From a young age, Roaring Lion (de Leon’s adopted stage name) became known for his skill in creating calypsos (particularly in his ability to extemporize lyrics on any subject). Contrary to his humble origins, he cultivated a refined stage persona and always appeared sharply dressed. His career officially began in 1924. He recorded extensively between the 1930s and 1950s, and was one of the calypsonians who deserves the most credit for the increasing international popularity of the genre during this period. In March 1934 the Trinidadian phonograph merchant Eduardo Sa Gomes sent Roaring Lion and Attila The Hun to New York to record; they became the first calypsonians to record abroad.
Roaring Lion achieved fame for his linguistic prowess as much as for his catchy tunes. His lyrics, delivered in rapid-fire style, show an impeccable command of the English language (as well as Trinidadian slang), and are replete with witty turns of phrase, humorous metaphors, and clever alliterations and internal rhymes.
Ba Boo la La
The Lion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Etre humain parmis d'autres qui essaye comme tout le monde
Aurais je aussi préféré etre anti capitaliste
Mais vrai question: que peut tu faire sans cela aujourd'hui
Mon coeur En miette en 1000 morceaux s'est brisé s'est brisé
N'ont pas la meme valeur un verre neuf et un verre recollé, un verre recollé
Pas née avec dent en or j'ai du essayé
Partie de la france d'en bas d'impot éxonoré
Sa passe ou sa casse, Balboa à tout résumé
Plus le temps de manger la galette donc prendre direct la fièvre
Des larmes coulent sur mon visage et un l'interieur de mon coeur en miette
Ce n'est pas une question de confiance mais disons seulement
Disons seulement que c'est l'experiences qui parle
Mon coeur En miette en 1000 morceaux s'est brisé s'est brisé
N'ont pas la meme valeur un verre neuf et un verre recollé, un verre recollé
Pas née avec dent en or j'ai du essayé
Partie de la france d'en bas d'impot éxonoré
Sur la bleta je pose, je pose tout ce que j'ai
Sa passe ou sa casse, Balboa à tout résumé
Rien ne sert rien ne sert finalement de me juger
Sinon va au stade met les crampons et essai de marquer
Voit tu c'est difficile pas vrai
Essayer de reflechir 10 fois avant de parler
Mon coeur En miette en 1000 morceaux s'est brisé s'est brisé
N'ont pas la meme valeur un verre neuf et un verre recollé, un verre recollé
Pas née avec dent en or j'ai du essayé
Partie de la france d'en bas d'impot éxonoré
Sur la bleta je pose, je pose tout ce que j'ai
Sa passe ou sa casse, Balboa à tout résumé
The Lion’s song Ba Boo La La is a song that speaks about the struggles of being an average human being that strives to survive the complex society we live in. The singer expresses that though she might have preferred to be anticapitalistic, the reality is that everything requires money today. She talks about being from a lower-class family and having to work hard to make ends meet. The lines, "N'ont pas la meme valeur un verre neuf et un verre recollé, un verre recollé" states that a broken glass cannot be compared to a brand new one, indicating that the singer has had her share of struggles and setbacks. She further explains that because of her upbringing, she has to work twice as hard as her peers who may have been born into wealthy families with silver spoons in their mouths.
The lyrics also say that it is hard to communicate about certain topics, especially when people judge others harshly. The singer acknowledges that some people have the privilege of just speaking their minds and do not have to worry about the consequences. However, for the hardworking average person, every word they speak can have an effect on their life. The singer urges people not to judge others, to put themselves in their shoes, and to try to understand their struggles. The final lines of the song say that the singer's heart is shattered into a thousand pieces, but she will continue to work hard and hope for the best.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis partie de zéro
I started from nothing
Etre humain parmis d'autres qui essaye comme tout le monde
Being human among others who try like everyone else
Aurais je aussi préféré etre anti capitaliste
Would I have preferred to be anti-capitalist
Mais vrai question: que peut tu faire sans cela aujourd'hui
But the real question: what can you do without it today
Mon coeur En miette en 1000 morceaux s'est brisé s'est brisé
My heart shattered into a thousand pieces and broke
N'ont pas la meme valeur un verre neuf et un verre recollé, un verre recollé
A new glass and a repaired glass don't have the same value, a repaired glass
Pas née avec dent en or j'ai du essayé
Not born with a golden tooth, I had to try
Partie de la france d'en bas d'impot éxonoré
Coming from the bottom of France, exempt from taxes
Sur la bleta je pose, je pose tout ce que j'ai
On the table, I put everything I have
Sa passe ou sa casse, Balboa à tout résumé
It either works or it breaks, Balboa summed it all up
Plus le temps de manger la galette donc prendre direct la fièvre
No time to waste, so I'll catch the fever directly without eating the cake
Des larmes coulent sur mon visage et un l'interieur de mon coeur en miette
Tears are streaming down my face and inside my shattered heart
Ce n'est pas une question de confiance mais disons seulement
It's not a matter of confidence, but let's just say
Disons seulement que c'est l'experiences qui parle
Let's just say that it's experience that speaks
Rien ne sert rien ne sert finalement de me juger
There's no point in judging me in the end
Sinon va au stade met les crampons et essai de marquer
Otherwise, go to the stadium, put on your cleats, and try to score
Voit tu c'est difficile pas vrai
You see, it's difficult, isn't it
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Artiste Lion lui meme
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheSpiralnotebook
does anyone have the lyrics? great song...
@judgedread3899
Is this Ska/Reggae that I am hearing in this calypso? -:)
@RASKWONDO
Actually, this was made before either ska or reggae(rocksteady) came out.
Further more, jamaican music(like many other countries in the area) were HEAVILY influenced by calypso (wich before then was know as Kaiso).