Mighty Sparrow or Birdie (born Slinger Francisco, July 9, 1935, in Grandroy… Read Full Bio ↴Mighty Sparrow or Birdie (born Slinger Francisco, July 9, 1935, in Grandroy Bay, Grenada, West Indies) is a calypso singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World," he is one of the most well-known and successful calypsonians. He has won Trinidad's Carnival Road March competition nine times and has been named Calypso Monarch eight times, achieving both accolades more times than any other calypsonian.
Early life
Sparrow was born in Grenada on July 9, 1935, but moved to Trinidad when he was one year old. He was first exposed to music through the choir in Catholic school, and became interested in calypso at 14 when he joined a steel band composed of neighborhood boys. He received his performing name during his early career:
Your calypso name is given to you by your peers, based on your style. In the old days they tried to emulate British royalty. There was Lord Kitchener, Lord Nelson, Duke. When I started singing, the bands were still using acoustic instruments and the singers would stand flat footed, making a point or accusing someone in the crowd with the pointing of a finger, but mostly they stood motionless. When I sing, I get excited and move around, much like James Brown, and this was new to them. The older singers said "Why don't you just sing instead of moving around like a little Sparrow." It was said as a joke, but the name stuck. -Mighty Sparrow [1]
Calypso Monarch
In 1956, Sparrow won Trinidad's Carnival Road March and Calypso Monarch competitions with his most famous song, "Jean and Dinah". His prize for the latter was $40, and in protest of the small sum, he wrote the song "Carnival Boycott" and attempted to organize other singers to boycott the competition. About half of the singers followed [2], and Sparrow claims credit for succeeding improvements in the conditions of calypso and steelband musicians in Trinidad, as well as the formation of the Carnival Development Committee, a musicians' assistance organization. [3] Sparrow refused to participate in the competition for the next three years, but he continued to perform unofficially, even winning another Road March title in 1958 with "P.A.Y.E."
Taking calypso abroad
Calypso music enjoyed a brief period of popularity in other parts in the world during the 1950's. Trinidadian expatriate Lord Kitchener had helped popularize calypso in England, and Sparrow also found some success there. In the United States, interest in calypso was sparked largely by Harry Belafonte's 1956 album Calypso, the first LP to sell over one million copies. [4] In January 1958, Sparrow, along with longtime rival Lord Melody, traveled to New York City seeking access to the American music audience. [5] Sparrow had already been recording with Balisier and Cook Records, and with Belafonte's help [6] he also began to record for RCA Victor. He did not achieve the success he had hoped for; he said in a 2001 interview, "When nothing happened for me, I went back to England and continued on with my career." [7]
In 1960 Sparrow returned to the Calypso Monarch competition, winning his second Kingship and third Road March title with "Ten to One Is Murder" (an autobiographical song about an incident in which Sparrow allegedly shot a man [8]) and "Mae Mae." He also began recording for his own label, National Recording. [9] He continued to enjoy great popularity in Trinidad throughout the 1960's.
Soca
As soca began to supplant calypso in popularity in Trinidad during the late 1970's and early 1980's, [10] Sparrow embraced the hybrid of soul and calypso music. In 1984 he won his eighth Road March title with the soca-influenced "Doh Back Back." Also around this time he began to spend at least half the year in New York City, finding an apartment in the heavily West Indian neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens. [11] Sparrow continues to write, perform, and tour into the 21st century; in a 2001 interview he mentioned that he had been singing and performing a "Gospel-lypso" hybrid. [12]
Lyrics
Sparrow's lyrics are famous for being witty, ironic, and ribald. He sings flirtatiously of the attractions of Hispanic women in "Magarita," and of East Indian women in "Marajhin." He tells some outrageously frank tales of sexuality in "Mae Mae," "The Lizard" and "Big Bamboo." And there is humorous commentary on West Indian culture to be found in "Obeah Wedding" and "Witch Doctor." Robert Christgau called his controversial song "Congo Man" "a wildly perverse piss-take on African roots, interracial revenge, interracial sex, male-female relations, and cannibalism" [13]; the 1965 song was also criticized for its attitudes toward women and Africans, and was banned from radio airplay until 1989. [14]
Sparrow also frequently comments on social and political issues in his songs. During his early career he was a supporter of Eric Williams and his People's National Movement (PNM), [15] which formed in 1955 and led Trinidad and Tobago to independence in 1962; songs such as "Leave The Damn Doctor Alone" and "William the Conqueror" mentioned Williams directly, while others such as "Federation" (blaming Jamaica for the breakup of the short-lived West Indies Federation), "Our Model Nation" (celebrating Trinidadian independence), and "PAYE" (supporting the PNM's pay-as-you-earn tax system) echoed PNM positions. Sparrow did express discontent in 1957's "No, Doctor, No," but it was comparatively mild, and aimed at holding PNM politicians to their promises rather than replacing them.
