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"
Kitch You So Sweet
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And enjoy every moment
Certain things I remember
That was said by Angela
Darling I am rather beat
Will you please anoint my feet
Straight a way she jump in bed
As I start she turn and said
Keep rubbing my feet
I love it so much
Boy you got a touch
Darling squeeze me there again
I don't mine the pain
Like you did before
Please rub it in one small
I beg you
Hurry darling don't you stop
I think this pain is moving up
Just started to get an inch
Now is getting in my knees
So Move your hand up to the right
Squeeze me there with all your might
Yes darling you are right on spot
The only thing is pains a lot
Kitchen you so sweet
Keep rubbing my feet
I love it so much
Kitch boy you got a touch
Darling squeeze me there again
I don't mine the pain
Like you did before
Kitch rub it in one small
I beg you
Suddenly she mourn again Kitch
This must be a moving thing
You made me have up inside
But the pain has dried too hard dry
To I reply
Even what you say is true
What you had to make me to do
Rather you are works of peace
I'm not going to past your knees
Kitch you so sweet
Keep rubbing my feet
I love it so much
Kitch boy you got a touch
Darling squeeze me there again
I don't mine the pain
Like you did before
Please rub it in one small
I beg you
End
The lyrics to "Kitch You So Sweet" by Lord Kitchener tell the story of a man who gets an appointment with a woman named Angela. When he arrives, he's tired and asks her to anoint his feet. As she begins to rub his feet, he starts to reciprocate the favor and rubs her feet in return. As the massage progresses, she asks him to apply more pressure, even though she's experiencing pain. As the pain moves up her legs, he moves his hands accordingly until she asks him to stop, explaining that the pain has become too intense.
The song is about the pleasures and some of the challenges of a romantic relationship. The lyrics describe how each person is willing to give pleasure and take pleasure from the other, and even when there is discomfort, the connection is still sweet. There's an element of intimacy and mutual care that is described in the song. It shows how much people can bond through simple acts of touch, such as a foot massage.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes I get my appointment
I have received my appointment and I am happy about it.
And enjoy every moment
I am enjoying every moment of this experience.
Certain things I remember
I recall some of the things that were said to me.
That was said by Angela
It was Angela who said those things to me.
Darling I am rather beat
My dear, I am feeling tired and exhausted.
Will you please anoint my feet
Can you please massage my feet?
Straight a way she jump in bed
Immediately, she jumped into bed.
As I start she turn and said
As I began to massage her feet, she turned and said,
Kitch you so sweet
Kitch, you are so sweet.
Keep rubbing my feet
Please continue to massage my feet.
I love it so much
I am really enjoying this massage.
Boy you got a touch
You have a skillful touch.
Darling squeeze me there again
My love, please press down there once more.
I don't mine the pain
I don't mind the pain that comes with it.
Like you did before
Just like you did earlier.
I beg you
I am asking you.
Hurry darling don't you stop
Quickly, my dear, please don't stop.
I think this pain is moving up
I feel like the pain is spreading upwards.
Just started to get an inch
It has just begun to become more uncomfortable.
Now is getting in my knees
Now the pain has moved to my knees.
So Move your hand up to the right
Please move your hand upwards and to the right.
Squeeze me there with all your might
Press down with all your strength right there.
Yes darling you are right on spot
You have located the exact spot that needs the massage.
The only thing is pains a lot
The only problem is that it is quite painful.
Suddenly she mourn again Kitch
Suddenly, she moaned once more, Kitch.
This must be a moving thing
This pain must be caused by something that is moving.
You made me have up inside
You made me feel something inside me.
But the pain has dried too hard dry
But the pain has become too intense and unrelenting.
To I reply
To which I replied,
Even what you say is true
Even if what you are saying is true.
What you had to make me to do
What did you have to do to me?
Rather you are works of peace
Instead, you bring peace and comfort.
I'm not going to past your knees
I'm not going any further than your knees.
Kitch you so sweet
Kitch, you are so sweet.
Keep rubbing my feet
Please continue to massage my feet.
I love it so much
I am really enjoying this massage.
Kitch boy you got a touch
Kitch, you have a skillful touch.
Darling squeeze me there again
My love, please press down there once more.
I don't mine the pain
I don't mind the pain that comes with it.
Like you did before
Just like you did earlier.
Kitch rub it in one small
Kitch, please massage that spot a little bit more.
I beg you
I am asking you.
End
The end of the song.
Writer(s): ALDWIN ROBERTS
Contributed by Juliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Savvynlady
One of Kitch best.