Walter Ferguson was born in Guabito, Panama. His family soon settled in Cos… Read Full Bio ↴Walter Ferguson was born in Guabito, Panama. His family soon settled in Costa Rica and he spent most of his childhood in Jamaica Town, a neighborhood in Port Limon. There he lived in his aunt´s house, where he used to receive organ lessons. His parents moved to Cahuita, a small hamlet in the far South of the province, where he lives until today.

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.

Good
Walter Ferguson Lyrics

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Me teacher love me so well
She want to educate me
You must learn to read and spell
This is the word: G O O D (repeat)

And she bawl out G O O D, G O O D
Yes teacher

Every living day hear me spelling G O O D
And ah bawl out G O O D, G O O D
Every living day hear me spelling G O O D
Teacher I don't understand
What you doing to me
If you want to be a man all you do is G O O D (repeat)

One day I wrote me girl friend a letter
And she send it back to me
She said Segundo you must do better all I get is G O O D
I thought I had an education
I want to go university
They only call me as simpleton

All I knew was G O O D
And ah bawl out G O O D (repeat)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Walter Ferguson's song "Good" tell the story of a student who is being taught by a loving teacher who is emphasizing the importance of education to him. The student is being taught how to spell the word "good" and is drilled in it every day. The repetition of the word represents the importance of doing good, being good, and standing up for what is right. The student's confusion about why he is being taught to spell "good" is a metaphor for his struggle to understand the importance of being a good person. He eventually realizes that being good is necessary to become a man and succeed in life. The song ends with the student bemoaning the fact that he was only able to spell "good," which made him feel like a simpleton and not capable of achieving his dreams.

The song has a deeper meaning beyond just the act of spelling the word "good." It is an anthem for the importance of education and the value of doing good in the world. The teacher in the song represents the mentors and educators who guide us through life and teach us valuable lessons that shape who we become. The importance of doing good is a message that resonates with people of all ages and backgrounds, and the song is an excellent reminder of the value of living a virtuous life.

Line by Line Meaning

Me teacher love me so well
My teacher cares for me deeply

She want to educate me
Her intention is to teach me

You must learn to read and spell
It's important to acquire literacy skills

This is the word: G O O D (repeat)
The word to remember is 'good'

And she bawl out G O O D, G O O D
She loudly emphasizes the need to learn 'good'

Yes teacher
I acknowledge and respect my teacher's authority

Every living day hear me spelling G O O D
I spell 'good' every single day

And ah bawl out G O O D, G O O D
I loudly recite 'good'

Teacher I don't understand
I'm confused about the purpose of this repetition

What you doing to me
I'm curious about how this will benefit me

If you want to be a man all you do is G O O D (repeat)
To be successful, one should only do what is 'good'