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"
Take Yuh Meat Out Me Rice
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Bajan say, "Look, Trini, let we make a cook.
I put the rice, you going put the meat
Then we going both have something to eat."
But when the pot was nearly to done
The Bajan decide to pull a fast one.
He said, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
But when come to the occasion,
Man, I stick fuh muh right
You put in a twelve-cents meat bone,
You worse than a lice
I going give you a word of advice,
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
Trini got in a big rage,
"What wrong with you, Baje?
I going tell you flat,
Baje, I ain't taking that!
When we were shopping we both agree
The food will be cook and share equally
I put muh last penny in this meat
And I ain't moving until I eat."
Baje say, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
I don't like to fight
But when come to the occasion,
Man, I die fuh muh right
You put in a ten-cents meat bone,
You think that is nice?
Well don't make me have to tell you twice,
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The Bajan then said to Trini,
"Man don't tell lies on me.
I never told you
That we going join' and cook up in two.
What I mention, I can repeat,
I said to lend me a piece of meat."
Trini so vex, he begin to cry,
"Baje, in front muh eye you telling a lie?"
Baje say, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
I don't like to fight
But when come to the occasion,
Man, I die fuh my right.
Yuh put in a nine-cents meat bone,
Good lord, you want half a slice?
If you don't want a Bajan ice,
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
By this time the pot finish,
Trini pick up a dish
The Bajan say, "No no, no,
Never happen so!
If you wanted something to eat,
Man take a fork and pick out your meat
But if you add one grain of rice,
By Christ, I squeeze yuh throat like a vise."
"Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
I don't like to fight
But when come to the occasion,
Man I die fuh muh right
You put in a eight-cents meat bone,
You Trinidadian lice
Before I squeeze you like a vise,
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The lyrics to Lord Kitchener's song "Take Yuh Meat Out Muh Rice" tells a humorous story of two friends, a Bajan and a Trinidadian who decide to cook together to alleviate their hunger. They both agree to contribute their resources towards the meal, with the Bajan offering his rice and Trinidadian offering his meat. However, when it comes to eating the food, the Bajan begins to feel that the Trinidadian's meat is not enough for him and decides to force him to take his meat out of his rice. The Trinidadian is not willing to compromise and is determined to eat his portion of the meal. As the argument intensifies, the Bajan threatens his friend, and they both end up feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with the outcome.
In a broader sense, the song could be interpreted as a commentary on the relationship between the two Caribbean nations. The Bajan represents the more assertive and dominant class, while the Trinidadian represents the supporting class. The Bajan's demand that the Trinidadian removes his meat from the rice could be seen as a symbol of the social and economic divide between the two countries.
Overall, the song symbolizes the difficulties that arise when trying to share resources and solve problems together with others.
Line by Line Meaning
A Bajan and a Trinidadian dying with starvation
Two people, one from Barbados and the other from Trinidad, are suffering from extreme hunger.
The Bajan say, "Look, Trini, let we make a cook.
The Bajan suggests that they cook together.
I put the rice, you going put the meat
The Bajan proposes that he will provide the rice, and the Trinidadian should provide the meat for their meal.
Then we going both have something to eat."
The Bajan believes they will both have enough food to eat if they work together.
But when the pot was nearly to done
When the food was almost cooked
The Bajan decide to pull a fast one.
The Bajan decided to cheat.
He said, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
The Bajan begins to argue that he is more entitled to the food because he is from Barbados.
I don't like to fight
He doesn't want to argue anymore.
But when come to the occasion,
When it matters,
Man, I stick fuh muh right
The Bajan will defend his right to the food to the end.
You put in a twelve-cents meat bone,
The Trinidadian only provided a cheap piece of meat.
You worse than a lice
The Trinidadian is as bad as a parasite.
I going give you a word of advice,
The Bajan is going to give the Trinidadian advice.
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The Trinidadian should remove his meat from the Bajan's rice.
Trini got in a big rage,
The Trinidadian became very angry.
"What wrong with you, Baje?
The Trinidadian asks the Bajan what his problem is.
I going tell you flat,
The Trinidadian is going to be blunt with the Bajan.
Baje, I ain't taking that!
The Trinidadian refuses to agree with the Bajan's demands.
When we were shopping we both agree
When they were shopping, they had agreed to cook together.
The food will be cook and share equally
They had to share the food equally.
I put muh last penny in this meat
The Trinidadian spent all his money on the meat.
And I ain't moving until I eat."
The Trinidadian won't move anywhere till he gets his share of the food.
Baje say, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
The Bajan is still arguing that he is entitled to more because he was born in Barbados.
I don't like to fight
He still doesn't want to argue.
But when come to the occasion,
When it matters,
Man, I die fuh muh right
The Bajan will fight for his right to the food.
You put in a ten-cents meat bone,
The meat provided was of poor quality.