In more recent times Sparrow continues to incorporate social issues into his music. "Crown Heights Justice" is a plea for peace and understanding in the wake of the 1991 Crown Heights Riot in Sparrow's adopted home of New York City. The themes of peace, tolerance, and concern for the poor show up repeatedly in songs such as "Human Rights" (1981), "Capitalism Gone Mad" (1983), and "This Is Madness" (1995).
References
1. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
2. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
3. ^ http://www.mightysparrow.com/biopage.htm Biography from Sparrow's official page
4. ^ http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/b/B71.HTM MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music
5. ^ Rohlehr, Gordon (2005). First Flight: Early Calypsos of the Mighty Sparrow. In First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection (p. 8) [CD liner notes]. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
6. ^ http://www.afiwi.com/music/interviews/sparrow2001.html Interview with the Mighty Sparrow by Ital-K 2001
7. ^ Ibid.
8. ^ Delblond, Michael (Feb. 28, 2003). "Sparrow, 'the lovable rascal'." Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday.
9. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
10. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
11. ^ Ibid.
12. ^ http://www.afiwi.com/music/interviews/sparrow2001.html Interview with the Mighty Sparrow by Ital-K 2001
13. ^ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=941&name=Mighty+Sparrow Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide
14. ^ http://www.musicweb-international.com/encyclopaedia/s/S169.HTM MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music
15. ^ Delblond, Michael (Feb. 28, 2003). "Sparrow, 'the lovable rascal'." Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday.
Early life
Sparrow was born in Grenada on July 9, 1935, but moved to Trinidad when he was one year old. He was first exposed to music through the choir in Catholic school, and became interested in calypso at 14 when he joined a steel band composed of neighborhood boys. He received his performing name during his early career:
Your calypso name is given to you by your peers, based on your style. In the old days they tried to emulate British royalty. There was Lord Kitchener, Lord Nelson, Duke. When I started singing, the bands were still using acoustic instruments and the singers would stand flat footed, making a point or accusing someone in the crowd with the pointing of a finger, but mostly they stood motionless. When I sing, I get excited and move around, much like James Brown, and this was new to them. The older singers said "Why don't you just sing instead of moving around like a little Sparrow." It was said as a joke, but the name stuck. -Mighty Sparrow [1]
Calypso Monarch
In 1956, Sparrow won Trinidad's Carnival Road March and Calypso Monarch competitions with his most famous song, "Jean and Dinah". His prize for the latter was $40, and in protest of the small sum, he wrote the song "Carnival Boycott" and attempted to organize other singers to boycott the competition. About half of the singers followed [2], and Sparrow claims credit for succeeding improvements in the conditions of calypso and steelband musicians in Trinidad, as well as the formation of the Carnival Development Committee, a musicians' assistance organization. [3] Sparrow refused to participate in the competition for the next three years, but he continued to perform unofficially, even winning another Road March title in 1958 with "P.A.Y.E."
