Miss Mary
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics


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Ma dis here going to be great
First I want to play I can hardly wait
Dress up like a Baptist woman
With an Old Shoebox in me hand
Charging Money dis show confusion in de band

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
She big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

From Tuesday Morning till
Tuesday when the sun drug behind the hill
My display may be called offbeat
But the public will have a treat
Yes it festival and excitement in Frederick Street

Girls Let me tell you now
I don't want to fight I don't want to row
When you jump in carnival day
If you happen to pass my way
Don't believe I showing you free you go back to play

Ma dis year we going to fete
Drinking till I drown, Jump until I am wet
I want to catch the public off guard
Let them say I dealing in bad
When they see Miss Mary well all of dem go mad

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
She big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here




Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

Overall Meaning

The song "Miss Mary" by Mighty Sparrow tells the story of a street vendor who is excited about the upcoming Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. In the first verse, he announces his plan to perform with a band while dressed up as a Baptist woman and charging money for people to see "Miss Mary." He refers to "confusion in de band," likely alluding to the potential for competition and conflict among the performers.


The chorus repeats the price of admission to see Miss Mary, her daughter, and her mother, all of whom weigh "one pound." This may be a reference to "Pound Cake," a term used in Trinidad and Tobago to describe women who are thick or curvy.


In the second verse, the street vendor expresses his excitement for the upcoming Carnival and his plan to "fete," or party and drink until he is drunk. He acknowledges that his performance may be perceived as "offbeat" but that it will be a treat for the public. He also instructs women not to assume that his performance is free and to return to their other Carnival activities if they cannot afford the admission fee.


Overall, the song embodies the joy and energy of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and highlights the role of street vendors and performers in creating the festive atmosphere.


Line by Line Meaning

Ma dis here going to be great
I am excited about what I have planned for this year's Carnival


First I want to play I can hardly wait
I can't wait to get started and enjoy the festivities


Dress up like a Baptist woman
I plan to wear a costume resembling a devout Baptist woman


With an Old Shoebox in me hand
I will carry an antique shoebox with me as part of my costume


Charging Money dis show confusion in de band
Charging money to see my act will cause a commotion among the crowds


To see Miss Mary, one Pound
I am charging one Pound to see my act featuring Miss Mary


She big and hairy, one pound
Miss Mary is a large, hairy woman


To see she daughter, one Pound
I am charging one Pound to see Miss Mary's daughter


To See she mother, one Pound
I am charging one Pound to see Miss Mary's mother


For Carnival is here,
This is a time of celebration and revelry


I have Miss Mary here
I have Miss Mary with me as part of my act


Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Miss Mary is the centerpiece of my performance


Come on see she, one Pound
Come and see my act featuring Miss Mary for just one Pound


From Tuesday Morning till
My performance will last from Tuesday morning until


Tuesday when the sun drug behind the hill
Tuesday evening when the sun sets behind the hill


My display may be called offbeat
My performance may be unconventional and unusual


But the public will have a treat
But the crowds will be entertained nonetheless


Yes it festival and excitement in Frederick Street
The Carnival brings festivity and excitement to Frederick Street


Girls Let me tell you now
Listen to what I have to say, ladies


I don't want to fight I don't want to row
I don't want to have any disputes or disagreements


When you jump in carnival day
When you take part in the Carnival festivities


If you happen to pass my way
If you happen to come across me during the celebrations


Don't believe I showing you free you go back to play
Don't expect me to entertain you for free, go and enjoy the rest of the festivities


Ma dis year we going to fete
This year we plan to party and celebrate


Drinking till I drown, Jump until I am wet
I plan to drink and dance until I am exhausted


I want to catch the public off guard
I want to surprise and impress the crowds with my performance


Let them say I dealing in bad
I don't mind if some people have negative opinions of my performance


When they see Miss Mary well all of dem go mad
But when they see Miss Mary they will be impressed and excited




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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@juancarlosreinaleal2434

Miss Mary lyrics
Mas this here going to be great
First I want to play I can hardly wait
Dress up like a Baptist woman
With an Old Shoebox in me hand
Charging Money dis show confusion in de band

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she father, one Pound
To see she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

From J'overt Morning 'till
Tuesday when the sun drug behind the hill
My display may be called offbeat
But the public will have a treat
Yes it festival and excitement in Frederick Street

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
She big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To see she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

Girls Let me tell you now
I don't want to fight I don't want to row
When you jump in carnival day
If you happen to pass my way
Don't believe I showing you free you go back to play

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

Mass this year we going to fete
Drinking till I drown, Jump until I am wet
I want to catch the public off guard
Let them say I dealing in bad
When they see Miss Mary well all of them go mad

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound



All comments from YouTube:

@Randy-Roberts

Written by the most prolific Calypso/Soca songwriter EVER, Winsford “Joker” Devine and arranged by one of the greatest arrangers of the genre, Earl Rodney. One of my top 5 most favorite arrangers in the genre.

@andrewhovell7412

SANG IN 1974 BUT MIGHTY SHADOW WON ROAD MARCH ONE AND TWO WITH BASS MAN AND I COME OUT TO PLAY(HISTORY ROAD MARCH).

@teandre10

rip.. mr.russell u always play these music wen we was growing up. I really appreciate

@cecilshaw6915

The Mighty Sparrow , the King , long may he reign.

@solscott4286

One of the best of Mighty Sparrow beautiful song

@nigelsamerson2240

Beautiful song well orchestrated brass lines

@twiggy019

lovely song, and the steel drums and the beat --it's great!!!

@trzarector

Some of the first music I ever heard! Mighty Sparrow!!!!

@juancarlosreinaleal2434

Miss Mary lyrics
Mas this here going to be great
First I want to play I can hardly wait
Dress up like a Baptist woman
With an Old Shoebox in me hand
Charging Money dis show confusion in de band

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she father, one Pound
To see she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

From J'overt Morning 'till
Tuesday when the sun drug behind the hill
My display may be called offbeat
But the public will have a treat
Yes it festival and excitement in Frederick Street

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
She big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To see she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

Girls Let me tell you now
I don't want to fight I don't want to row
When you jump in carnival day
If you happen to pass my way
Don't believe I showing you free you go back to play

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

Mass this year we going to fete
Drinking till I drown, Jump until I am wet
I want to catch the public off guard
Let them say I dealing in bad
When they see Miss Mary well all of them go mad

To see Miss Mary, one Pound
Big and hairy, one pound
To see she daughter, one Pound
To See she mother, one Pound
For Carnival is here,
I have Miss Mary here
Miss Mary weighing one Pound
Come on see she, one Pound

@BrennerBay

Carnival parade from graveyard,down Main street to hospital grounds. All the time "Miss Mary" played. Carnival floats and Calypso ice cream push-ups. All the time we be jump up.School days was happy,happy days.

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