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.
Going to Bocas
Walter Ferguson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I noticed she star a dash me things out the door
She said she going to a foreign land
She going to kill the calypsonian
Going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I said, I´m going to buy a pass
Believe me say, the young gall declare that she do not want me no more
I discover she start to dash me thing out the door
She said she want me to understand she will not support a calypsonian
Going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I said, I´m going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
Believe me say, the young gall clame that she do not want me no more
She tell she the friend them Segundo too bloody poor
And when she want to get the money
She only live in a misery
Going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I said, I´m going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
Believe me say, the young gall declare that she do not want me no more
I discover she start to dash me thing out the door
She said she want me to understand she will not support a calypsonian
Going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I said, I´m going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
Uhumm
I´m going to buy a pass
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
The song "Going to Bocas" by Walter Ferguson is about the singer's relationship with a young woman who decides to leave him and go to a foreign land because she does not want to support a "calypsonian." The song is set against the backdrop of the Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama, which is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches and islands.
The lyrics reveal that the young woman is upset with the singer because she feels that he is not able to support her financially. She complains that her friend Segundo is "too bloody poor," and that she is tired of living in misery. She tells the singer that she wants to go to a foreign land to make a better life for herself, without having to support a calypsonian.
The singer responds by saying that he is also going to buy a pass and pack up his things to go to Bocas. This suggests that he is also feeling disillusioned and frustrated with his life as a calypsonian, and that he sees Bocas as a place where he can start over and make a better life for himself.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggles of being a calypsonian in Panama, and the difficulties of making a living in the music industry. It also touches on themes of love, loss, and the search for a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Then the Young gall clame that she do not want me no more
The girl I was with said she didn't want to be with me anymore
Then I noticed she star a dash me things out the door
I saw her start throwing my things out the door
She said she going to a foreign land
She said she was leaving the country
She going to kill the calypsonian
She was going to ruin my career as a calypso singer
Believe me say, the young gall declare that she do not want me no more
I assure you, the girl said she didn't want to be with me anymore
I discover she start to dash me thing out the door
I realized she was throwing my belongings out the door
She said she want me to understand she will not support a calypsonian
She said she didn't want to be with a calypso singer and wouldn't support me
She tell she the friend them Segundo too bloody poor
She said her friend Segundo was too poor
And when she want to get the money
And when she wanted money
She only live in a misery
She would only live in misery
Going to buy a pass
I'm going to buy a ticket
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I'm packing my things and going to Bocas (a place)
I said, I´m going to buy a pass
I said I was buying a ticket
Uhumm
A vocalization conveying agreement or confirmation
I´m going to buy a pass
I'm going to buy a ticket
Packing up me things and go to Bocas
I'm packing my things and going to Bocas (a place)
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jesuspicotacarrillo4634
La tradición del Calipso se está perdiendo, debemos rescatarlo, es parte de la historia de mi país.
Recuerdo cuando era niño, los muchachos de los jóvenes de barrios populares en las esquinas y en los vecindarios con su yucalele, un balde de lavar ropa como bajo, maracas improvisadas, banjo, el rayo de lavar ropa, una tumbadora, guitarra y un cantante que improvisaba. Eran los instrumentos básicos y comunes para improvisar y tocar Calypso.
Era una diversión muy sana, los temas eran de problemática social, de la comunidad, acontecimientos del país y a nivel internacional, religiosos, protesta, jocosos, doble sentido, político, etc.
Un abrazo desde Panamá,
Jesús Picota Carrillo
Compositor y Poeta
@dianadelosangeles7764
Amo, adoro el calipso suavecito que sólo es tocado con una guitarra... Es precioso y da mucha paz❤️
@hannierjimenez6931
Alguie una vez lo comparo como el Mr. Marley de Costa Rica. Es posible que la comparación no tenga lugar pero si puedo decir que me siento orgulloso del nombre Walter "Gavitt" Ferguson y su legado, del amor que siempre mostro por la música, por su tierra y por las historias cotidianas que forman la vida. Thank you Mr. Ferguson for your legacy.
@franciscoacunamadriz7495
Hace poco descubrí el calipso de Walter y todo es fantástico. Te transporta al Caribe donde sea que estés.
@maryangel8497
Enamorada de Don Walter! Bendiciones!
@oscare.romeroc.9803
Una de las mejores pieza del vasto legado de Don Walter; ya varios grupos la han interpretado. A hoy, el mejor arreglo se lo escuche al grupo "Palo Santo" en una voz femenina muy dulce y con intermedio muy suvae de harmónica..
@emiliosegura3928
Que en paz descanse Walter Ferguson
@luissandoval8244
que bueno me encanta simplemente me siento en casa.
@juanespinoza9395
Me encanta 👍💯
@jesuspicotacarrillo4634
La tradición del Calipso se está perdiendo, debemos rescatarlo, es parte de la historia de mi país.
Recuerdo cuando era niño, los muchachos de los jóvenes de barrios populares en las esquinas y en los vecindarios con su yucalele, un balde de lavar ropa como bajo, maracas improvisadas, banjo, el rayo de lavar ropa, una tumbadora, guitarra y un cantante que improvisaba. Eran los instrumentos básicos y comunes para improvisar y tocar Calypso.
Era una diversión muy sana, los temas eran de problemática social, de la comunidad, acontecimientos del país y a nivel internacional, religiosos, protesta, jocosos, doble sentido, político, etc.
Un abrazo desde Panamá,
Jesús Picota Carrillo
Compositor y Poeta
@josecastillo-vw6nd
Bocas for ever [Bocas fah eva]