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"
Dr. Kitch
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hallowed be, thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
In earth as it is
In Heaven
Give us this day, our daily bread
And forgive us our debts
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom
And the power
And the glory
Forever, amen
These lyrics are actually the Lord’s Prayer from the Christian Bible. Lord Kitchener's song "Dr Kitch" takes this prayer and puts a humorous spin on it by incorporating it into a more mundane topic: the story of a medical doctor who is approached by a woman seeking his help with her various medical issues. The woman is described as being unkempt and not taking care of herself properly, and the doctor attempts to help her while also trying to woo her.
The use of the Lord’s Prayer in this context can be seen as a commentary on the nature of faith and spirituality in everyday life. The juxtaposition of a serious prayer with a silly storyline highlights the way in which people may use religion to cope with the difficulties of life, but also may not take it seriously or use it in unexpected ways.
Overall, "Dr Kitch" is a lighthearted take on a serious prayer that invites listeners to consider the role of spirituality in everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
Our father, which art in Heaven
Addressing to God who is in heaven.
Hallowed be, thy name
May your name be adored and respected.
Thy kingdom come
May your kingdom established on earth.
Thy will be done
May your desires and wishes be fulfilled.
In earth as it is
In Heaven
Ensure that your desires are fulfilled on this earth like it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread
Please provide us with our everyday needs and necessities.
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors
Please forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Please protect us from evil and help us resist temptation.
For thine is the kingdom
And the power
And the glory
Forever, amen
For you have the kingdom, power, and glory forever. Amen.
Contributed by Layla O. 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 .