Taking calypso abroad
Calypso music enjoyed a brief period of popularity in other parts in the world during the 1950's. Trinidadian expatriate Lord Kitchener had helped popularize calypso in England, and Sparrow also found some success there. In the United States, interest in calypso was sparked largely by Harry Belafonte's 1956 album Calypso, the first LP to sell over one million copies. [4] In January 1958, Sparrow, along with longtime rival Lord Melody, traveled to New York City seeking access to the American music audience. [5] Sparrow had already been recording with Balisier and Cook Records, and with Belafonte's help [6] he also began to record for RCA Victor. He did not achieve the success he had hoped for; he said in a 2001 interview, "When nothing happened for me, I went back to England and continued on with my career." [7]
In 1960 Sparrow returned to the Calypso Monarch competition, winning his second Kingship and third Road March title with "Ten to One Is Murder" (an autobiographical song about an incident in which Sparrow allegedly shot a man [8]) and "Mae Mae." He also began recording for his own label, National Recording. [9] He continued to enjoy great popularity in Trinidad throughout the 1960's.
Soca
As soca began to supplant calypso in popularity in Trinidad during the late 1970's and early 1980's, [10] Sparrow embraced the hybrid of soul and calypso music. In 1984 he won his eighth Road March title with the soca-influenced "Doh Back Back." Also around this time he began to spend at least half the year in New York City, finding an apartment in the heavily West Indian neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens. [11] Sparrow continues to write, perform, and tour into the 21st century; in a 2001 interview he mentioned that he had been singing and performing a "Gospel-lypso" hybrid. [12]
Lyrics
Sparrow's lyrics are famous for being witty, ironic, and ribald. He sings flirtatiously of the attractions of Hispanic women in "Magarita," and of East Indian women in "Marajhin." He tells some outrageously frank tales of sexuality in "Mae Mae," "The Lizard" and "Big Bamboo." And there is humorous commentary on West Indian culture to be found in "Obeah Wedding" and "Witch Doctor." Robert Christgau called his controversial song "Congo Man" "a wildly perverse piss-take on African roots, interracial revenge, interracial sex, male-female relations, and cannibalism" [13]; the 1965 song was also criticized for its attitudes toward women and Africans, and was banned from radio airplay until 1989. [14]
Sparrow also frequently comments on social and political issues in his songs. During his early career he was a supporter of Eric Williams and his People's National Movement (PNM), [15] which formed in 1955 and led Trinidad and Tobago to independence in 1962; songs such as "Leave The Damn Doctor Alone" and "William the Conqueror" mentioned Williams directly, while others such as "Federation" (blaming Jamaica for the breakup of the short-lived West Indies Federation), "Our Model Nation" (celebrating Trinidadian independence), and "PAYE" (supporting the PNM's pay-as-you-earn tax system) echoed PNM positions. Sparrow did express discontent in 1957's "No, Doctor, No," but it was comparatively mild, and aimed at holding PNM politicians to their promises rather than replacing them.
In more recent times Sparrow continues to incorporate social issues into his music. "Crown Heights Justice" is a plea for peace and understanding in the wake of the 1991 Crown Heights Riot in Sparrow's adopted home of New York City. The themes of peace, tolerance, and concern for the poor show up repeatedly in songs such as "Human Rights" (1981), "Capitalism Gone Mad" (1983), and "This Is Madness" (1995).
References
1. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
2. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
3. ^ http://www.mightysparrow.com/biopage.htm Biography from Sparrow's official page
4. ^ http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/b/B71.HTM MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music
5. ^ Rohlehr, Gordon (2005). First Flight: Early Calypsos of the Mighty Sparrow. In First Flight: Early Calypsos from the Emory Cook Collection (p. 8) [CD liner notes]. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
6. ^ http://www.afiwi.com/music/interviews/sparrow2001.html Interview with the Mighty Sparrow by Ital-K 2001
7. ^ Ibid.
8. ^ Delblond, Michael (Feb. 28, 2003). "Sparrow, 'the lovable rascal'." Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday.
9. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
10. ^ j.poet (1994). Sparrow. In Hot Like Fire [CD liner notes]. London: Ice Records.
11. ^ Ibid.
12. ^ http://www.afiwi.com/music/interviews/sparrow2001.html Interview with the Mighty Sparrow by Ital-K 2001
13. ^ http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=941&name=Mighty+Sparrow Robert Christgau's Consumer Guide
14. ^ http://www.musicweb-international.com/encyclopaedia/s/S169.HTM MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music
15. ^ Delblond, Michael (Feb. 28, 2003). "Sparrow, 'the lovable rascal'." Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday.
