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"
Doctor Kitch
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I don′t want to give this injection
I am not a qualified physician
And I don't want to give this injection
Dorothy is begging for trouble
She insist I should give her this needle
But darling, one thing I want you know
I push it in, she pull it out
I push it back, she start to shout:
"Dr Kitch, this is terrible,
I can't stand the size of your needle!"
She lied on in such a position
It was difficult to give this injection
She start holding on to the needle
Making me so uncomfortable
I said: "Darling can't you be steady,
I′m going to have it done very shortly"
She said: "Dr Kitch, I am sorry
But the size of the needle frighten me!"
I push it in, she pull it out
I push it back, she start to shout:
"Dr Kitch, it′s terrible,
I can't stand the size of your needle!"
She still wouldn′t lie down quietly
Constantly moving her body
So I slap her in the face with vexation
And I went on giving the injection
She screamed: "Doctor stop! I can't stand the pain!
I don′t think you're inside the right vein!"
I said: "It′s your own fault you wouldn't be told
The needle must be stick in the wrong hole!"
I push it in, she pull it out
I push it back, she start to shout:
"Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can′t stand the size of your needle!"
I pull it from that hole and start again
I have the needle now in the right vein
The needle just gone in half a inch
The stupid young lady start to clinch
Suddenly she bawl: "It is hurtin′
Doc' I can feel the penicillin going in"
I said: "You little fool, what you do
You talk until the needle breaking you!"
I push it in, she pull it out
I push it back, she start to shout:
"Dr Kitch, it′s terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle!"
The lyrics to Lord Kitchener's "Doctor Kitch" are about a man who is asked by his lover, Dorothy, to administer an injection, but he has no medical training and is hesitant to do so. Throughout the song, Dorothy is portrayed as nervous and uncooperative, making the process difficult for the reluctant "Doctor Kitch." The repeated lines of "I am not a qualified physician, and I don't want to give this injection" highlight the humor in the situation and emphasize the absurdity of an untrained individual being asked to administer medicine.
As the song progresses, the frustration of Doctor Kitch and the fear of Dorothy escalate, resulting in Doctor Kitch slapping her and calling her a "little fool" for talking and causing the needle to break inside her. The lyrics play on the theme of incompetence and show the dangers of relying on unqualified individuals for medical assistance.
The song is a humorous take on the cultural tensions and difficulties of Trinidadian society in the 1950s, particularly the struggles of the working-class population. Despite its humorous tone, the song highlights important issues such as the lack of access to proper medical care and the dangers of unqualified individuals administering medicine.
Line by Line Meaning
I am not a qualified physician
I do not have any medical expertise
And I don't want to give this injection
I do not wish to administer this injection
Dorothy is begging for trouble
Dorothy is asking for problems
She insists I should give her this needle
She is requesting that I administer this injection
But darling, one thing I want you to know
I want to inform you of something
Don't blame me for where the needle go
Do not hold me responsible for where the injection is administered
I push it in, she pull it out
I insert the needle, she removes it
I push it back, she start to shout
I reinsert the needle, she begins to yell
"Dr Kitch, this is terrible
"Doctor Kitch, this is awful
I can't stand the size of your needle!"
I cannot tolerate the size of the needle!
She lied on in such a position
She was positioned in a certain way
It was difficult to give this injection
Administering the injection was challenging
She start holding on to the needle
She began to grab the needle
Making me so uncomfortable
This made me uneasy
I said: "Darling can't you be steady,
I asked: "Sweetheart, can you please remain still,
I'm going to have it done very shortly"
I will complete this procedure shortly"
She said: "Dr Kitch, I am sorry
She responded: "Doctor Kitch, I apologize
But the size of the needle frighten me!"
However, the size of the needle frightens me!"
"She still wouldn't lie down quietly
She continued to move around
Constantly moving her body
Continuously shifting her position
So I slap her in the face with vexation
I smacked her in the face due to my irritation
And I went on giving the injection
I resumed administering the injection
She screamed: "Doctor stop! I can't stand the pain!
She yelled: "Doctor, please stop! The pain is unbearable!
I don't think you're inside the right vein!"