You think that is nice?
The Bajan doesn't think it's fair.
Well don't make me have to tell you twice,
The Bajan is warning the Trinidadian not to push him.
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The Trinidadian should remove his meat from the Bajan's rice.
The Bajan then said to Trini,
The Bajan spoke to the Trinidadian.
"Man don't tell lies on me.
The Bajan accuses the Trinidadian of lying about their agreement.
I never told you
The Bajan denies ever suggesting they cook together.
That we going join' and cook up in two.
The Bajan insists that they never agreed to cook together.
What I mention, I can repeat,
The Bajan is confident that he never said they should cook together.
I said to lend me a piece of meat."
The Bajan only asked for a piece of meat.
Trini so vex, he begin to cry,
The Trinidadian is now both angry and upset.
"Baje, in front muh eye you telling a lie?
The Trinidadian is accusing the Bajan of lying to his face.
Baje say, "Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
The Bajan still believes he is entitled to more of the food.
I don't like to fight
He still doesn't want to argue.
But when come to the occasion,
When it matters,
Man, I die fuh my right.
The Bajan will fight for his right to the food.
Yuh put in a nine-cents meat bone,
The Trinidadian brought cheap meat.
Good lord, you want half a slice?
The Bajan thinks the Trinidadian is being greedy.
If you don't want a Bajan ice,
If the Trinidadian doesn't want trouble with the Bajan,
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The Trinidadian should remove his meat from the Bajan's rice to avoid further conflict.
By this time the pot finish,
The food has finished cooking.
Trini pick up a dish
Trinidadian takes a dish to serve himself.
The Bajan say, "No no, no,
The Bajan suddenly changes his mind.
Never happen so!
The Bajan doesn't want the Trinidadian to have any of his rice.
If you wanted something to eat,
If you wanted to eat,
Man take a fork and pick out your meat
The Bajan suggests the Trinidadian pick out his own meat from the pot.
But if you add one grain of rice,
If the Trinidadian adds even a single grain of rice to his portion,
By Christ, I squeeze yuh throat like a vise."
The Bajan will hurt the Trinidadian if he tries to take any of his rice.
"Trini, I'm a born Barbadian,
The Bajan still believes he deserves more.
I don't like to fight
He doesn't like to fight.
But when come to the occasion,
When it matters,
Man I die fuh muh right
The Bajan will fight for his right to the food.
You put in a eight-cents meat bone,
The Trinidadian brought cheap meat.
You Trinidadian lice
The Trinidadian is like a parasite to the Bajan.
Before I squeeze you like a vise,
The Bajan is warning the Trinidadian of his wrath.
Take yuh meat out muh rice!"
The Trinidadian should remove his meat from the Bajan's rice.
Contributed by Ella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@devoncassmoreharris4499
2023 still listening to this great great tune that was made before I was born its so so good 🇦🇬🇬🇧💖💗💛💝🎧📻🎵🎶🎹🎙️🎸🎷
@debbiealexander1156
Imagine, my 25 year old was listening to this song and showed it to me saying that this was a dying tradition. He found this song so funny. So proud of him . Rest in Peace Lord Kitchener
@pamelaloftman
Thanks a million... we need to highlight our one CARIBBEAN CULTURAL MUSIC HERITAGE..
THANKS FOR THIS HISTORICAL TAKE...Makes us one Caribbean Peoples...One Love ❤️
@erickbrowne7143
fun song! my father is bajan, he gone with the lord now. takes me back to saturday mornings as a boy. he would play sparrow, jackie opel on the stereo playa while making fish cakes. great memories, great old school calypso. RIP king Browne!!
@Quweina
Fun fact: Lord Kitchener's father was Bajan. Stephen Roberts and his siblings moved to Trinidad where he married Albertha Smith and they had 6 children. Lord Kitchener was the last child. Find the Roberts in Barbados and you'll find Lord Kitchener's relatives.
@livingstonalleyne8839
Okkkkk
@riyadhrafique8377
Hello Quweina so your daddy is connected to Barbados?? Take Yuh Meat out me Rice indeed!! 😂 When I think of Barbados, I think of Hunte's Garden, Harrison Cave & Oistin's. I have a fun fact for you my dear- Barbados may well be on their way to Republic Status source: The NewYork Times. Trinidad get Republic Status in 1976. Guyana got in 1970. Dominica received Republic status 1978- so you can imagine how the Bajans will feel once they get that!!
@AnytimeAssemblypros
Wow - thanks
@josweetlove1537
Quwenia Roberts i love your father's music as did my late parents. As a child we lived in the UK and my dad met your father. My parents were true Trinbagonians i grew up hearing this kaiso and have loved all his music. I even knew his brother Errol from Point Fortin through my job. May he continue to RIP.
@junior2404
@@josweetlove1537, Errol? Is that Rupert's other name?