Sparrow's roots are in Gran Roi, a rural fishing village in Grenada. He was born to a poor working class family. They migrated to his adopted homeland, Trinidad, when he was just one year old. He attended the New Town Boys School where he was selected to sing in the boys. choir of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. This was his initial involvement in music. The harmonics of the Gregorian Chants and the Plainsongs of the church that were embedded in him would later affect the depth and intensity of his compositions. His vocal abilities also reflect his childhood role as the head choirboy who sang baritone and tenor in Latin in the church.
Other influences included listening to American street quartets, pop tunes by Nat King Cole and Frankie Laine, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstein, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with their jazz contributions, and the early calypsoes of Lord Melody, Lord Kitchener, Lord Christo, Lord Invader (of Rum and Coca Cola fame) and the Mighty Spoiler, to name a few.
At the tender age of 20, Sparrow emerged, as the leading Calypsonian with his record-breaking hit, Jean and Dinah. (Yankees Gone, 1956 covered by Harry Belafonte). Throughout the years he managed to showcase his diversity each year with the release of at least one album dating from the catchy Jean and Dinah. in 1956 to Carnival Boycott (1957, a song responsible for the many changes and improvement for mass men, calypsonians and steelband men). This song was eventually responsible for the formation of the Carnival Development Committee. An organization to assist calypsonians, steelband men and mas men. This committee was fully endorsed by the Founding Father of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Eric Eustace Williams.
In 1958 he became the only calypsonian to have had a triple win, in the same year, in the Road March Competition. The calypsoes were P.A.Y.E. (Pay As You Earn, a song that enabled the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, to understand the importance of paying taxes). Russian Satellite (a song reflecting on the act of cruelty to animals) and Theresa (a number where, for the first time in his career, he utilized other languages). In an unprecedented move, he was awarded a cash prize by the Carnival Development Committee, for winning the Road March Competition that year.
In 1959 he released Federation, (a song that reflected his disappointment over the breaking up of the proposed Caribbean Federation). In 1960 his career continued to soar with the melodious May May and Leave the damn Doctor, Royal Jail and Ten to one is Murder followed in 1961. In 1962 he presented us with Sparrow Come Back Home and Model Nation. Dan is the Man in the Van came in 1963 and the Village Ram in 1964.
In 1965 we experienced Congo Man. In that same year Sparrow proved himself a balladeer with his remake of Arthur Prysock's original, Only A Fool Breaks His Own Heart accompanied by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. This rendition won him a Gold Record in Holland. He also recorded Frank Sinatra's My Way and Lucho Gatica's "El Reloj".
In 1966, He won the Road March Competition again with Melda and 1967 he advised the youth on the importance of Education. Mr. Walker was his hit in 1968, he won the Road March Competition again in 1969 with Sa Sa Yea and in 1970 he appealed to the people of this world to Love one Another and Lend A Hand. These songs appealed to the country for unity "Unity somehow if Trinidad ever needed you is now".
In 1971 Good Citizen followed and in 1972 he won the Calypso Monarch and Road March Competitions with Drunk and Disorderly. No Kind of Man at all was released in 1973 and We Pass That Stage (a strong social commentary in 1974. In 1975 he gave us a psychological analysis, showing where the rich is envious of the poor with Neurosis of the Rich. The Mayor of Detroit, Coleman Young, also presented him with the keys to the city.
In 1976 we got the humorous Salt Fish, and in 1977 he lead the Caribbean with a tribute to Hasley Crawford, the Olympic Gold Medallist. In the same year, during FESTAC, in Nigeria, Sparrow received the honorary title of Chief of the Yorubas, (which is Chief Omo Wale of Ikoyi).
In 1978 he paid tribute to Penny Commissiong (the first black Miss Universe) with The First Black Miss Universe, and chided Idi Amin Dada, tyrant in Africa. Kerry Packer (a song about the cricket revolution) followed in 1979 and in 1980 the Shah of Iran (Wanted Dead or Alive ). This number was covered by the popular American group, Manhattan Transfer.
Sparrow continued to climb the ladder of success while becoming the most popular caypsonian of all time. He demonstrated year after year, with his social commentaries that the calypsonian is really the eyes and ears of the people. In 1981 he registered his social/political Commentaries. We Like It So and his first chutney contribution Sexy Marajhin another liguistic inclusion. In 1982 he gave us Human Rights and in 1983 another powerful, State of the Union address Capitalism Gone Mad. He added another Road March title to his record in 1984 with Doh Back Back and in 1985 he demonstrated to the youth in the business that he can step up to another level when necessary with Soca Pressure.
Around this same time, Mayor Ed Koch of New York proclaimed March 18th, The Mighty Sparrow Day. He dealt with another evil of society in 1986 advising the vulnerable that Coke Is Not It. In 1987 he thrilled the world with another classic, the humorous Lying Excuses. He made another appearance in Nigeria, this time as Chief Omo Wale of Ikoyi, during his National Tour of Afirca and upon his return he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Letters, from the University of the West Indies. Hence, the reason for Dr. Bird his chronicling of the event at the University of the West Indies, (using humor again as he always does She had a headache and this Dr. Bird performed a myomectamy on her) in 1988.
