chance to broadcast, he moved on to club bookings, and was soon performing in three clubs every night.
Kitchener returned to Trinidad in 1962. He and the Mighty Sparrow proceeded to dominate the calypso competitions of the sixties and seventies. Lord Kitchener won the road march competition ten times between 1965 and 1976, more times than any other calypsonian. For 30 years, Kitchener ran his own calypso tent, Calypso Revue, within which he nurtured the talent of many calypsonians. Calypso Rose, David Rudder, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer are among the many artists who got their start under Kitchener's tutelage. Later he moved towards soca, a related style, and continued recording until his death. Kitchener's compositions were enormously popular as the chosen selections for steel bands to perform at the annual National Panorama competition during Trinidad Carnival. He recorded his most commercially successful song, "Sugar Bum Bum" in 1978. He retired in 1999.
It was always important to Kitchener throughout his career to gain new experiences that could be woven into his material. This led him to performances in Curaçao, Aruba and Jamaica in the early days, and finally to London, when he was already flying high in Trinidad. Kitchener once said: "I have reached the height of my popularity in Trinidad. What am I doing here? I should make a move."
Kitchener, who created highly popular and sweet melodies, is honoured with a statue in Port of Spain. A bust is also on display on Hollis Avenue, Arima, not far from the Arima Stadium.
In 1952, he met his wife Elsie Lines. They married in 1953, and lived for a period in Manchester where Kitchener ran a nightclub. They divorced in 1968. He later married and had four children (Christian, Kernal, Quweina and Kirnister Roberts) with Valarie Green, and also had a relationship with Betsy Pollard.
He died of a blood infection and kidney failure at the Mount Hope Hospital in Port of Spain. He is buried in the Santa Rosa Cemetery in Arima.
Kitchener's son, Kernal Roberts, is also a performer, playing drums for the biggest soca band in the country, Xtatik. He is also their musical director and composer of multiple Soca Monarch and Road March titles. He is noted as being a prolific musical composer and song writer.
Merits
Winner of Carnival Road March with:
1946 "Jump in Line"
1963 "The Road"
1964 "Mama dis is Mas"
1965 "My Pussin'"
1967 "Sixty Seven"
1968 "Miss Tourist"
1970 "Margie"
1971 "Mas in Madison Square Garden"
1973 "Rainorama"
1975 "Tribute to Spree Simon"
1976 "Flag Woman"
Winner of Calypso Monarch with:
1975 "Tribute to Spree Simon" and "Fever"
Birth Of Ghana
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sixth of March Nineteen Fifty Seven
When the Gold Coast successfully
Get their independence officially
Ghana
Ghana is the name
Ghana
We will be jolly, merry and gay
The sixth of March independence day
Doctor Nkrumah went on his way
To make the Gold Coast what it is today
He endevored continually to bring us freedom and liberty
Ghana
Ghana is the name
Ghana
We wish to proclaim
We will be jolly, merry and gay
The sixth of March independence day
The doctor began as agitator
Then he became popular leader
He continued to go further
And now he is Ghana's Prime Minister
Ghana
Ghana is the name
Ghana
We wish to proclaim
We will be jolly, merry and gay
The sixth of March independence day
The national flag is a lovely scene
With beautiful colours Red, Gold and Green
And a Black star in the center representing the freedom of Africa
Ghana
Ghana is the name
Ghana
We wish to proclaim
We will be jolly, merry and gay
The sixth of March independence day
Congratulation from Heil Selasie
Was proudly received by everybody
He particularly comment on the doctor's move to self government
Ghana
Ghana is the name
Ghana
We wish to proclaim
We will be jolly, merry and gay
The sixth of March independence day
Lord Kitchener's song "Birth of Ghana" celebrates the independence of the Gold Coast, which officially became known as Ghana on 6th March 1957. The opening line of "This day will never be forgotten" sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is about the monumental historical significance of Ghana's independence. The song extols the virtues of Doctor Nkrumah who had significant involvement in leading the struggle for Ghanaian independence. Nkrumah is celebrated for his tireless efforts in bringing freedom and liberty to the Gold Coast, which is today known as Ghana.
