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.
William the Conqueror
Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between Big Brain and Big Belly
I am sure you know the story
Between the Brain and the Belly
Well, Sparrow ain′t 'fraid to talk
Who don′t like it can take a walk
Fight finish, no bruise, no cuts
But a man fall down on he guts
People bawling:
Praise little Eric, rejoice and be glad
We have a better future here in Trinidad
PNM, it ain't have nobody like them
For they have a champion leader: William the Conqueror!
I am no politician
But I could understand
If it wasn't for Brother Willie
And his ability
Trinidad wouldn′t go, neither wouldn′t come
We used to vote for roti and rum
Nowadays we eating all Indians and them
And in the ending, we voting for PNM
So darling:
Praise little Eric, rejoice and be glad
We have a better future here in Trinidad
PNM, it ain't have nobody like them
For they have a champion leader: William the Conqueror!
Many lives were in danger
They murdered a stranger
Then they went and threaten the doctor
Concerning his daughter
Well, he was the man for us
Because he didn′t make no fuss
But then he had the place going wild
When he prove Big Belly making child
So darling:
Praise little Eric, rejoice and be glad
We have a better future here in Trinidad
PNM, it ain't have nobody like them
For they have a champion leader: William the Conqueror!
The lyrics of Mighty Sparrow's song "William the Conqueror" are a commentary on politics and power relations in Trinidad and Tobago during the 1960s. In the song, Sparrow references the story of Big Brain and Big Belly, which is a metaphor for the struggle between intellectualism and physical strength. He asserts that he is unafraid to speak truth to power and those who do not agree with him can simply leave. He then goes on to praise a political leader named William ("Brother Willie") who is presented as a strong and capable figure that has improved conditions in Trinidad and Tobago.
Sparrow claims that William is the reason why Trinidad and Tobago has advanced from a place where people voted based on "roti and rum" to a place where individuals of all backgrounds are able to thrive. He also alludes to incidents of violence that have taken place, highlighting the danger that existed during this time. However, Sparrow suggests that William is the man for the job and praises him as a "champion leader". The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the importance of William as a political figure and underscores the idea that his leadership has resulted in a better future for Trinidad and Tobago.
Line by Line Meaning
I am sure you heard the story
You've probably heard this before
Between Big Brain and Big Belly
The Brain and the Belly were involved
I am sure you know the story
You know this tale already
Between the Brain and the Belly
It all happened because of a disagreement between the Brain and the Belly
Well, Sparrow ain't 'fraid to talk
I'm not afraid to speak my mind
Who don't like it can take a walk
If you don't like it, you can leave
Fight finish, no bruise, no cuts
We fought, but no one was hurt
But a man fall down on he guts
Someone ended up losing the fight
People bawling:
People were shouting,
Praise little Eric, rejoice and be glad
We should be happy for Eric
We have a better future here in Trinidad
The future is looking bright
PNM, it ain't have nobody like them
The PNM is unbeatable
For they have a champion leader: William the Conqueror!
William the Conqueror is the best leader the PNM has ever had
I am no politician
I'm not a politician
But I could understand
But I understand
If it wasn't for Brother Willie
If it weren't for William
And his ability
And his skills
Trinidad wouldn't go, neither wouldn't come
Trinidad wouldn't be going anywhere
We used to vote for roti and rum
We used to vote for people who would offer us food and drink
Nowadays we eating all Indians and them
Now we have more diverse options
And in the ending, we voting for PNM
And in the end, we still vote for the PNM
So darling:
So my love,
Many lives were in danger
Many people were in danger
They murdered a stranger
They killed someone they didn't know
Then they went and threaten the doctor
They also threatened a doctor
Concerning his daughter
About his daughter
Well, he was the man for us
He was the right person for the job
Because he didn't make no fuss
Because he didn't complain
But then he had the place going wild
But then he caused a commotion
When he prove Big Belly making child
When he proved that someone's child was fathered by Big Belly
So darling:
So my love,
Praise little Eric, rejoice and be glad
We should be happy for Eric
We have a better future here in Trinidad
The future is looking bright
PNM, it ain't have nobody like them
The PNM is unbeatable
For they have a champion leader: William the Conqueror!
William the Conqueror is the best leader the PNM has ever had
Contributed by Mason J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trevoncallender3005
Never heard this song, but I am glad that Prof. Cynthia Barrow Giles put her students on to this song. It is pleasing to see that calypsonians used their skills from very early and the consciousness that they developed to highlight their views through social commentary.
@petranilla14
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dr.Williams!!!!!!!!!!
@evertonducrey8923
Sparrow is the greatest calypsonian ever no doubt
@oungkarmaharaj5860
It is undoubtedly that Sparrow is really the greatest calypsonian of all times. There are many others, like Spoiler, Blakie, Duke, Chalkdust, Stalin and many others, too numerous to mention, but Sparrow"s versatility in calypso has distinguished him as the king of kings in calypso.
@1957Hepcat
Typical Sparrow: witty lyrics, great message, and infectious melody! Love his nicknames: Big Brain for Dr. Eric Williams and Big Belly for Albert Gomes.
The Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Monarch of the World!
@mightysparrowaz
Thank you for your kind comment regarding Sparrow. You said it right - “Calypso Monarch of the World” - he surely does well deserve his title!