Queens Canary
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics


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Once more, gentlemen!

Well they pass out the law to the people
Keep the town as clean as a whistle
The governor pass out the law to the people
Keep the town as clean as a whistle
No messing about in the place
Keep your yard as clean as your face
Everyone know the penalty
Untidyness is six months in custody

Up came Mr. Moses
In his belly was a bunch of roses
So he went and stoop down right on the highway...
And relieved himself of the bouquet

But at the same time a police was coming
He didn't see what Moses was doing
But he kept walking up slowly
Seeing if the place was tidy
This time Moses start to tremble
As soon as he saw the constable
Before the policeman knew what was wrong
Moses take off he hat and cover it down

Up came the Officer
And ask him what is the matter
He say "The Queen's Canary fly away...
But ah have it covered down dey"

The policeman fly in a rage
And ask him "Why don't you get a cage?"
He said "I couldn't leave the birdie so
I am afraid it would fly and go
If you could keep it cover for me
I would get a cage and come back in a hurry"
The stupid policeman accepted that
Stooped down in the road and holding the hat

Up came the Inspector
And ask him what is the matter
He said "The Queen's Canary fly away...
But ah have it covered down dey"

The Inspector was very, very greedy
So he jump out he car in a hurry
Because if a man catch the Queen's Canary
His reward is supposed to be heavy
Well without any delay
Sent the policeman two blocks away
Of all the dirty tricks upon the shelf
He wanted the reward money for himself

So he raise the hat very slowly
Feeling for the Queen's Canary
But when he snatch, he hold something soft instead...
He said "I broke every bone in its body, hahaha
Which means the nasty Canary is dead"

Overall Meaning

The Mighty Sparrow’s song “Queen’s Canary” revolves around the theme of power dynamics and human greed. It talks about a town where the governor has passed strict laws to maintain cleanliness and order. Anyone who violates these laws will have to pay the penalty of six months in custody. The song describes an incident that took place on the highway when a man named Mr. Moses stopped on the road and relievd himself of a bouquet of roses. A police officer came by and saw Moses, but he was more concerned with inspecting the cleanliness of the area.


Moses was afraid of getting caught, but he had a plan. He pretended that he was covering a runaway Queen's Canary with his hat. When the officer asked him about the matter, Moses said that he couldn't leave the birdie behind because it might fly away, and he promised to get a cage and come back. The officer agreed to hold the hat, and he sent another policeman away to keep watch. However, the town inspector was greedy and wanted to claim the reward for capturing the Queen's Canary. He sent the officer to keep watch further away, and he approached Moses to claim the bird. But when he grabbed the bird, he found out that the bird had already died. The song shows how the person in power can use it for their own benefit, and how their greed can lead to destruction.


Line by Line Meaning

Well they pass out the law to the people
The authorities enforce strict rules in the town


Keep the town as clean as a whistle
The town must maintain a high level of cleanliness


No messing about in the place
Behave properly in the town


Keep your yard as clean as your face
Keep your surroundings clean


Everyone know the penalty
The consequences of breaking the rules are well-known


Untidyness is six months in custody
Breaking the cleanliness rule leads to imprisonment for six months


Up came Mr. Moses
Mr. Moses appeared


In his belly was a bunch of roses
Mr. Moses carried a bouquet of flowers


So he went and stoop down right on the highway...
He went to the roadside to relieve himself


And relieved himself of the bouquet
He used the bouquet to clean himself


But at the same time a police was coming
At that moment, a police officer was approaching


He didn't see what Moses was doing
The police officer did not see what Mr. Moses was doing


But he kept walking up slowly
He continued to move forward cautiously


Seeing if the place was tidy
Checking if everything was clean and neat


This time Moses start to tremble
Mr. Moses began to feel nervous


As soon as he saw the constable
When he spotted the police officer


Before the policeman knew what was wrong
The police officer did not realize anything was amiss


Moses take off he hat and cover it down
Mr. Moses covered his hat with his hands


Up came the Officer
The police officer approached


And ask him what is the matter
The police officer asked him what was wrong


He say "The Queen's Canary fly away...
Mr. Moses lied that the Queen's Canary had flown away


But ah have it covered down dey"
He claimed to have the bird covered with his hat


The policeman fly in a rage
The police officer became angry


And ask him "Why don't you get a cage?"
The officer suggested getting a cage for the bird


He said "I couldn't leave the birdie so
Mr. Moses refused to leave the bird behind


I am afraid it would fly and go
He feared the bird would fly away


If you could keep it cover for me
If the officer helped him keep the bird safe


I would get a cage and come back in a hurry"
He promised to return with a cage to transport the bird


The stupid policeman accepted that
The gullible police officer believed Mr. Moses


Stooped down in the road and holding the hat
The officer crouched on the road holding Mr. Moses' hat


Up came the Inspector
The Inspector arrived


And ask him what is the matter
The Inspector asked Mr. Moses what was wrong


He said "The Queen's Canary fly away...
Mr. Moses repeated his lie about the bird flying away


But ah have it covered down dey"
He still claimed to have the bird covered with his hat


The Inspector was very, very greedy
The Inspector was extremely greedy


So he jump out he car in a hurry
The Inspector quickly left his car


Because if a man catch the Queen's Canary
The reward for catching the Queen's Canary was high


His reward is supposed to be heavy
It was rumored the reward was significant


Well without any delay
Immediately and without hesitation


Sent the policeman two blocks away
The Inspector sent the police officer away


Of all the dirty tricks upon the shelf
Of all the deceitful stratagems available


He wanted the reward money for himself
The Inspector wanted the reward money for himself


So he raise the hat very slowly
The Inspector lifted the hat cautiously


Feeling for the Queen's Canary
He searched for the bird under the hat


But when he snatch, he hold something soft instead...
When he grabbed something, it was soft and not the bird


He said "I broke every bone in its body, hahaha
The Inspector joked that he had broken the bones of the bird


Which means the nasty Canary is dead"
The bird had died due to being grabbed too hard




Contributed by Alyssa Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@robertstokes9084

You can never get tired of this oldie! He is the best and he would always be! Sparrow really knows how to get people dancing! "Fly away" - Queen`s Canary

@Toracube

I can never get tired on Sparrow !! Great !!

@jeffersgrell8084

My good pardner Steve Remy favorite Sparrow calypso. RIP my brother!

@charlesbarry971

Humor from the past😊

@noahslayys

MY FAVORITE SONGGGGGG

@christopherinniss9493

yes tune for years !!!

@junebarrow7809

Christopher Inniss lll

@patricialijfrock8451

lord nelson stella

@trevorkellman9397

The Bird in flight_the legendary calypso king of the world the Mighty Sparrow.

@zeyardali6885

Complete story... Wow

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