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Sparrow Dead
The Mighty Sparrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
"Something in he bladder..."
"And a double dose of leukemia..."
Two gossip mongers gossipin'
Ah stand up in a corner listenin'
Before I could ask who they talking 'bout
A newspaper boy start to shout
Paper! Extra!
Read all about it!
Paper! Yeah!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... Oy!
According to Vickie
He was always looking sickly
So he went to England
For a belly transplant operation
Is the woman that he fool up in B.G.
Is she who work obeah on he
Another news monger tell she no
Is the devil take he soul for calypso
Paper! Extra! Extra!
Read all about it!
Paper!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... alright!
Well big mouth Lillian
Say the funeral was on television
She picky head cousin
Say hmmm, the coffin cost twenty thousand
That is why he sell the company
To pay the doctor and the burial fee
While they talking, up comes big belly Angie
With a paper bawlin' "Girl, all you ain't see?"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know...
Well that was excitement
Traffic jam, people block the pavement
If you see the commess
Everybody down by the Express
People want to kill Chookolingo
Sparrow just land in Piarco
This time the Evening News led the throng
With another headline by Chester Morong
Paper! Extra!
Paper! Ha ha!
Read all about it!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody ("Sparrow dead!")
Oy!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know...
"And a double dose of leukemia..."
Two gossip mongers gossipin'
Ah stand up in a corner listenin'
Before I could ask who they talking 'bout
A newspaper boy start to shout
Paper! Extra!
Read all about it!
Paper! Yeah!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... Oy!
According to Vickie
He was always looking sickly
So he went to England
For a belly transplant operation
Is the woman that he fool up in B.G.
Is she who work obeah on he
Another news monger tell she no
Is the devil take he soul for calypso
Paper! Extra! Extra!
Read all about it!
Paper!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... alright!
Well big mouth Lillian
Say the funeral was on television
She picky head cousin
Say hmmm, the coffin cost twenty thousand
That is why he sell the company
To pay the doctor and the burial fee
While they talking, up comes big belly Angie
With a paper bawlin' "Girl, all you ain't see?"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody, "Sparrow dead!"
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know...
Well that was excitement
Traffic jam, people block the pavement
If you see the commess
Everybody down by the Express
People want to kill Chookolingo
Sparrow just land in Piarco
This time the Evening News led the throng
With another headline by Chester Morong
Paper! Extra!
Paper! Ha ha!
Read all about it!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know... ("Sparrow dead!")
If you see this woman ("Sparrow dead!")
With a flag in she hand ("Sparrow dead!")
She bang she belly ("Sparrow dead!")
Telling everybody ("Sparrow dead!")
Oy!
Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody know...
The Mighty Sparrow's song "Sparrow Dead" is a satirical take on the frenzy that surrounds the death of celebrities. In the opening the singer hears gossip mongers talking about something in someone's bladder and a double dose of leukemia. Then he hears a newspaper boy yelling about the death of Sparrow, but nobody knows who killed him. As the song goes on, people make wild speculations, and each new rumor leads to more chaos and commotion. At one point, someone claims that Sparrow sold his company to pay for a belly transplant operation in England. Another person suggests that a woman he fooled with in BG used Obeah to kill him.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase, "Who kill the Sparrow? Nobody knows," indicating the ridiculousness of people's obsession with the cause of death of celebrities that they didn't know in their personal lives. The singer emphasizes the absurdity by exaggerating details, like when one character claims to have seen the funeral on television, and another saying that the coffin cost $20,000.
The song is a humorous commentary on the media culture and the reaction people have when hearing about the death of a famous person. It shows how people would believe anything, even if it didn't make sense and how they would quickly spread rumors and half-truths.
Writer(s): Slinger Francisco
Contributed by Isabella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
@demolabank
Mighty Sparrow( The Mighty Sparrow )
Sparrow Dead
I hear he had cancer
I hear he had yellow fever
Something in de bladder
And a double dose of leukemia
Two gossip mongers gossipin'
I stand up in a corner listenin'
Before I could ask who dey talking 'bout,
A newspaper boy start to shout
'Hey paper!
