Aldwyn Roberts (18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000), better known by the stag… Read Full Bio ↴Aldwyn Roberts (18 April 1922 – 11 February 2000), better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener (or "Kitch"), was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians.
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"
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"
Carnival Is Over
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Carnival Is Over' by these artists:
Duke & Superior Your eyes don't shine like they used to shine And the…
Leæther Strip Outside The storm clouds gathering, Moved silently along the…
The Seekers Say goodbye my own true lover As we sing a…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lord Kitchener:
Batty Mamselle Gemma I want to know Where you learn dis dipping so Darling…
Bee's Melody Climbin' up a mountain High above the sea I find meself…
Birth of Ghana This day will never be forgotten The sixth of March Nineteen…
Carnival Baby Ah was conceived on Carnival day You wouldn't believe that i…
Christmas Greetings Christmas Greeting Christmas Greeting is really a wonderful…
Doctor Kitch I am not a qualified physician And I don′t want to…
Dr Kitch Our father, which art in Heaven Hallowed be, thy name Thy ki…
Dr.Kitch I am not a qualified physician And I don′t want to…
Drink a Rum Drink a rum and a punch a crema, drink a…
Fever I get up this morning and just so start feeling…
Flag Woman You have no band without a beautiful flag woman You have…
Gimme The Ting Audrey you ain't moving nice You won't take de doc advice Yo…
Jamaica Turkey An Asian man Went to Jamaica And believe me boys He did caus…
Kitch Abonis don't call me so I don't like it I want you…
Kitch Take It Easy I wouldn't talk if they kill me dead I wouldn't bore…
Kitch You So Sweet Yes I get my appointment And enjoy every moment Certain thin…
London is the Place for Me London is the place for me London this lovely city You can…
Love In the Cemetery It was dark, dark, dark In a big, big park I felt…
Margie Margie, Girl you always makin' row, You could vex, yuh could…
Mommie Mother I am sorry That I didn't obey you Every word you…
My Brother Your Sister How does a family start How knows this wonderful act Well wh…
My Landlady My landlady's too rude In my affair she likes to intrude My…
My Pussin I thought I saw my pussycat Crossin' Charlotte Street Ah was…
My Wife's Nightie She came for one night with Kitchener She seems of descent…
Mysterious Letter A mysterious letter Quite from Venezuela A mysterious letter…
Nora Ah, ah beg you to leave me, Nora I going back…
Old Lady Walk a Mile and a Half Waye aye aye, waye aye aye, and she tay lay…
One to Hang Trouble in the back of Arima, so the papers say Four…
Pan in ""A"" Minor They say to me they want a musical change in…
Panorama Night Mildred met with disaster Ashamed to tell the mother Mildred…
Rain-O-Rama Rain-O-Rama —Lord Kitchener Well they moan and dey fuss and…
Red Head This argument I have daily the blonde and the brunet…
Revenge for Trini Trini decides to play brazen And pay back Baj with the…
Smoke a Cigarette Doney you are too much in a hast Take your hands…
Sugar Bum Bum Audrey, where you get that sugar Darling there is nothing sw…
Take Yuh Meat Out Me Rice A Bajan and a Trinidadian dying with starvation The Bajan sa…
The Bee's Melody Climbing up a mountain, high above the sea I find myself…
The Bees Melody Climbing up a mountain, High above the sea, I find myself ap…
Wife and Mother If your mother and your wife are drowning I want to…
Woman's Figure I am very particular With the woman that call me my…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@AGB_HDV
Rest In Peace Grandmaster...
Absolute classic
❤️🇹🇹🎼🎶🎶🎶
@TheDextstar
So interesting reading the commentaries on this classic Kitchener calypso. Its neither blues or jazz, just pure calypso in its purest well executed form as this bard captures the nostalgia we all feel the day after when "the carnival is over".
@arleendillon6813
i play it every year it's my blues it's really over lve U Kitchener r.i.p.
@knollymoses3200
Should be the test piece for every steel band festival.
@jasonjonesesquire
Perfect song for the Ash Wednesday post Carnival blues.
@siusaidhchaimbeul5499
Even the old talk has a ragged edge
Dull and frayed ...
There were no sequins in the clouds ...
Shanty-town is no sultan's tent.
- Marguerite Wake, "A Plume of Dust" in Caribbean Quarterly V:3 (1958), 224.
@Blazing19721
I agree it's truly like calypso blues
@mervynseebaran586
Miss. Beck
@TriniIntel
Honestly, I think he would find the good in it. The man was a lover of all forms. Of course, he'd probably think it could never compare to calypso, jazz or swing, but considering his son would have ended up in the soca arena anyway he would give unwavering support to Kernel and by proxy, soca.