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.
The Queen's Canary
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 the place
Keep your yard as clean as your face
Everyone know the penalty
Untidiness 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 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 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, haha
Which means the nasty Canary is dead."
In Mighty Sparrow's song The Queen's Canary, he describes the strict regulations set by the governor to keep the town clean and tidy. The lyrics suggest that anyone who disregards these regulations and leaves their yard untidy will face serious consequences such as six months in custody. Amidst this background, the song portrays the story of Mr. Moses, who was caught in the act of relieving himself of a bunch of roses on the highway. Before the policeman could comprehend what Moses was doing, Moses hid the roses by covering them with his hat and exclaimed that he was covering the Queen's Canary that had flown away. The Inspector, upon hearing this, holds the hat to claim the reward, in the process breaking what he thinks is the canary but is instead something soft, resulting in the bird's death.
The song is a social commentary on the strict laws and regulations imposed by those in power, which can ultimately result in disastrous consequences. The lyrics suggest that the ordinary people are often caught in the crossfire created by those in power, and they are left to face the consequences of their actions. The song also highlights how avarice and greed can blind those in power and lead them to take the wrong actions, as depicted by the Inspector's desire to claim the reward money for himself, leading to the death of an innocent canary.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they pass out the law to the people
The authorities have passed a law to the members of the society
Keep the town as clean as a whistle
The law is meant to keep the town clean
The governor pass out the law to the people
The governor has distributed the law among the people
Keep the town as clean as a whistle
The aim is to keep the town clean
No messing about the place
No littering or untidiness will be tolerated
Keep your yard as clean as your face
People are required to keep their surroundings clean just like their faces
Everyone know the penalty
Everyone is aware of the penalty for breaking the law
Untidiness is six months in custody
Breaking the law will result in custody for six months
Up came Mr. Moses
Mr. Moses appeared on the scene
In his belly was a bunch of roses
He carried a bunch of roses in his stomach
So he went and stoop down right on the highway...
He went and stooped on the highway
And relieved himself of the bouquet.
He relieved himself of the roses
But at the same time a police was coming
A policeman was approaching at the same time
He didn't see what Moses was doing
The policeman did not see what Moses was doing
But kept walking up slowly
The policeman kept walking slowly
Seeing if the place was tidy
He was checking whether the place was clean
This time Moses start to tremble
Moses began to tremble at this point
As soon as he saw the constable
Moses saw the policeman and became frightened
Before the policeman knew what was wrong
The policeman was unaware of the situation
Moses take off he hat and cover it down
Moses took off his hat and covered something with it
Up came the Officer
Another officer showed up
And ask him what is the matter
He asked Moses what was wrong
He say "The Queen's Canary fly away...
Moses lied and said the Queen's canary had flown away
But ah have it covered down dey."
He claimed he had covered it
The policeman fly in a rage
The policeman became very angry
And ask him why don't you get a cage
The policeman asked why Moses didn't get a cage
He said I couldn't leave the birdie so
Moses claimed that he couldn't leave the canary behind
I am afraid it would fly and go
He was afraid it would fly away and not return
If you could keep it cover for me
Moses requested that the policeman keep the canary covered
I would get a cage and come back in a hurry
He promised to return with a cage as soon as possible
The stupid policeman accepted that
The foolish policeman believed Moses
Stooped down in the road holding the hat
The policeman bent down and held the hat Moses gave him
Up came the Inspector,
An inspector appeared on the scene
And ask him what is the matter
The inspector asked what was going on
He said "The Queen's Canary fly away...
Moses repeated the same lie to the inspector
But ah have it covered down dey."
He still claimed he had the canary covered
The Inspector was very, very greedy
The inspector was incredibly greedy
So he jump out he car in a hurry
He quickly got out of his car
Because if a man catch the Queen's Canary,
If anyone caught the Queen's canary
His reward is supposed to be heavy
They would receive a significant reward
Well without any delay
Without any hesitation
Sent the policeman two blocks away
The inspector sent the policeman away
Of all the dirty tricks upon the shelf
The inspector was scheming
He wanted the reward money for himself
He was after the reward money
So he raise the hat very slowly,
The inspector lifted the hat slowly
Feeling for the Queen's Canary
He was feeling around for the canary
But when he snatch, he hold something soft instead...
But when he grabbed something, it was unexpectedly soft
He said "I broke every bone in its body, haha
He falsely claimed to have broken every bone in its body and laughed about it
Which means the nasty Canary is dead."
He concluded that the canary was dead
Contributed by Xavier A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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!
@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
@djpanrasdaversiteoldschool8912
who's the band?