I do not think the needle is in the correct vein!"
It's your own fault you wouldn't be told
It is your fault for not listening
The needle must be stick in the wrong hole!"
The needle must have entered the wrong opening!"
I pull it from that hole and start again
I removed it from that opening and started over
I have the needle now in the right vein
I have located the correct vein for the injection
The needle just gone in half an inch
The needle has only gone in half an inch
The stupid young lady start to clinch
The foolish young woman starts to tighten her muscles
Suddenly she bawl: "It is hurtin'
Suddenly she yells: "It is painful
Doc' I can feel the penicillin going in"
Doctor, I can feel the penicillin being administered"
I said: "You little fool, what you do
I responded: "You foolish girl, what did you do
You talk until the needle breaking you!"
You were talking so much that the needle hurt you!"
Dr Kitch, it's terrible
Doctor Kitch, this is terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle!"
I cannot bear the size of the needle!"
Writer(s): Lord, Kitchener
Contributed by Jake N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FunkyPsychoClub
Verse 1
I am not a qualified physician
And I don't want to give this injection
I am not a qualified physician
And I don't want to give this injection
Dorothy is begging for trouble
She insist I should give her this needle
But, darling, one thing I want you know
Don't blame me for where the needle go
Chorus
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
Dr Kitch, you're terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle
Verse 2
She lied on in such a position
It was difficult to give this injection
She start holding on to the needle
Making me so uncomfortable
I said Darling can't you be steady
I'm going to have it done very shortly
She said Dr Kitch I am sorry
But the size of the needle frighten me
Chorus
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle
Verse 3
She still wouldn't lie down quietly
Constantly moving her body
So I slap her in the face with vexation
And I went on giving the injection
She screamed Doctor stop! I can't stand the pain!
I don't think you're inside the right vain
I said It's your own fault you wouldn't be told
The needle must be stick in the wrong hole
Chorus
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle
Verse 4
I pull it from that hole and start again
I have the needle now in the right vain
The needle just gone in half a inch
The stupid young lady start to clinch
Suddenly she ball, it is hurtin'
Doc I can feel the penicillin going in
I said You little fool what you do
You talk until the needle breaking youI push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
Dr Kitch, it's terrible
hehehe
@koalaparklaundromat6197
Singalong? :D
I am not a qualified physician
And I don't want to give this injection
I am not a qualified physician
And I don't want to give this injection
Dorothy is begging for trouble
She insist I should give her this needle
But, darling, one thing I want you know
Don't blame me for where the needle go
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
"Dr Kitch, you're terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle"
She lied on in such a position
It was difficult to give this injection
She start holding on to the needle
Making me so uncomfortable
I said "Darling can't you be steady
I'm going to have it done very shortly"
She said "Dr Kitch I am sorry
But the size of the needle frighten me"
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
"Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle"
She still wouldn't lie down quietly
Constantly moving her body
So I slap her in the face with vexation
And I went on giving the injection
She screamed "Doctor stop! I can't stand the pain!
I don't think you're inside the right vain"
I said "It's your own fault you wouldn't be told
The needle must be stick in the wrong hole"
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
"Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle"
I pull it from that hole and start again
I have the needle now in the right vain
The needle just gone in half a inch
The stupid young lady start to clinch
Suddenly she bawl "It is hurtin'
Doc I can feel the penicillin going in
I said "You little fool what you do
You talk until the needle breaking you"
I push it in
She pull it out
I push it back
She start to shout
"Dr Kitch, it's terrible
I can't stand the size of your needle" :D
@emmanuelsekyere7930
Who's here to listen to this in 2024❤
@nanaadwoa6427
2020 who’s here?
@ianbenson21
ME
@Kofi_rich
Who is listening to this masterpiece in 2022
@BreedersSyndicate
I love the judge dress version
@kennyucheagwu6168
2023 here
@kingki23
Still 2023
@josweetlove1537
@@kennyucheagwu6168 also here in 2023...classic calypso by the Grandmaster, Lord Kitchener.
@sharonqueen7872
Listening to it in 2023
@applelynch6980
And dey talking bout we young people music 😂😂❤️ yes .