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"
The Bee's Melody
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find myself approaching a hive of killer bee
Climbing up a mountain, high above the sea
I find myself disturbing a hive of killer bee
They bite me on mih chin, bite me on mih hand
The noise that they making, it sound like steelband
Because of mih love for music, I refused to run
But the bees were not sympathetic, they sting me for fun
(Vvung vvung, killer bee bite me!
Dem killer bee sting me! Dem killer bee dread!)
(Vvung vvung) oh gorm (killer bee jook me!) (oh-oh)
(Dem killer bee jook me) ah-ah (all over mih head!)
Well, ah feeling the pain but ah getting a vibe in mih brain
Mammayo, ah start to dance, ah start to prance
Because the buzzing of the bee form this beautiful melody
You see (the bees' melody!)
Stand up in the bushes, leaning on a tree
Watching all the bruises the bees put on me
I say "This is tragic! Is it wrong or right
For the sake of music, to take all this bite?"
Well, this was my problem, should I stay or go?
Something tell me, leave them, Something tell me, no
Well, I finally decided I'm going to remain
The bees must be say I stupid, they lash me again
(Vvung vvung, killer bee bite me!)
(Dem killer bee sting me! Dem killer bee dread!)
(Vvung vvung) oh gorm (killer bee jook me!) no more
(Dem killer bee jook me) too hard (all over mih head!)
Well, ah feeling the pain but ah getting a vibe in mih brain
Mammayo, ah start to dance, ah start to prance
Because the buzzing of the bee form this beautiful melody
Surely (the bees' melody!)
I decide I leaving, things getting too tough
The way mih luck is going, I think I had enough
As I getting ready to clear out the place
Up came the queen bee, buzzing round mih face
She start vuhvuhneering, music in she wing
Suddenly she flew in and give me a sting
Before I could bawl out, "Oh gorm, like is dead ah dead!"
The whole of the bee hive just swarm and ravage mih head
(Vvung vvung, killer bee bite me!)
Dem killer bee sting me! Dem killer bee dread!)
(Vvung vvung) ah-ah (killer bee jook me!) too much
(Dem killer bee jook me) oh gorm (all over mih head!)
Well, ah feeling the pain but ah getting a vibe in mih brain
Mammayo, ah start to dance, ah start to prance
Because the buzzing of the bee form this beautiful melody
Surely (the bees' melody!)
Lord Kitchener's "The Bee's Melody" tells the story of the singer's encounter with a hive of killer bees. He finds himself approaching the hive while climbing up a mountain high above the sea, disturbing the bees and getting bitten all over his body. However, instead of running away in fear, Kitchener stays to enjoy the buzzing sound of the bees as he starts dancing and prancing around. Kitchener's love for music and his refusal to leave the hive despite the bee stings is a metaphor for the determination of a musician not to give up their passion despite the challenges that come with it.
The song also touches on themes of regret and uncertainty as Kitchener questions whether it was right to take all the bee bites just for the love of music. He ponders if it was a smart decision to stay with the bees, but ultimately decides to leave and the queen bee stings him. Despite the pain, Kitchener finds himself dancing to the melody of the bees.
Line by Line Meaning
Climbing up a mountain, high above the sea
I am ascending a mountain peak elevated over the waters
I find myself approaching a hive of killer bee
I come in proximity to a colony of bees that sting with no mercy
I find myself disturbing a hive of killer bee
I am recklessly intruding and unsettling a nest of vicious bees
They bite me on mih chin, bite me on mih hand
The bees gnaw at my chin and my hand
The noise that they making, it sound like steelband
The sound of their buzzing resembles that of a steel band
Because of mih love for music, I refused to run
Owing to my passion for tunes, I decline to flee
But the bees were not sympathetic, they sting me for fun
However, the bees are not empathetic and sting for pleasure
Well, ah feeling the pain but ah getting a vibe in mih brain
Although I am in agony, I feel a rhythm in my mind
Mammayo, ah start to dance, ah start to prance
I begin to move rhythmically and jive around
Because the buzzing of the bee form this beautiful melody
The humming of the bees creates a pleasing tune
You see (the bees' melody!)
Can't you see it? It's the bees' melody!
Watching all the bruises the bees put on me
Observing all the swelling caused by the bee stings on my skin
For the sake of music, to take all this bite?
Is enduring all these stings worth it just for music?
Well, this was my problem, should I stay or go?
This is my dilemma; should I remain or depart?
Something tell me, leave them, Something tell me, no
One part of me says to leave, the other says to stay
Well, I finally decided I'm going to remain
After much consideration, I resolve to stay
The bees must be say I stupid, they lash me again
The bees must think me foolish as they sting me once more
I decide I leaving, things getting too tough
I make up my mind to leave; the situation is too arduous
The way mih luck is going, I think I had enough
Given my current misfortune, I am convinced I've had my fill
Up came the queen bee, buzzing round mih face
Suddenly, the queen bee arrives, hovering close to my face
She start vuhvuhneering, music in she wing
She begins to vibrate and create music with her wings
Suddenly she flew in and give me a sting
Suddenly, she swoops in and stings me
Before I could bawl out, "Oh gorm, like is dead ah dead!"
Before I can exclaim, 'Oh God, I'm as good as dead'
The whole of the bee hive just swarm and ravage mih head
The entire hive swarms and assaults my head
(Vvung vvung, killer bee bite me!)
The sound of the bee sting - vvung vvung!
(Dem killer bee sting me! Dem killer bee dread!)
The bees sting me with no mercy; they are dreadful creatures
(Vvung vvung) oh gorm (killer bee jook me!) (oh-oh)
The pain is excruciating - Oh dear! (The killer bees have pricked me) (oh-oh)
(Dem killer bee jook me) ah-ah (all over mih head!)
They continue to sting me - oh dear! (All over my head!)
(Vvung vvung) no more (killer bee jook me!) too hard
No more! The bee stings are unbearable! (Too hard)
(Dem killer bee jook me) oh gorm (all over mih head!)
The bees continue to prick me - oh dear! (All over my head!)
Surely (the bees' melody!)
Without a doubt, it is the melody of the bees!
Contributed by Bailey V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@reaganr1871
Heading into 2024! Great music still!!
@seonpivotte1530
Still
@kennethlittle8455
This man in my opinion was the most talented calypsonian to ever grace the stage singing calypso in T&T.
@DavidWilliams-sp8gv
ya got my vote there matey!
@DavidWilliams-sp8gv
He is singing about getting stung by killer bees while hiking!
@esthergirod8518
P
@light279
I agree. This man was pure genius. My favourite calypsonian.
@R0m0n3
Without a doubt
@abshalomyisrael9475
When i was a little boy my daddy carried me on his back through Frederick Street to jump up in a passing band. This was the song playing .. wow!! Beautiful
@johannacargill1892
Its 2021 and I still love, love, love this song. I just love it so much!