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.
Lion And Donkey
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De two of dem, well who is really king
Bo Lion and Donkey arguing
Between de two of dem, who is really king, hmmm...
Well, de argument reach a height
De committee say, "Let dem fight!"
All but monkey backing lion
De whole animal kingdom in confusion.
Hear dey bawling...
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
All them animals gone crazy
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
Even de referee, he and all against donkey, he bawling
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
A donkey is an ass and he have no brain
Lion bite away donkey tail and had de poor ass in pain.
Lion know donkey ain't easy
So he decide to fight carefully
But de way de crowd encouraging
He get brave and he start to swing, hmmm...
A left and a right to head... Woop too!
Upper cut, I say donkey dead
Donkey tumble down on de floor
Elephant, goat and tiger began to roar.
Hear they bawling...
(Lick him down, lion, lick him down!)
Take yuh paws and rip 'way he belly
(Lick him down, lion, lick him down!)
Only monkey crying for donkey
This time, lion in a temper only sharing blows
Rip away all of donkey clothes
And had de whole ass exposed, hey!
Monkey bawl, "Hey man, ring de bell!"
Crapaud say, "For what? Go to hell!"
"Well, all right use de secret weapon
And teach a lesson to dis damn lion"
Referee Mr. Unicorn say, "It's a forgone conclusion
Time to ring de bell really pass
But a miracle couldn't save your partner ass"
(Knock him out, lion, knock him out!)
Donkey getting tired and backing
(Knock him out, lion, knock him out!)
Lion fouling but de referee ain't warning
(Knock him out, lion, knock him out!)
Lion take a stool and really knock him down
Dog and all start to laugh at this
Big naked ass on de ground.
Hear they singing...
In a clinch, donkey kiss lion
Calling him a macomere man
Lion get so vex he change up he style
No more bobbing and weaving, he fighting wild
When he had donkey at arm's length
He pelt a bolo with all his strength
Donkey weave and dat was de case
Lion spin, donkey grab him around he waist.
Hear de referee...
(Dat is foul, donkey, dat is foul)
Donkey tell de referee, "Yes, I know."
(Dat is foul, donkey, dat is foul)
"Ho-ho. Maybe, but dis is one fowl dat could crow!"
(Break, I say, donkey, break, I say)
Monkey say, "I don't know what is wrong wid you.
Why de hell you talking 'bout
Break, break, break...
And is dat he trying to do?"
The song "Lion and Donkey (Rematch)" by Mighty Sparrow is a humorous commentary on power struggles and conflicts that arise when two individuals fight for dominance. The song depicts a fight between a lion and a donkey, as they argue about who is the real king. Eventually, a committee decides to let them fight it out to determine the winner. However, the fight creates chaos and confusion among the animals in the kingdom. The lyrics describe the fight in detail, with the lion being portrayed as the stronger and more skilled fighter. However, at the end of the song, the donkey manages to get the last word in, sarcastically crowing like a rooster despite being defeated.
The song is a clever satire on the nature of power and the potentially destructive outcomes of conflicts over it. The lyrics are witty and entertaining, with a rhythmic and catchy melody that draws the listener in. The chorus is particularly memorable, as it repeats the animals' cries to "beat the man, lion, bust his head," creating a sense of tension and excitement in the listener. Overall, the song is a lighthearted and humorous reflection on the absurdity of power struggles and the importance of humility.
Line by Line Meaning
Bo Lion and Donkey arguing
Lion and Donkey are having an argument
De two of dem, well who is really king
They are arguing about who is the real king
Between de two of dem, who is really king, hmmm...
Both parties are questioning who is the true king
Well, de argument reach a height
The argument has escalated
De committee say, "Let dem fight!"
The committee decides to have them fight it out
All but monkey backing lion
Everyone except the monkey supports Lion
De whole animal kingdom in confusion.
The entire animal kingdom is in chaos
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
The animals are encouraging Lion to beat Donkey up
All them animals gone crazy
The animals have lost their minds
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
The animals are again encouraging Lion to beat up Donkey
Even de referee, he and all against donkey, he bawling
Even the referee is against Donkey, and he is crying out loud
(Beat de man, lion, buss he head!)
They continue to encourage Lion to beat up Donkey
A donkey is an ass and he have no brain
Someone insults Donkey by saying he is stupid
Lion bite away donkey tail and had de poor ass in pain.