The song highlights the emotions associated with this historic moment for the people of Ghana. The lyrics emphasize the joy of the people and the sense of pride they feel, as evidenced by the lines: "We will be jolly, merry and gay The sixth of March independence day". The song further lauds Ghana's independence by mentioning its symbol, a beautiful flag with red, gold, green, and black colors, symbolizing the freedom of the African continent, with a black star in the center.
Line by Line Meaning
This day will never be forgotten
Today's significance will remain etched in our memories
The sixth of March Nineteen Fifty Seven
March 6, 1957
When the Gold Coast successfully
When the Gold Coast has triumphantly
Get their independence officially
Acquired official independence
Ghana
Ghana
Ghana is the name
That's what we call it
We wish to proclaim
We proudly announce
We will be jolly, merry and gay
We will be celebrating with great enthusiasm
The sixth of March independence day
On March 6th, the day we gained independence
Doctor Nkrumah went on his way
Dr. Nkrumah worked tirelessly
To make the Gold Coast what it is today
To transform Gold Coast into what it is today
He endevored continually to bring us freedom and liberty
He persistently fought for our liberation
The doctor began as agitator
Dr. Nkrumah began as a protester
Then he became popular leader
Then he gained widespread support as a leader
He continued to go further
He kept pushing forward
And now he is Ghana's Prime Minister
And now he serves as Ghana's Prime Minister
The national flag is a lovely scene
Our country's flag is a beautiful sight
With beautiful colours Red, Gold and Green
Featuring the splendid colors of red, gold, and green
And a Black star in the center representing the freedom of Africa
A black star at the center symbolizing freedom of Africa
Congratulation from Heil Selasie
Congratulations from His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
Was proudly received by everybody
Which everyone received with immense pride
He particularly comment on the doctor's move to self government
He emphasized Dr. Nkrumah's efforts towards self-governance
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kdewconcepts@yahoo.com
on Love In the Cemetery
Very good interpretation of this classic. Lord Kitchener had a way of putting things across. He took a simple encounter with a woman and made it so interesting. If he played that game of cards with that ghost and lost, well, that would've been the end of him. At the end he was still comforted by a dead man. But what became of the woman?
Slow.dog
on Redhead
This argument I have daily, the blonde and the brunette lady
This argument I have daily, the blonde and the brunette lady
Speaking candidly, they don’t interest me
You can take your blonde and brunette away and give me the redhead girl every day
So it is the redhead, redhead, ohhh that is what I said
Just give me the redhead, redhead, I must catch a redhead before I dead
I travel to many countries and study the three young ladies
The blonde is merely false beauty, the whole world can see it plainly
They keep their hair dyed, using peroxide
So I don’t care what the people say, I rather the redhead girl everyday
So it is the redhead, redhead, ohhh that is what I said
Just give me the redhead, redhead, I must catch a redhead before I dead
The brunette is plenty trouble, to fathom them is a puzzle
Today they are dark as ever, tomorrow they become ginger
It is critical, too artificial, so don’t be mad when you hear me say
I’d rather the redhead girl every day
So it is the redhead, redhead, ohhh that is what I said
Just give me the redhead, redhead, I must catch a redhead before I dead
To speak of the redhaired lady, a woman of natural beauty
She keeps to that natural passion, no changes to cause attraction
She appeals to me, through simplicity
If it’s the last thing I got to say, I need the readhead girl everyday
So it is the redhead, redhead, ohhh that is what I said
Just give me the redhead, redhead, I must catch a redhead before I dead
Anne Fridal
on Steel Band Music
i really need to get the lyrics to steelband music for my kitchener tribute at movietowne coming soon also when a man is poor and ole lady walkj a mile and she taylalay