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.
Toronto Mas'
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carnival they call Caribana
Jigging to a sweet tune, sweating in dey costume
Playing dey mas′ in Canada
See them how dey jumping up and down
Fighting to do we thing
Shaking up dey bomsie out of time
Chipping with an awkward swing
They wild
Toronto gone wild
Playing mas
Trinidadian style
Steelband beat
Music sweet
And all them white woman
Goin' be in the street
Oh Lawd, he he!
See them how they bumping thicker than a dumpling
Woman in the place like lentil peas
Talking like Barbadian, talking like Jamaican
Telling you dey from the West Indies
A little bit of sunshine get them red
So they staggering in the band
And when the liquor fly up in dey head
They tackling any man
I tell you:
They wild
Toronto gone wild
Playing mas
Trinidadian style
Steelband beat
And the music sweet
And all them white woman
Goin′ be in the street
Hey! Hey! Hey!
Ah see a band of Moko Jumbie, two Jab Molassie
And a Frenchman dressed up in a negligée
A brassiere by the bum bum like two big toolum
In the middle of the night he playing J'ouvert
He looking for a man to seduce them
And then he go feel alright
Ah carry Bill Trotman and introduce him
If you see them how they hug up tight
Mama yo!
They wild
Toronto gone wild
They playing mas
Trinidadian style
Steelband beat
And the music sweet
And all them white woman
Goin' be in the street
The song "Toronto Mas'" by Mighty Sparrow is a lively and rhythmical tune that captures the spirit of the Caribana Festival held in Toronto, Canada every year. The song speaks of the carnival that takes place in Toronto under the name Caribana, where people from diverse cultures come together to enjoy and participate in the mas' (short for masquerade) experience. The lyrics describe the masqueraders jigging to a sweet tune, sweating in their costumes and jumping up and down in the characteristic Trinidian style. The song paints a vivid picture of the festival as the singer describes the diverse masqueraders, from women in lentil peas costume to Frenchmen, dressed up in a negligee, looking to seduce men.
The song celebrates the diverse cultural experiences shared by people of different ethnicities, and how this amalgamation creates a unique and vibrant carnival experience. It also touches on the role of alcohol in the festival, which sometimes leads to the participants tackling each other or getting into fights during the festival, as depicted in the line "And when the liquor fly up in dey head/ They tackling any man." Nonetheless, the festival remains a joyful and a resounding expression of the Caribbean culture and the shared experience of its people in Toronto.
Line by Line Meaning
Every year Toronto putting on a big show
Every year Toronto hosts a big carnival called Caribana
Jigging to a sweet tune, sweating in dey costume
Dancing to a pleasing melody while dressed in their carnival outfits
Playing dey mas′ in Canada
Celebrating their carnival culture in Canada
See them how dey jumping up and down
Observing how they are joyfully jumping around
Fighting to do we thing
Asserting their right to participate in carnival culture
Shaking up dey bomsie out of time
Dancing out of rhythm with their hips shaking wildly
Chipping with an awkward swing
Moving their feet with an unusual, unusual style
They wild
They are lively and excited
Toronto gone wild
The carnival culture in Toronto is becoming wild and crazy
Playing mas
Participating in the masquerade tradition of the carnival culture
Trinidadian style
Following the cultural customs and traditions of Trinidad in the carnival celebration
Steelband beat
The distinct metalpan music played in the carnival parade
Music sweet
The music is lovely and pleasurable
And all them white woman
Refers to the presence of white women in the carnival crowd
Goin' be in the street
Implies that the white women will be dancing in the streets
See them how they bumping thicker than a dumpling
Noticing how plump and shapely the women are while dancing
Woman in the place like lentil peas
Women in abundance present at the carnival event
Talking like Barbadian, talking like Jamaican
Speaking in the accents of Barbados and Jamaica respectively
Telling you dey from the West Indies
Claiming to originate from any of the many Caribbean islands
A little bit of sunshine get them red
Their skin turning red when exposed to sunlight, signifying their non-Black heritage
So they staggering in the band
Being uncoordinated and stumbling along with the carnival group
And when the liquor fly up in dey head
Refers to the behavior of people who consume alcohol and get drunk
They tackling any man
Women becoming uninhibited and making advances towards men
Ah see a band of Moko Jumbie, two Jab Molassie
Spotting a group of stilt-walkers and two devils masquerading in Jab Molassie costumes
And a Frenchman dressed up in a negligée
Observing a Frenchman wearing a woman's nightgown
A brassiere by the bum bum like two big toolum
Noticing the man's buttocks protruding like two large loaves of bread
In the middle of the night he playing J'ouvert
Playing music in the early hours of the morning during the J'ouvert celebration
He looking for a man to seduce them
Being on the lookout for a man to flirt with or seduce
And then he go feel alright
Suggesting that the Frenchman will be happy and content if he finds a man to seduce
Ah carry Bill Trotman and introduce him
Introducing Bill Trotman to the Frenchman
If you see them how they hug up tight
Noticing how the Frenchman and Bill Trotman are embracing each other closely
Mama yo!
An exclamation of surprise or disbelief
Hey! Hey! Hey!
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@126jazz
"Toronto Mas": The tight, rolling rhythm section and the counter melody by the horn section is nothing short of orgasmic.
@bondeebryan411
Yes guys this is a unique album put together by the great Earl Rodney of Solo Fame.
Recorded in Jamaica
@two9parkave
What studio was used in the recodings?
@riyadhrafique8377
@two9parkave Probably Byron Lee's studio
@colinfrancis3223
CLASSIC
@ricardojohn3473
Beautiful " Chord Structure"
@313castries
Back then great day
@313castries
Back then, mas music
@ucdat99
trippin' on they awkward string!!