From an early age, he showed a grand interest in music and he learned to play the harmonica, guitar and clarinet. As a clarinet player, he started the group “Miserable” with other Limonese calypsonians. This was in the 1950s.
In the 60s, he began to write calypsos and until now, he has written over a hundred songs of great quality and cultural relevance for Limonese people.
Walter Ferguson, also known as Gavitt, was always present in calypso challenges held in different points of the Caribbean coast. From the town of Bluefields, Nicaragua to Bocas del Toro in Panama, calypsonians would move by boat, horse, train or truck to compete in improvisation contests and Mr. Ferguson´s fame travelled along with other big names as Panama´s Lord Cobra, or Limonese singers Papa Tun and Shanti.
More recently, Walter Ferguson used to record his music in audiocassettes to sell the tourists in Cahuita. Each tape was unique, an original, personal concert for each person who requested a souvenir.
Mr. Ferguson has received several recognitions, such as the Popular Culture Award given by the Ministry of Culture, the ACAM Award, and the Ancora Prize by La Nación newspaper.
His songs honestly reflect the idiosyncrasy of the Afro Costa Rican community and a part of the country´s culture most ignored by the State of Costa Rica. Mr. Ferguson jokes about the calypsonian´s naïve spirit, often misunderstood and persecuted, taken advantage of by glamour girls who call him “sugar candy” or bullied by policemen, and portrays Afro Costa Rican life with simplicity and creativity. His work has been interpreted by other Costa Rican artists like Manuel Monestel and band Cantoamérica since the 1980s, which has made his work known in other areas of the country and abroad.
Babylon
Walter Ferguson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met an outraging Ganja man
The fellow was so cantankerous
I thought he would have killed the Calypsonian (bis)
Now he started to question me
I was as humble as a lamb
He want to know my pedigree
Hear him bawling
What you doing in here Yes you Babylon
What you doing in here
If you coming to interfere
I'm going to tear off your pants and you underwear (bis)
I try to show him I'm not a spy
And neither a Babylon
I'm only passing by
I'm only a humble calypsonian (bis)
Now he started, to know my name
I told him that the name is Tata Joe
And he wanted to know my fame
I told him I'm the king of calypso (bis)
He bellowed
What you doing in here You are a Babylon
What you doing in here
If you coming to interfere
I'm going to tear off your pants and you underwear (bis)
I tried to show him I am innocent
I was afraid of the Ganja man
I look around there no government
I looking for me dead and resurrection (bis)
He bellowed
What you doing in here You are a Babylon
What you doing in here
If you coming to interfere
I'm going to tear off your pants and you underwear (bis)
I tried to show him
I am innocent
I was afraid of the ganja man
I look around there no government
I looking for me dead and resurrection
I'm selling my drugs into this place
The Ganja man was telling me
He was looking straight in my face
And if I fool he would have tump me in me belly (bis)
The song "Babylon" by Walter Ferguson tells the story of a encounter between the singer, a calypsonian named Tata Joe, and an angry, seemingly dangerous man who sells drugs in a place called "baños". The singer tries to convince the man that he is not a Babylon, which is a term used in Rastafarianism to refer to oppressive governments or systems. However, the man continues to threaten him, asking what he is doing in the place and warning him that he will tear off his pants and underwear if he interferes. Tata Joe is scared and tries to show the man that he is innocent, but the man is skeptical and only grows more aggressive.
The lyrics are rich in Jamaican Patois and cultural references, which adds to the authenticity and intensity of the story being told. The song paints a picture of the dangers and tensions of life in Jamaica, where drug trafficking, violence and suspicion are common occurrences. At the same time, it speaks to the resilience, ingenuity and creativity of the people who live there, especially those like the singer who use music and storytelling as a means of making sense of their reality.
Line by Line Meaning
One day I was passing through the baños
The singer was casually walking through an area called baños.
I met an outraging Ganja man
The singer encountered an aggressive man who sold drugs.
The fellow was so cantankerous
The man was so aggressive that the singer was afraid he might attack him.
I thought he would have killed the Calypsonian (bis)
The man's aggression was enough to kill even the most skilled calypso singer.
Now he started to question me
The man began to interrogate the artist.
I was as humble as a lamb
The singer was cooperative and non-threatening.
He want to know my pedigree
The man was interested in the singer's background.
Where I am going and where I am from (bis)
The man asked the artist about his travel plans and home country.
What you doing in here Yes you Babylon
The man accused the artist of being a government spy and called him Babylon.
If you coming to interfere
The man threatened the artist, saying that he would physically assault him if he interfered.
I'm going to tear off your pants and you underwear (bis)
The man threatened to strip the singer down to his undergarments.
I try to show him I'm not a spy
The artist attempted to prove his innocence to the man.
And neither a Babylon
The singer denied being a government spy.
I'm only passing by
The singer explained that he was only walking through the area.
I'm only a humble calypsonian (bis)
The singer identified himself as a humble calypso singer.
Now he started, to know my name
The man asked for the artist's name.
I told him that the name is Tata Joe
The artist introduced himself as Tata Joe.
And he wanted to know my fame
The man asked about the singer's level of musical success.
I told him I'm the king of calypso (bis)
The singer boasted about being the king of calypso music.
What you doing in here You are a Babylon
The man again accused the artist of being a government spy and called him Babylon.
I'm selling my drugs into this place
The man admitted that he was selling drugs in the area.
The Ganja man was telling me
The artist listened as the man talked about selling drugs.
He was looking straight in my face
The man maintained eye contact with the singer while speaking about his drug sales.
And if I fool he would have tump me in me belly (bis)
The man threatened to physically harm the artist if he did anything suspicious or foolish.
Writer(s): walter ferguson
Contributed by Savannah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.