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.
Man Like To Feel
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How every woman could tie up dey man
I am outlining a simple plan
How every woman could tie up dey man
A man like to feel big although he small
A midget does want to feel ten feet tall
So you could keep him under your heel
Just let him feel how he want to feel
A man like to feel he is a big wheel
Big in every way
And he like to feel that he girlfriend feel
He greater than Cassius Clay
But I feel that when bad feelings step in
Man does feel like Hell
A man doh mind he girl make him feel how he look
But doh make him feel how he smell
Man like to feel that he superior
And feel woman should feel they are inferior
He feel he should talk things he ent know 'bout
And feel very hurt if you buss he mouth
So when he feel to lie and feel he fooling you,
Let him feel that you feel what he say is true
Always let him feel he is your ideal
And anything he feel, let the damn fool feel
Ugly man does feel that he beautiful
When pretty girl is near
And always does feel other people feel
They will make such a lovely pair
He will never feel that the woman nice
And she should feel like a queen
Instead he feel he in Paradise
And feel she is a wahbeen
He feel that he possess so much charm
Women must feel to be in he arm
This time the woman feel he is a clown
But he feel to feel they running him down
On payday he feel like a millionaire
And feel he should be living in St. Clair
Or feel to sleep out, so he gone all about and spree
And feel the wife can't feel for no one but he
Some of them old but they feel they young
This I must reveal
Some of them weak but they feel they strong
This is how they feel
But if they want to feel silly
Do not object, just play it cool
You know you dealing with a stupidee feeling
That is felt by a a foolish fool
I wanna fall! Ha-ha hay!
If every woman could see with me
She man and she must live in harmony
He give you clothes, gih you house and meal
So wey the hell you care how he feel?
If you feel your man must always be near
Let him have the feeling that you ent care
If he run around the girls and lose all he zeal
Tell him you have a sweet man and see how he feel
A man like to feel woman is he slave
He feel he is boss
He ent know that he digging he own grave
Better change he course
This feeling man get for fooling woman
And does make him feel like a champ
He ent know that the woman get a nasty feeling 'bout he
And think he is a scamp!
How yuh feeling? Ha-ha!
In Mighty Sparrow's song "Man Like to Feel", he outlines a simple plan for women to keep their man tied to them. Sparrow argues that men like to feel big, even if they are small. They want to feel like a big wheel and be superior to their female counterparts. They want to feel like they possess charm that women cannot resist, that they have a girlfriend who thinks they are better even than Cassius Clay. Sparrow advises women to let their man feel how he wants to feel, to feel big even if he is really small.
Sparrow goes on to outline the various ways in which men feel about themselves and the world around them. He tells women not to object when their man wants to feel silly, for they are dealing with a foolish fool. Sparrow challenges women to try to live in harmony with their man and not to care about how he feels all the time. However, he also urges women not to let their man think that he is the boss or that she is his slave.
"Man Like to Feel" is an amusing and satirical critique of the masculinity of men. Sparrow seems to be saying that men want to feel like they are something special, even if they are not. They want to feel like they are the boss, even if they are not. At the same time, Sparrow acknowledges that women have power over men, for they often get to decide how their man will feel.