Manjhay, and Dutch Romance (which gave us a touch of French and Dutch languages) in 1989. In 1990 he gave us Let the Music Play and was inducted into the SUNSHINE Awards Calypso and Steelband Music Hall of Fame on June 24th. That same day the Brooklyn Borough President, Howard Golder proclaimed the day The Mighty Sparrow Day. Another strong social commentary, We Could Make It Easy If We Try and Precious a dedication to his daughter followed in 1991.
Sparrow continued to define the true meaning of "The Calypso King of the World. In 1992 with Both of Them, Crown Heights Justice and Man will Survive. All making a big impact in the Caribbean and the United States.
In 1993 he sang Put On Your Dancing Shoes and More the Merrier and in 1994 told the youth on his heels that Age Is Just A Number and Salvation, underscoring his roots as a choirboy in the church. In 1995 he gave us a course in history where once again he kept the linguistic involvement Democracy In Haiti (Liberte) and a keen sense of observation with the social situation at home This Is Madness, ("Why have we cast aside intelligence and abandon common sense with unprecedented violence for which there is no known defense"). Incidentally these gems earned him third place in the Calypso Monarch Competition. He gave us OJ (the juice is loose) and the Royal Divorce in 1996 and an assortment of Soca Ballads in 1997.
This illustrious lyricist/composer/singer/comedian/entertainer is an 11 time Calypso Monarch. This includes winning the King of Kings Competition (where every monarch in the calypso world is invited to compete against the Mighty Sparrow, each time suffering total defeat at his hands) in Trinidad. He also won the Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival Road March Competition eight (8) times, second only to the Lord Kitchener, (his songs were selected and played most often by the bands in this category). Sparrow received many other University citations and awards from Governments and organizations too numerous to mention.
Now in 1998, The Mighty Sparrow, continues to rule the Calypso/Soca world with his voice, lyrics and melodies. He is demonstrating once more that he is the King. His new release, The Supreme Serenader is full of dance, humor and facts. The first track Paramaribo is not only a beautiful rendition of how he was captivated by the girls in Surinam but it also demonstrates the depth of his thoughts and his gratitude for a land of style and grace.
Santo Domingo is a track full of dance and proof positive that the King is truly global with his music. He will be embraced by the Latino communities around the world for this one. Racism is a very powerful social commentary, both lyrically and musically. In this song, Sparrow once again deals with an issue of international concern while at the same time reflecting on those who have been in the forefront of the struggle.
Willie Dead is a humorously and classically executed double entendre, so convincing that you will mourn for Willie. Another powerful and appealing social commentary is Raperman. The King assumes the role of messenger and protector of women and underscores his position with the following tracks, Born To Love, and Don't Give It Up.
The Mighty Sparrow has proved himself as the Quintessential Calypsonian, par excellence, with over seventy (70) albums to his credit. He is richly endowed with many gifts. He possesses an amazing ability not only to put into works and tempo the exploits of society, but to crown it all with showmanship and appeal. His great contribution to the artform and our lives has unraveled the mysteries of Caribbean life, leaving the professionally trained sociologist and economist befuddled.
A combination of talent, hard work and opportunity enabled Sparrow's ascendance to Calypso King of the World. He brought honor, glory and dignity to an indigenous art form that was once scorned upon by the elite of Caribbean society. He is one extraordinary entertainer who utilizes the medium he masters not just to entertain but also to edify, enlighten, and educate.
The King is currently preparing for the new millennium when he will re-enter the World Monarch and Road March Competitions for a cataclysmic encounter with his competitors.
Without doubt, as The Mighty Sparrow, The King of Kings, is the real Supreme Serenader.
Hairy Spider
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me and meh girl on meh bed relaxing
Meh little daughter Iris
Saying goodnight so she want a kiss, but
Before the mother could have tell she no
How you don't know, she opened the door
Stand up straight jam up to the wall
She eye open big and she start to bawl...
"Daddy, daddy, there's a spider on top of mummy!
Ah sure she ain't know, otherwise she'd a-make it go
Take a piece of wood and make sure you flog it good"
She said, "Don't look at that big fat hairy spider on mummy leg!"
You could imagine now how ah frightened
But ah ain't sayin' nothing
The woman lay down there, I beside her
And trembling for so 'fraid spider
Ah say "Just in case it jump on me
Ah have meh blackjack in meh hand all ready
Sound like a cascabel on the bed
When ah finish with the spider is dead he dead"
You hear the child...
"Daddy, daddy, there's a spider on top of mummy!
Ah sure she ain't know, otherwise she'd a-make it go
Take a piece of wood and make sure you flog it good"
She said, "Don't look at that big fat hairy spider on mummy leg!"
