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.
Sell De Pussy
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It ain't have nothing left for me to porn in the house
Meh girlfriend have a pussy cat they call big fat lazy puss
Ah tell she to sell it get some cash cause he ain't no use
If you hear me sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me
Ah love you baby but ah cyah remain hungry
This starvation it could finish just like that
But you got to sell the pussy, sell the pussy cat...
She complaining, how she have this cat since she born
She won't sell it, she won't even put it in harm
But before I have to choke and rob and perhaps end up in jail
Let meh tell meh friends that you have your pussy for sale!
Sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me
I love you baby but I cyah remain hungry
This starvation got to finish jus like that
But you gotta to sell de pussy, sell the pussy cat...
Unemployment is what really have meh so broke
You could help out, if you sell till ah start to work
And ah promise you won't have to sell for more than a year or two
By then I should have enough cash to buy three pussy for you!
Sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me
Ah love you baby but ah cyah remain hungry
This starvation got to finish just like that
But you got to sell the pussy, sell the pussy cat...
She decided she go give meh idea a try
Ah bring a little Chinese man to buy, but she shy
She got accustomed to the business now so no longer she afraid
Since ah cyah get wuk she continue wuking she trade, hey, hey, hey!
Sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me,
Ah love you baby but ah cyah remain hungry,
This starvation got to finish just like that
But you got to sell the pussy, sell the pussy cat...
The Mighty Sparrow's "Sell the Pussy" is a satirical commentary on the desperate measures that people are willing to take in order to survive amidst poverty and unemployment. The song tells the story of a man who is so broke and hungry that he suggests that his girlfriend sell her cat, which she calls "big fat lazy puss," in order to get cash. The man is so desperate that he suggests this even though the cat is her childhood pet and she holds a deep attachment to it. However, the singer justifies his actions by saying that he is doing it to help the both of them survive and ensures that he will take care of her by promising that he will make enough money from his work in a year or two to buy her three cats.
The song reflects on the struggles of poor people who must resort to extreme measures such as selling their belongings or even their pets for survival. The Mighty Sparrow uses humor and irony to address these sensitive topics and to highlight the plight of poverty in the Caribbean. The song also touches on issues of gender dynamics and power relations, as it is the man who suggests that the woman sell her cat, and she hesitates before eventually giving in to his demands.
Overall, the song is a social commentary that sheds light on the harsh reality of living in poverty and the steps that people may take to survive. The use of humor and irony adds a layer of depth to the song and makes it impactful and memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
Well ah hungry and ah more broken than a louse
I am very hungry and poor
It ain't have nothing left for me to porn in the house
There is nothing left for me to sell in the house
Meh girlfriend have a pussy cat they call big fat lazy puss
My girlfriend has a cat named Big Fat Lazy Puss
Ah tell she to sell it get some cash cause he ain't no use
I told her to sell the cat to get some cash because it is no use
If you hear me sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me
If you hear me, sell the cat and bring all the cash to me
Ah love you baby but ah cyah remain hungry
I love you, but I cannot remain hungry
This starvation it could finish just like that
This starvation could end quickly
But you got to sell the pussy, sell the pussy cat...
But you have to sell the cat
She complaining, how she have this cat since she born
She's complaining that she has had this cat since birth
She won't sell it, she won't even put it in harm
She won't sell the cat or even let it be harmed
But before I have to choke and rob and perhaps end up in jail
But before I have to resort to violence and crime and possibly go to jail
Let meh tell meh friends that you have your pussy for sale!
Let me tell my friends that your cat is for sale!
Unemployment is what really have meh so broke
Unemployment is what's really making me broke
You could help out, if you sell till ah start to work
You could help out by selling until I start working
And ah promise you won't have to sell for more than a year or two
And I promise you won't have to sell for more than a year or two
By then I should have enough cash to buy three pussy for you!
By then, I should have enough cash to buy you three cats!
She decided she go give meh idea a try
She decided to give my idea a try
Ah bring a little Chinese man to buy, but she shy
I brought a little Chinese man to buy, but she was shy
She got accustomed to the business now so no longer she afraid
She got used to the business, so now she's no longer afraid
Since ah cyah get wuk she continue wuking she trade, hey, hey, hey!
Since I can't find work, she continues working her trade, hey, hey, hey!
Sell the pussy and bring all the cash to me,
Sell the cat and bring all the cash to me
Ah love you baby but ah cyah remain hungry,
I love you, but I cannot remain hungry
This starvation got to finish just like that
This starvation needs to end quickly
But you got to sell the pussy, sell the pussy cat...
But you have to sell the cat
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SLINGER FRANCISCO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Freespirit_survivor
My CHILDHOOD music...my father would blush and laugh his head off when I looked confused. Oh how I miss my Daddy 20 years gone ❤️
@richardmurray4605
If he is hungry, he can always eat it
@kevmichael2064
This is a 👍 Song....the Mighty Sparrow is the King of Calypso!!!!....
@mangojulie123
The man was a genius at double entendres!
@Dg964
mangojulie123 best
@ronaldbrown539
Doreen Grace d
@121cheetah
The best
@socabwai
Barely double!! Lol
@tiffanysmith3950
Such a great song
@lovzgood
When young I used to wonder how much they’d really get for a cat.