Line by Line Meaning
I am outlining a simple plan
I have a plan to share
How every woman could tie up dey man
How every woman can keep their man interested and committed
A man like to feel big although he small
A man likes to feel good about himself
A midget does want to feel ten feet tall
Even short people like to feel important
So you could keep him under your heel
You can control him
Just let him feel how he want to feel
Just let him feel important and confident
A man like to feel he is a big wheel
A man likes to feel important and powerful
Big in every way
Important in every aspect
And he like to feel that he girlfriend feel
And he likes to feel that his girlfriend thinks he's important
He greater than Cassius Clay
He's greater than one of the greatest boxers of all time
But I feel that when bad feelings step in
But I think that when negative emotions arise
Man does feel like Hell
Men feel awful
A man doh mind he girl make him feel how he look
A man doesn't mind if his girl tells him how he looks
But doh make him feel how he smell
But don't criticize his smell
Man like to feel that he superior
Men like to feel superior to women
And feel woman should feel they are inferior
And they believe that women should feel lesser in comparison
He feel he should talk things he ent know 'bout
He thinks he should talk about things he doesn't know about
And feel very hurt if you buss he mouth
And he'll be hurt if you expose him
So when he feel to lie and feel he fooling you,
So when he wants to lie and feels like he's deceiving you
Let him feel that you feel what he say is true
Let him feel like you believe his lies
Always let him feel he is your ideal
Always make him feel like he is perfect for you
And anything he feel, let the damn fool feel
And let him feel however he wants to, even if it's foolish
Ugly man does feel that he beautiful
Even ugly men believe they are handsome around pretty women
When pretty girl is near
When pretty woman is around
And always does feel other people feel
And he always thinks others are seeing them together
They will make such a lovely pair
They will look very good together
He will never feel that the woman nice
He will never consider the woman as attractive as he is
And she should feel like a queen
And she should feel special
Instead he feel he in Paradise
Instead, he feels like he's in heaven
And feel she is a wahbeen
And feels like she's not as important as he is
He feel that he possess so much charm
He believes he has a lot of charm
Women must feel to be in he arm
Women want to be in his arms
This time the woman feel he is a clown
This time, the woman thinks he is a joke
But he feel to feel they running him down
But he likes to feel like everyone is talking about him
On payday he feel like a millionaire
On payday, he feels like he's rich
And feel he should be living in St. Clair
And he thinks he deserves to live in a posh area
Or feel to sleep out, so he gone all about and spree
Or he might feel like sleeping out and partying
And feel the wife can't feel for no one but he
And he might feel like his wife must only love him
Some of them old but they feel they young
Some older men feel young at heart
This I must reveal
This is what I have to tell you
Some of them weak but they feel they strong
Some weak men feel strong around women
This is how they feel
This is what they believe
But if they want to feel silly
But if they want to feel foolish
Do not object, just play it cool
Don't object, just let them enjoy their feeling
You know you dealing with a stupidee feeling
You already know you're dealing with a foolish feeling
That is felt by a a foolish fool
That is felt by a very foolish person
I wanna fall! Ha-ha hay!
I want to dance! Ha-ha hay!
If every woman could see with me
If every woman can understand my plan
She man and she must live in harmony
She and her man must live together peacefully
He give you clothes, gih you house and meal
He provides you with clothing, housing, and food
So wey the hell you care how he feel?
So why should you care about his feelings?
If you feel your man must always be near
If you want your man to always be with you
Let him have the feeling that you ent care
Let him think that you don't care
If he run around the girls and lose all he zeal
If he's chasing other women and loses his enthusiasm for you
Tell him you have a sweet man and see how he feel
Tell him you have someone else and see how he reacts
A man like to feel woman is he slave
A man likes to feel like women are his slaves
He feel he is boss
He feels like he's in charge
He ent know that he digging he own grave
He doesn't realize that he's setting himself up for failure
Better change he course
He needs to change his approach
This feeling man get for fooling woman
The feeling a man gets from tricking women
And does make him feel like a champ
Makes him feel like a champion
He ent know that the woman get a nasty feeling 'bout he
He doesn't know that the woman dislikes him
And think he is a scamp!
And considers him to be dishonest
How yuh feeling? Ha-ha!
How are you feeling? Ha-ha!
Writer(s): Berryman Guy Rupert, Buckland Jonathan Mark
Contributed by Jacob C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@riyadhrafique8377
This is serious bacchanal!!! "Man Likes To Feel" (1965) This shows you how men/women behave not just in the Caribbean (Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica) but in America, Europe... everywhere!!!! "Some of them old, but they feel they young, some weak, but they feel they strong. But if they want to feel silly, do not object, just play it cool, you know you dealing with a stupidee, feeling that is felt by a foolish fool...." Lyrics to provoke thought. The Mighty Sparrow's words hold true even today almost sixty (60) years after he made this classic. Edward Spencer, you have gold in your collection!!!!!
@advenjo
Lyrics that have the pulse of the society
@marcuslat8975
let them youth listern to this
@darwincharles4691
What yuh feel 🎤
@harneyization
great lyrics
@ladyiola
"Ah wahbeen"!!! 😂🤣
@bondeebryan411
Tell him u have a sweet man and see how he feel 😂
@normanosborne7367
🆒NO🆒JOKE🆒IN🆒WHAT🆒
SPARROW🆒SAYING🌠🌠MAN🌠🌠MUST🌠🌠FEEL🌠🌠