Accidentally ah touch something
And no for so ready meh blackjack jumping
Ah try to wrap him up in a blanket
Ah didn't want the spider to see it
Ooops, spider come and show he face
Ah start sharing licks inside the place
Meh girl start to bawl, "Boy what wrong with you?
This ain't a real spider, is a tattoo!"
And the child bawling...
"Daddy, daddy, there's a spider on top of mummy!
Ah sure she ain't know, otherwise she'd a-make it go
Take a piece of wood and make sure you flog it good"
She said, "Don't look at that big fat hairy spider on mummy leg!"
The song "Hairy Spider" by Mighty Sparrow tells a story about a family getting ready for bed, when they suddenly come across a spider on the mother's leg. The daughter Iris alerts her father, who becomes scared but determined to protect his family. He reaches for his blackjack just in case the spider jumps on him. He starts beating the spider with the blackjack, causing the wife to cry out in confusion. She reveals that the spider was just a tattoo on her leg and not a real spider. The daughter keeps crying out for her dad to kill the spider, insisting that it was not a tattoo.
The song can be analyzed as a humorous and ironic commentary on the irrational fears and insecurities that plague individuals and families. The father's initial response to the spider is one of fear and panic, even though he was not directly endangered. As a result, he was ready to use his blackjack to protect himself from a harmless tattoo. The daughter, on the other hand, is insistent on the danger of the spider, despite the fact that her mother tells her otherwise. The song thus comments on how our fears and anxieties can often be irrational and fueled by our own thoughts and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
About nine o'clock in the evening
It was around nine in the evening
Me and meh girl on meh bed relaxing
I was lying in bed with my girl, relaxing
Meh little daughter Iris
My daughter named Iris
Saying goodnight so she want a kiss, but
She was saying goodnight and wanted a kiss, but
Before the mother could have tell she no
Before her mother could say no
How you don't know, she opened the door
She opened the door before anyone could stop her
Stand up straight jam up to the wall
She stood up straight and pressed against the wall
She eye open big and she start to bawl...
Her eyes were open wide and she started to cry
"Daddy, daddy, there's a spider on top of mummy!
She cried out to me, saying there was a spider on top of her mother
Ah sure she ain't know, otherwise she'd a-make it go
I'm sure her mother didn't know or she would have made it go away
Take a piece of wood and make sure you flog it good"
She asked me to take a piece of wood and flog it to make sure it was dead
She said, "Don't look at that big fat hairy spider on mummy leg!"
She told me not to look at the big, hairy spider on her mother's leg
You could imagine now how ah frightened
You can only imagine how scared I was
But ah ain't sayin' nothing
But I didn't say anything
The woman lay down there, I beside her
Her mother lay down and I was beside her
And trembling for so 'fraid spider
I was trembling because I was so afraid of the spider
Ah say "Just in case it jump on me
I said, "Just in case it jumps on me
Ah have meh blackjack in meh hand all ready
I had my blackjack in my hand and was ready
Sound like a cascabel on the bed
The sound of my blackjack hitting the bed sounded like a rattle
When ah finish with the spider is dead he dead"
After I finished with the spider, it was definitely dead
You hear the child...
You could hear the child crying
"Daddy, daddy, there's a spider on top of mummy!
She cried out to me again, saying there was a spider on top of her mother
Ah sure she ain't know, otherwise she'd a-make it go
I'm sure her mother didn't know or she would have made it go away
Take a piece of wood and make sure you flog it good"
She asked me again to take a piece of wood and flog it to make sure it was dead
She said, "Don't look at that big fat hairy spider on mummy leg!"
She reminded me not to look at the big, hairy spider on her mother's leg
Accidentally ah touch something
I accidentally touched something
And no for so ready meh blackjack jumping
And my blackjack was ready to jump into action
Ah try to wrap him up in a blanket
I tried to wrap the spider up in a blanket
Ah didn't want the spider to see it
I didn't want the spider to see what I was doing
Ooops, spider come and show he face
Oops, the spider showed its face
Ah start sharing licks inside the place
I started hitting the spider with my blackjack
Meh girl start to bawl, "Boy what wrong with you?
My girl started crying and asked me what was wrong
This ain't a real spider, is a tattoo!"
She told me it wasn't a real spider, but a tattoo
And the child bawling...
And the child was still crying
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Roslyn Evelyn
"Take a Piece of wood an make sure ya flog it good"! Lol Ohhh Goshhh!
I Love Sparrow!!
Mandulis
LMAO... De man is still a genius.. Get Well Birdie...
Alex Gordon
tks for posting this gem...
dominic wilson
sparrow is real good lol
davey jones
ha ha ha this man is trouble . I laughing my ass off
ken bruce
D Birdie......Great as usual!
Annetta H
:)
ken bruce
IsDePanInMe....do u have Steering Wheel