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"
Red Head
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This argument I have daily the blonde and the brunet lady
Speaking kindly they don't interest me
You can take your blonde and brunet
away and give me the red head girl everyday
So it is the red head, red head, oooooooh that is what I said,
just give me the red head,
red head I must catch red head before I left
The blonde is nearly false beauty,
the whole world can't see it clearly.
Making their hair dyed using color side,
so I don't what the people say, I rather the red head girl everyday.
So it is the red head, red head, oooooooh that is what I said,
just give me the red head,
red head I must catch red head before I left
The brunet is plenty trouble to find of 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 saying, I rather the red head girl everyday
So it is the red head, red head, oooooooh that is what I said,
just give me the red head,
red head I must catch red head before I left
To speak of the red head lady a woman of natural beauty,
she keeps to nature fashion no change to cause attraction
She appeals to me through simplicity if it is the
last thing I have to say I need the red head girl everyday
So it is the red head, red head, oooooooh that is what I said,
just give me the red head,
red head I must catch red head before I left
End.
Lord Kitchener's song "Red Head" is a playful tribute to his preference for women with red hair. He argues with a blonde and brunette lady daily, insisting that they don't interest him and declaring that he would rather have a red head girl every day. He sings that he has traveled to many countries to study the three young ladies, and that while the blonde is false beauty with dyed hair, the brunette is trouble to find and becomes artificial. On the other hand, the red head lady is a woman of natural beauty who appeals to him through simplicity.
The song is an interesting commentary on beauty standards and preferences, as Lord Kitchener celebrates the natural beauty of women with red hair. It is also a playful and light-hearted tune with catchy lyrics and a fun melody that makes it memorable. The repetition of the phrase "red head" throughout the song adds to its charm and emphasizes the singer's preference.
Line by Line Meaning
This argument I have daily the blonde and the brunet lady
I have a recurring debate about the two types of women: blondes and brunettes.
Speaking kindly they don't interest me
In all honesty, I am not attracted to either of them.
You can take your blonde and brunet away and give me the red head girl everyday
If I had to choose, I would go for the redhead without a second thought.
So it is the red head, red head, oooooooh that is what I said, just give me the red head, red head I must catch red head before I left
My preference is clearly for redheads, and I hope to find one before I depart.
The blonde is nearly false beauty, the whole world can't see it clearly. Making their hair dyed using color side, so I don't what the people say, I rather the red head girl everyday.
Blondes often rely on artificial means to enhance their appearance, which doesn't appeal to me. Redheads are more natural and authentic.
The brunet is plenty trouble to find of 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 saying, I rather the red head girl everyday.
Brunettes are difficult to pin down, and their tendency to dye their hair different colors is off-putting. Once again, I prefer redheads for their simplicity and honesty.
To speak of the red head lady a woman of natural beauty, she keeps to nature fashion no change to cause attraction. She appeals to me through simplicity if it is the last thing I have to say I need the red head girl everyday.
Redheads possess a natural beauty that requires no extra adornment or alteration. I find this simplicity and authenticity very appealing and would choose a redhead every time.
Contributed by Olivia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@7car7
Thanks for posting this.