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Ten To One Is Murder
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, they playing bad
They have me feeling sad
Well, they playing beast
Why they run for police

Ten criminals attack me outside ah Miramar.
(Ten to one is murder!)
About ten in the night on the fifth of October
(Ten to one is murder!)
Way down Henry Street, up by HGM Walker
(Ten to one is murder!)
Well, the leader of the gang was hot like a peper
(Ten to one is murder!)
And every man in the gang had a white-handle razor
(Ten to one is murder!)
They say ah push the girl from Grenada
(Ten to one is murder!)
Well, ah back back until ah nearly fall in the gutter
(Ten to one is murder!)
You could imagine my position, not a police in the area!
(Ten to one is murder!)

(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)

Well, ah start to sweat
Man, ah soaking wet
Mama, so much threat
That's a night ah can't forget

Ten ah them against me, and fifty spectator
(Ten to one is murder!)
And the way dey coming up like dey want to devour
(Ten to one is murder!)
But in the heat of the excitement, is den ah remember
(Ten to one is murder!)
In me next pants pocket, ah forget me wedger
(Ten to one is murder!)
Ah don't know what to do, but ah just can't surrender
(Ten to one is murder!)
So they go cut me down as small as Pretender
(Ten to one is murder!)
Can you imagine all the planning to get out me liver
(Ten to one is murder!)
But as the crowd start to gather, ah started to shiver
(Ten to one is murder!)

(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)

In the still of the night
Ah was really in a fright.
Me alone against ten
Ten vicious men

Ah remember ah had a chicken at Miramar
(Ten to one is murder!)
Well, ah said to meself, 'that's me last supper'
(Ten to one is murder!)
But ah get away; and ah run, till ah reach Johnson corner,
(Ten to one is murder!)
They take off in me skin with big stick an' boulder
(Ten to one is murder!)
The fella in front was a very good pelter.
(Ten to one is murder!)
Bottle and stone falling but no place to shelter
(Ten to one is murder!)
Ah hear 'potow pow', and the crowd start to scatter!
(Ten to one is murder!)

(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)
(Ten to one is murder!)

Overall Meaning

The Mighty Sparrow's Ten To One Is Murder tells the story of a man who is ambushed and attacked by a gang of ten criminals in the streets. The lyrics describe his fear and desperation as he realizes he's alone against ten vicious men, with no help from the police. The first verse sets the tone of the song, with the singer feeling "sad" and "beast" about the situation. The chorus repeats the phrase "ten to one is murder," emphasizing the unfairness of the situation and how the odds are against him.


The second verse describes the attack in more detail, with the gang armed with knives and accusing him of pushing a girl from Grenada. The singer tries to back away and avoid the confrontation, but there's no escape. The third verse is a moment of realization, as he remembers he has some money in his pocket, which makes him a target for the robbers. However, he doesn't give up and tries to fight back, but the situation is too overwhelming. Finally, he manages to run away, barely escaping with his life.


The song's theme of violence, injustice, and police corruption is typical of calypso music from Trinidad and Tobago, where Sparrow is from. It also draws attention to the social and economic inequalities in the Caribbean, where crime and poverty are rampant. The song's catchy melody and sing-along chorus made it a hit in the 1960s, and it continues to be a favorite among fans of calypso music.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, they playing bad
The actions of a group have caused me distress


They have me feeling sad
I am experiencing negative emotions due to their behavior


Well, they playing beast
Their actions are savage and animalistic


Why they run for police
They should be held accountable for their actions but are avoiding responsibility


Ten criminals attack me outside ah Miramar.
A group of ten individuals attacked me near Miramar


(Ten to one is murder!)
The odds were unfair and the situation was dangerous


About ten in the night on the fifth of October
The date and time of the attack


Way down Henry Street, up by HGM Walker
The location of the attack


Well, the leader of the gang was hot like a peper
The leader of the group was aggressive and filled with energy


And every man in the gang had a white-handle razor
Each member of the group was armed with a razor


They say ah push the girl from Grenada
The group may have had a motive for attacking me


Well, ah back back until ah nearly fall in the gutter
I tried to avoid the situation and protect myself


You could imagine my position, not a police in the area!
The lack of law enforcement made the situation worse


Well, ah start to sweat
I became nervous and scared


Man, ah soaking wet
I was drenched in sweat due to the stress of the situation


Mama, so much threat
The situation posed a serious threat to my safety


That's a night ah can't forget
The event had a lasting impact on me


Ten ah them against me, and fifty spectator
There were more attackers than there were people to help me


And the way dey coming up like dey want to devour
The attackers were being aggressive and violent towards me


But in the heat of the excitement, is den ah remember
I had a moment of clarity in the midst of chaos


In me next pants pocket, ah forget me wedger
I had forgotten my money in my other pocket


Ah don't know what to do, but ah just can't surrender
I was unsure of what to do but did not want to give up


So they go cut me down as small as Pretender
The attackers were violent towards me and left me in bad condition


Can you imagine all the planning to get out me liver
The attackers intended to hurt me severely


But as the crowd start to gather, ah started to shiver
The situation became more intense and I became even more afraid


In the still of the night
The attack took place when everything was quiet and still


Ah was really in a fright.
I was filled with fear and panic


Me alone against ten
I was outnumbered and alone in the situation


Ten vicious men
The attackers were cruel and violent


Ah remember ah had a chicken at Miramar
I had eaten at Miramar prior to the attack


Well, ah said to meself, 'that's me last supper'
I realized that the situation could have been deadly


But ah get away; and ah run, till ah reach Johnson corner,
I managed to escape and run to Johnson corner


They take off in me skin with big stick an' boulder
The attackers threw large objects at me, causing injury


The fella in front was a very good pelter.
One of the attackers was particularly skilled at throwing things


Bottle and stone falling but no place to shelter
There was no safe place to hide from the attackers' weaponry


Ah hear 'potow pow', and the crowd start to scatter!
There was a loud noise and the spectators began to disperse




Contributed by Nicholas C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@melvingriffith

Unbelievable talent!!! Will always love this era of music.

@sarahmthuthuzeli4382

2021 still listening i love sparrow so much๐Ÿฅฐ

@radharamana9038

Love this song & all of Mighty Sparrow...he is the Best !

@keelybilcom9256

My grandfather dance to this song before he died..... Sparrow you truly are the mighty Sparrow really love all your songs the are classics
๐Ÿ‘ Sleep in perfect peace papa Natty.....you will forever remain in our hearts.

@thinkingoutloud675

baby arthur favourite song

@floroma2820

Lovely, can't forget the greatest.

@TriniGirlNatural

Real talent, amazing breath control.

@milesmacedon269

The best in his craft! None better.

@petercaesar57

This is the essence of Sparrow, see how he puts his everything into it. I loved it when Guardian life used it to make an ad. during one of the world cup competitions.

@edyerealty6835

love the old days

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