Lion bites Donkey's tail, causing him to feel pain
Lion know donkey ain't easy
Lion knows that Donkey is not an easy opponent
So he decide to fight carefully
Lion decides to be cautious in his fighting strategy
But de way de crowd encouraging
However, the crowd is encouraging Lion to be more aggressive
He get brave and he start to swing, hmmm...
Lion gets brave and starts to fight more aggressively
A left and a right to head... Woop too!
Lion punches Donkey in the head
Upper cut, I say donkey dead
Lion delivers a final blow to Donkey, knocking him down
Donkey tumble down on de floor
Donkey falls to the ground
Elephant, goat and tiger began to roar.
Other animals start to cheer on Lion
(Lick him down, lion, lick him down!)
The animals are still encouraging Lion to beat up Donkey
Take yuh paws and rip 'way he belly
Someone commands Lion to hurt Donkey even more
(Lick him down, lion, lick him down!)
The animals continue to encourage Lion to beat up Donkey
This time, lion in a temper only sharing blows
Lion is angry and is only exchanging blows with Donkey
Rip away all of donkey clothes
Lion tears off Donkey's clothes
And had de whole ass exposed, hey!
Donkey is now naked for all to see
Monkey bawl, "Hey man, ring de bell!"
The monkey yells at the referee to stop the fight
Crapaud say, "For what? Go to hell!"
Someone else tells the monkey to shut up
"Well, all right use de secret weapon
The monkey suggests using a secret weapon
And teach a lesson to dis damn lion"
The monkey wants to teach the lion a lesson
Referee Mr. Unicorn say, "It's a forgone conclusion
The referee says that the outcome is already determined
Time to ring de bell really pass
It is too late to stop the fight
But a miracle couldn't save your partner ass"
Even a miracle couldn't save Donkey now
(Knock him out, lion, knock him out!)
The animals are again encouraging Lion to knock Donkey out
Donkey getting tired and backing
Donkey is tired and retreating
(Knock him out, lion, knock him out!)
The animals continue to encourage Lion to knock Donkey out
Lion take a stool and really knock him down
Lion uses a stool to knock Donkey down
Dog and all start to laugh at this
The other animals laugh at Donkey's misfortune
Big naked ass on de ground.
Donkey is lying naked on the ground
In a clinch, donkey kiss lion
Donkey kisses Lion in a headlock
Calling him a macomere man
Donkey insults Lion by calling him a womanizer
Lion get so vex he change up he style
Lion gets angry and changes his fighting style
No more bobbing and weaving, he fighting wild
Lion is no longer being cautious in his fighting style
When he had donkey at arm's length
Lion has Donkey within reach
He pelt a bolo with all his strength
Lion delivers a powerful punch to Donkey
Donkey weave and dat was de case
Donkey avoids the punch
Lion spin, donkey grab him around he waist.
Lion tries to spin, but Donkey grabs him around the waist
(Dat is foul, donkey, dat is foul)
The referee calls a foul on Donkey
Donkey tell de referee, "Yes, I know."
Donkey agrees with the referee
(Dat is foul, donkey, dat is foul)
The referee again calls a foul on Donkey
"Ho-ho. Maybe, but dis is one fowl dat could crow!"
Donkey defends his actions by making a pun
(Break, I say, donkey, break, I say)
The referee tells Donkey to break the hold
Monkey say, "I don't know what is wrong wid you.
The monkey questions Donkey's behavior
Why de hell you talking 'bout
The monkey doesn't understand why Donkey is talking
Break, break, break...
The referee continues to tell Donkey to break the hold
And is dat he trying to do?"
The monkey is confused about Donkey's actions
Contributed by Adeline J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Kuanza247
I did a project on this song in 6th grade, that was 2012. Its now 2024 and here I am still!! 😊🥰🥰🥰 GOLDEN SONG
@vincmahara10101
Sparo you no good😂❤
@veronicakashaka3299
Wonderful, what a beautiful old time calypso. Thanks for up loading this.
@andysamaroo795
Love this song
@JohnBoy4428
My favorite Sparrow- masterpiece
@Gomesongs
Love the brass section in this tune. Awesome!
@anonymousbug4528
ok so the
kis
@nanpiggott4276
A classic love it, how could not give this a THUMBS UP. lol
@thomashassarath1799
. .,
@lloydpeltier6684
No comment king sparrrow is boss with this tune education children go to school and learn well all the best to king sparrow.