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"
Wife and Mother
Lord Kitchener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to no which one you would be saving
If your mother and your wife are drowning
I want to no which one you would be saving
Well for me I'm holding on to my mother
And my wife she will have to excuse,
Kitchener I can always get another wife
but I can never get another mother in life
That they rather their lawful wife than their mother
I ask them the reason, this what they answer
They can romance their wife but not their mother
Well my wife can be flourishing in pool of
gold, but my mother comes first in this blessed world
Course I can always get another wife but
I can never get another mother in my life
If there is a quarrel with you and your mother,
she may be mad, but still consider over the matter
Don't care how hasty that your mother maybe,
she will never try to make that little talk so lengthy
But your wife from the time you have a roll
with her, She's gone with somebody to America
So I can always get another wife but I
can never get another mother in my life
This is what I got to say openly,
to compare your mother with your wife is crazy
Your wife is like a little lam in front
you, she pretend to be loving, reliable and true
But go to the bathroom to sponge your
face, when you return another man in your place
So I can always get another wife but I
can never get another mother in my life
End .
Lord Kitchener's song "Wife and Mother" discusses the importance of a man's relationship with both his wife and his mother and the choice he may have to make if they were in danger. The song begins by asking the question of which one a man would save if they were drowning, his mother or his wife. Kitchener then shares his own personal choice, stating that he would hold onto his mother and his wife would have to excuse him. He argues that while he can always get another wife, he can never get another mother in life.
The lyrics go on to challenge the idea that some men may prefer their wife over their mother, claiming that they can romance their wife but not their mother. Kitchener argues that while a wife may be flourishing in a pool of gold, his mother comes first in this blessed world. He suggests that in the event of a quarrel, a man should always consider and reconcile with his mother, noting that she will never make a little talk lengthy like a wife might. Kitchener concludes the song by stating that comparing a mother to a wife is crazy, as a wife can pretend to be loving and true, but a man can never get another mother in his life.
Overall, Lord Kitchener's "Wife and Mother" encourages men to value and prioritize their relationship with their mother while also acknowledging the importance of their relationship with their wife.
Line by Line Meaning
If your mother and your wife are drowning
Lord Kitchener poses a hypothetical scenario in which a man's wife and mother are drowning and asks whom the man would try to save.
I want to no which one you would be saving
Kitchener expresses his curiosity about the man's decision in the aforementioned scenario.
Well for me I'm holding on to my mother
Kitchener states that, in his own case, he would choose to save his mother.
And my wife she will have to excuse,
Kitchener acknowledges that his wife may not be happy with his decision but he is willing to face her displeasure.
Kitchener I can always get another wife
Kitchener notes that he could easily find another wife if necessary.
but I can never get another mother in life
Kitchener emphasizes the irreplaceable nature of a mother in one's life.
I heard some men saying around the corner
Kitchener shares a conversation that he overheard among some men.
That they rather their lawful wife than their mother
Kitchener relays the conclusion of the conversation that some men would choose to save their wife over their mother.
I ask them the reason, this what they answer
Kitchener clarifies that he asked the men for their reasoning behind their decision.
They can romance their wife but not their mother
The men justify their decision by stating that they have a romantic relationship with their wife that they do not have with their mother.
Well my wife can be flourishing in pool of gold,
Kitchener acknowledges that his wife may have material wealth and abundance.
but my mother comes first in this blessed world
Kitchener reaffirms that his mother holds a higher place in his life than his wife.
Course I can always get another wife but
Kitchener reiterates that he could easily find another wife if necessary.
I can never get another mother in my life
Kitchener emphasizes again the unique and irreplaceable role of a mother in one's life.
If there is a quarrel with you and your mother,
Kitchener brings up a situation in which a man may be in conflict with his mother.
she may be mad, but still consider over the matter
Kitchener suggests that a mother, even if angry, will still thoughtfully consider the issue at hand.
Don't care how hasty that your mother maybe,
Kitchener acknowledges that a mother may act hastily at times.
she will never try to make that little talk so lengthy
Despite acting impulsively at times, a mother will not prolong a minor disagreement needlessly.
But your wife from the time you have a roll
Kitchener contrasts a mother's behavior in a quarrel with a wife's behavior.
with her, She's gone with somebody to America
Kitchener implies that a wife may use any opportunity to leave a husband, even during a minor disagreement.
So I can always get another wife but I
Kitchener repeats his conviction that finding another wife would not be difficult.
can never get another mother in my life
Kitchener reminds the listener of the unique and irreproducible role of a mother in one's life.
This is what I got to say openly,
Kitchener begins his concluding thoughts.
to compare your mother with your wife is crazy
Kitchener expresses his belief that it is foolish to compare the role and importance of a mother with that of a wife.
Your wife is like a little lam in front
Kitchener uses a simile to describe a wife as vulnerable and easily influenced.
you, she pretend to be loving, reliable and true
Despite this vulnerability, a wife may act as if she is loving and trustworthy.
But go to the bathroom to sponge your face,
Kitchener uses a hypothetical example to illustrate a wife's untrustworthiness.
when you return another man in your place
The implication is that a wife may cheat on her husband while he is away, even for a few minutes.
So I can always get another wife but I
Kitchener repeats his belief that finding another wife would be easy.
can never get another mother in my life
Kitchener reminds the listener of the unique and irreplaceable role of a mother in one's life.
End .
Kitchener concludes his song.
Contributed by Joseph L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MrDanielphenix
Great lyrics, fine humour, music fits perfectly....and a favorite of Kevin Ayers...that says it all