Panman
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen to the rhythm, listen to the beat
Look at all them women jumping in the street
Steelpan music had them spellbound
You can't tell the old from young
Woman by the group in town
And is only panman they hanging on

It's Carnival time
Women hototo looking fine
And they had for so yard to yard
Any way you pass they gone mad
And they're playing mas
Smoking, drinking, whining
And only singing:
"No, we don't want no man
If you can't beat pan!"

Big Yankee excursion, they come down in style
The beat of the steelband have them going wild
I like to see how their mini jumping
And some of them thick like dumpling
Checking up their waist
Mama ye, there is bacchanal in the place

It's Carnival time
Women hototo looking fine
And they had for so yard to yard
Any way you pass they gone mad
And they're playing mas
Smoking, drinking, whining
And only singing:
"No, we don't want no man
If you can't beat pan!"




The whole place on fire
Gone hotter than hell
Man start to perspire
Pan ringing like bell
"Come on baby, do your own thing
Now until Ash Wednesday morning
I snatch a man pan
And with that I collect a Yankee woman

It's Carnival time
Women hototo looking fine
And they had for so yard to yard
Any way you pass they gone mad
And they're playing mas
Smoking, drinking, whining
And only singing:
"No, we don't want no man
If you can't beat pan!"

Next year they go come back
I dance with them all
Yes I make meh contact
To get in the groove
I dumbstruck to drop six-guitar
Turn up, you go get some scratcher
So next time they come
They beating the biggest panman in town

It's Carnival time
Women hototo looking fine
And they had for so yard to yard
Any way you pass they gone mad
And they're playing mas
Smoking, drinking, whining
And only singing:
"No, we don't want no man
If you can't beat pan!"

Overall Meaning

The Mighty Sparrow's song "Panman" is a tribute to the steelpan musicians who were the main attraction during the carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago. The song begins with a call to listen to the rhythm and the beat of the steelpan music, with women jumping in the streets, spellbound by the sound. The song celebrates the importance of the steelpan musicians or "panmen" in the carnival culture of Trinidad and Tobago.


The lyrics describe the excitement of carnival time when women parade around the streets, hot and looking fine, and the carnival-goers play mas (masquerade) in a frenzy of smoking, drinking, and whining. The lyrics also reveal the pride of the panmen who are the center of attention, with the women hanging on to them during the festival. The song ends with a pledge to become the biggest panman in town and to make contact with the women who come to the carnival every year.


Overall, the lyrics convey the celebration of the carnival culture of Trinidad and Tobago and the central role that the steelpan musicians play in it.


Line by Line Meaning

Listen to the rhythm, listen to the beat
The steelpan music has a catchy rhythm and beat


Look at all them women jumping in the street
The women are dancing excitedly in the streets


Steelpan music had them spellbound
The women are enchanted and captivated by the steelpan music


You can't tell the old from young, woman by the group in town
All the women are dancing and having fun, regardless of their age


And is only panman they hanging on
The women are all drawn to the steelpan player


The beat of the steelband have them going wild
The steelpan music is making the women go crazy


I like to see how their mini jumping
The singer enjoys watching the women dance


And some of them thick like dumpling
Some of the women have voluptuous figures


Mama ye, there is bacchanal in the place
The atmosphere is lively and festive


"Come on baby, do your own thing
The singer encourages the women to dance however they want


Now until Ash Wednesday morning
The Carnival celebration lasts until Ash Wednesday


I snatch a man pan
The singer takes a steelpan from a male player


And with that I collect a Yankee woman
The singer impresses an American woman by playing the steelpan


Next year they go come back
The revelers will return next year for Carnival


I dance with them all,
The singer will dance with all the women


To get in the groove
The singer wants to become part of the festive atmosphere


So next time they come
The singer is looking forward to the next Carnival celebration


They beating the biggest panman in town
The steelpan players will compete to see who is the best


Women hototo looking fine
The women are dressed up and looking beautiful


And they had for so yard to yard
The women are dancing and celebrating throughout the neighborhood


Any way you pass they gone mad
The women are excited and having fun no matter where you see them


And they're playing mas
The women are participating in the Carnival festivities


Smoking, drinking, whining
The women are smoking, drinking alcohol, and dancing energetically


"No, we don't want no man
The women are independent and want to enjoy themselves without male interference


If you can't beat pan!"
The women are impressed and attracted to skilled steelpan players


The whole place on fire
The atmosphere is electric and exciting


Gone hotter than hell
The temperature and energy level are intense


Man start to perspire
The men are sweating profusely from the heat and dancing


Pan ringing like bell
The steelpan music is loud and infectious




Contributed by Peyton M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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