'Extra!'
'Read all about it!'
'Paper!'
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
('Sparrow dead!')
If you see dis woman
('Sparrow dead!')
Wid a flag in she hand
('Sparrow dead!')
She bang she belly
('Sparrow dead!')
Tellin' everybody
('Sparrow dead!')
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
According to Vicki
He was always lookin' sickly
So he went to England
For a belly transplant operation
It's de woman that he foul up begee (?)
If she would walk out on he
Another newsman, got tell she know -
It's the devil that he sell for calypso!
'Hey, paper'
'Extra!'
'Read all about it!'
'Paper!'
Who kill de Sparrow Nobody know
{'Sparrow dead!'}
If you see dis woman
{'Sparrow dead')
With a flag in she hand
('Sparrow dead!')
She bang she belly
{'Sparrow dead')
Tellin' everybody
('Sparrow dead')
Find more lyrics at ※ Mojim.com
Well big mouth Lillian
Say the funeral was on television
She picky head cousin say
'Mmmhumm, de coffin cost twenty thousand
That is why he sell de company
To pay de doctor and de burial fee'
While she talking up scum big Belly Angie
With a paper bawlin' 'Girl, all you ain't see?'
Oh, you read it?
I'm gon' tell you:
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
('Sparrow dead!')
If you see de woman
('Sparrow dead!')
Wid a flag in she hand
('Sparrow dead!')
She bang she belly
('Sparrow dead!')
Tellin' everybody
('Sparrow dead!')
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
Well dat was excitement
Traffic jam, people block de pavement
Mama look at comments
Everybody done buy de Express
People want to kill Chopalingo
Sparrow just land in Piarco
This time the Evening News paints de town
With another headline by Chester Marong
'Hey!'
'Read all about it!'
'Extra!'
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
('Sparrow dead!')
If you see dis woman
('Sparrow dead!')
Wid that flag in she hand
('Sparrow dead!')
She bang she belly
('Sparrow dead!')
Tellin' everybody
('Sparrow dead!')
Who kill de Sparrow? Nobody know...
@puirYorick
It's de woman that he foul up begee (?)
If she would walk out on he
Another newsman, got tell she know -
It's the devil that he sell for calypso!
>> what I hear <<
It's de woman that he foul up begee (BG - for British Guyana)
I hear she wok obeah on he
Another newsman, gon tell he know -
The devil take he soul for calypso
>> of course, I could be just as wrong as whoever wrote those out on that site <<
@salsasoul4112
The Man. The Legend. The Master. There's no other Calypso King. The Mighty Sparrow lives forever!
I'm so proud to be Caribbean 🇬🇾 🇹🇹 🇬🇩 🇯🇲 🇧🇧 🇦🇬 🇭🇹 🇨🇺 🇧🇸 🇰🇳 🇦🇼 🇩🇲 🇵🇷
@ujimajame4601
This song was actually released in 1969 on the album "More, Sparrow, More" but shows the true genius of Sparrow! Responding to rumors prevalant then that have reemerged time and time again to this day, Sparrow applies his unique sense of humor to attack announcements of his premature death that make this a timeless classic! This is also on YouTube performed live at the GBTV Culture Show from 1995 and in an updated form with different (though not better) music, with two great musical interludes.
@emmanuelgbeho947
August 2021. Sparrow alive and kicking.
@godscissorer
And the mighty Sparrow?
@williammills1026
The man passed away a few days ago...
I grew up on these songs...they inspired me...R. I. P.
@doctorj5009
Birdie is still chirpin
@waynekhan2728
My God I grew up on the MIGHTY SPARROW ‼️‼️‼️ and did my children, they can sing any sparrow tune !! Slinger Frisco ❤️❤️❤️❤️ the of Trinidad 🇹🇹 & Tobago 🇹🇹
@sastrishastri1997
Legends doh dead .
@SocaPhD
Sparrow is still with us folks!!
@marjorieferguson2064
Yes he is and we should treasure him