Reply to Melody
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics


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What is wrong with Lord Melody
And his reply to me
What is wrong with Lord Melody
And his reply to me
It's just a reply he jump and relate
I think the fella testing me fate
Because I sang about dear Sparrow and the baby
He singing about dear Lord Melody

Anything I do you following me
Behave your ugly self Melody
Do what you want but don't get me sore
Provocation is against the law
Ah married, you went and you married too
But your wife ain't have eyes of blue
We have a little child, you have one too
Anything I do this monkey does do

You are a very good calypso singer
That we all know and will remember
But your face like a crocodile
And you looking so fierce and wild
I know you well and it ain't no lie
Your mouth always wide open catching fly
Try some deodorant it wouldn't hurt
Melody you smelling like a ramgoat

And anything I do you following me
Behave your ugly self Melody
Do what you want but don't get me sore
Provocation is against the law
Ah married, you went and you married too
But your wife ain't have eyes of blue
We have a next child, you have one too
Anything I do this monkey does do

You should really be in the circus
You ugly hippopotamus
Never yet in life have I seen
Such a hideous looking human being
Sometime your face like a gorilla
Sometime again it just like an alligator
If I should open a human zoo
The first man ah coming to hold is you

'Cause anything I do you following me
Behave your ugly self Melody
Do what you want, don't get Sparrow sore
Provocation is against the law
Ah married so you went and you married too
But your wife ain't have eyes of blue
We have a next child, you have one too
Anything I do this monkey does do

Another thing I notice 'bout you
You never never will wear socks with your shoe
In fact you don't wear no underclothes
You 'fraid that like poison everyone knows
You wouldn't try some tooth paste once in a while
To whiten your teeth and brighten your smile
So when you say you have nice girl that ain't true
Is only gateway Elaine and them for you

Anything I do you following me
Behave your ugly self Melody
Do what you want, don't get Sparrow sore
Provocation is against the law
Ah married, you went and you married too
But your wife ain't have eyes of blue




We buy a little car, you buy one too
Anything I do this monkey does do

Overall Meaning

In "Reply to Melody," the Mighty Sparrow takes issue with Lord Melody for following his lead and copying him. He starts off asking what's wrong with Lord Melody and his reply to him, questioning why Lord Melody is testing him by singing about himself in response to Sparrow singing about himself and a baby. Sparrow then accuses Lord Melody of following him and warns him to behave himself and not provoke him, as it's against the law. He also jabs at Lord Melody's appearance, insinuating that he looks like a crocodile, gorilla, or alligator, and suggests that he use deodorant to mask a distinctive scent that Sparrow compares to that of a ram goat. Sparrow further attacks Lord Melody by calling him an "ugly hippopotamus" and accusing him of only being able to attract "gateway Elaine and them." Sparrow concludes by repeating his warning that Lord Melody should not provoke him.


Through this song, the Mighty Sparrow was likely addressing an ongoing feud he had with Lord Melody. Both men were popular calypso singers from Trinidad and Tobago in the 1950s and 1960s and were known for their witty and biting lyrics. The song shows Sparrow's humor and quick wit as he responds to Lord Melody's apparent attempts to follow in his footsteps, taking the opportunity to attack him in a humorous way.


Line by Line Meaning

What is wrong with Lord Melody
Sparrow is questioning if there's a problem with Lord Melody.


And his reply to me
Sparrow is curious about Melody's response to his previous song.


It's just a reply he jump and relate
Melody is just responding to provoke Sparrow.


I think the fella testing me fate
Sparrow thinks that Melody is trying to have a showdown with him.


Because I sang about dear Sparrow and the baby
Sparrow wrote a song about himself and his wife having a baby.


He singing about dear Lord Melody
Melody wrote a song about himself.


Anything I do you following me
Melody is copying everything that Sparrow does.


Behave your ugly self Melody
Sparrow is telling Melody to stop acting ugly and childish.


Do what you want but don't get me sore
Sparrow is warning Melody not to provoke him.


Provocation is against the law
Sparrow is reminding Melody that it's illegal to provoke someone else.


Ah married, you went and you married too
Sparrow and Melody are both married.


But your wife ain't have eyes of blue
Sparrow is implying that Melody's wife is not as attractive as his own.


We have a little child, you have one too
Sparrow and Melody both have children.


You are a very good calypso singer
Sparrow acknowledges that Melody is a talented calypso singer.


That we all know and will remember
Sparrow thinks that Melody's talent will always be remembered.


But your face like a crocodile
Sparrow is insulting Melody's appearance.


And you looking so fierce and wild
Sparrow thinks that Melody looks menacing and dangerous.


I know you well and it ain't no lie
Sparrow is telling Melody that he knows him very well.


Your mouth always wide open catching fly
Sparrow is commenting on Melody's open mouth.


Try some deodorant it wouldn't hurt
Sparrow is suggesting that Melody needs to start wearing deodorant.


Melody you smelling like a ramgoat
Sparrow is telling Melody that he smells bad.


You should really be in the circus
Sparrow thinks that Melody should perform in the circus because of his looks.


You ugly hippopotamus
Sparrow is calling Melody an ugly hippopotamus.


Never yet in life have I seen
Sparrow has never seen someone with such a hideous appearance.


Such a hideous looking human being
Sparrow thinks that Melody is extremely unattractive.


Sometime your face like a gorilla
Sparrow compares Melody's face to that of a gorilla at times.


Sometime again it just like an alligator
Sparrow compares Melody's appearance to that of an alligator at other times.


If I should open a human zoo
Sparrow would include Melody in a human zoo due to his appearance.


The first man ah coming to hold is you
Sparrow would put Melody in the human zoo first.


Another thing I notice 'bout you
Sparrow has more criticism to offer about Melody.


You never never will wear socks with your shoe
Sparrow has never seen Melody wear socks with his shoes.


In fact you don't wear no underclothes
Sparrow thinks that Melody doesn't wear any underclothes.


You 'fraid that like poison everyone knows
Sparrow thinks that Melody is scared of being poisoned.


You wouldn't try some tooth paste once in a while
Sparrow thinks that Melody needs to use toothpaste to improve his oral hygiene.


To whiten your teeth and brighten your smile
Sparrow suggests that Melody needs to whiten his teeth to improve his smile.


So when you say you have nice girl that ain't true
Sparrow thinks that Melody is lying when he says he has a nice girlfriend.


Is only gateway Elaine and them for you
Sparrow thinks that Melody only has access to Elaine and other unattractive women.


We buy a little car, you buy one too
Sparrow and Melody have similar lifestyles, including owning a car.


Anything I do this monkey does do
Melody copies everything that Sparrow does like a monkey.




Contributed by Tyler E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@kzorii

He didn't hold back at all, beautiful

@josephsummer777

I miss the calypso battles in the VI. We buy a little car, you d9, too. So great.

@mickydub3

" LOVELY STUFF "

@mscarmenjones

Ram goat!

@davidtsmith33

LOL. Sparrow not easy nah.

@garykalicharan1119

5*.

@normanosborne7367

SO ANY THING*****SPARROW SAY OR DO*****MELODY DO THE SAME THINGS TOO (DAT A WAH DOCTOR BIRDIE SAY) HUMOROUS CALYPSO.