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.
Old Lady
Walter Ferguson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Making old women say they are young
They like to kick and they like to prance
The jitterbug swing they do like to dance
Old lady you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
Read your Bible and give young people a chance
Old lady, yes, you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
I took a walk on a new building
Where they played every rhytm jitterbug swing
A lady came and asked for a set
She dribbled on mi stomach till I was wet
Old lady you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
You cut out the young gal dance
Read your Bible and give young people a chance
Old lady, yes, you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
She said she want to dance
From night until morn
I say not with me, you mashing my corn
She said you lie you must do this thing
I want to dance the bitterbug swing (repeat)
Old lady you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
You cut out the young gal dance
Read your Bible and give young people a chance
Old lady, yes, you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
The set was done, she started to bom
I took her to the bar and gave her a rum
As I could I leave from the gallery
Like a thunder ball, she break in on me
Old lady you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
You cut out the young gal dance
Read your Bible and give young people a chance
Old lady, yes, you mashing my toe
Believe me, you sambering so
You must be crazy
She said you bound to go home with me
I got me money and property
Hold my head and bawl fi murder
When I got to find was my grandmother
Old lady you mashing my toe
The song "Old Lady" by Walter Ferguson is a humorous take on the popular dance trend of the jitterbug swing. The dance is so infectious that even elderly women are drawn to it, despite the fact that they may not have the physical ability to keep up with the fast-paced, energetic steps. The lyrics depict the singer's frustration with an older woman who insists on dancing with him, despite repeatedly mashing his toes and generally causing chaos on the dance floor. The lyrics suggest that the old lady should "read her Bible" and let the younger generation enjoy the dance, but of course, she persists in her attempts to keep up with the crowd.
The song is filled with witty wordplay and playful banter between the singer and the old lady, creating a humorous and lighthearted atmosphere. Despite poking fun at the old lady's attempts to dance, the lyrics also show a great deal of affection and respect for the older generation. The song suggests that even in their advanced age, these women are still full of life and vitality, and that they should be celebrated for their enduring spirit.
Overall, "Old Lady" is an entertaining and charming song that captures the joy and energy of the jitterbug swing, while also paying tribute to the timeless spirit of the elderly.
Line by Line Meaning
The new dance that is going around
There is a new dance trend that is popular
Making old women say they are young
Older women are acting and feeling younger due to the new dance trend
They like to kick and they like to prance
Older women enjoy performing the jitterbug swing dance
The jitterbug swing they do like to dance
Older women have a preference for dancing the jitterbug swing
Old lady you mashing my toe
The artist is complaining to an older woman that she is stepping on their toe
Believe me, you sambering so
The singer is telling the older woman that she is uncoordinated and stumbling around
You must be crazy
The singer is expressing their belief that the older woman is acting irrational or insane
You cut out the young gal dance
The older woman should not dance like young women do
Read your Bible and give young people a chance
The older woman should stick to traditional values and let young people enjoy new things
I took a walk on a new building
The artist went to a new place or venue
Where they played every rhytm jitterbug swing
The place has music with a variety of rhythms, but the jitterbug swing is popular
A lady came and asked for a set
An older woman approached the artist and asked for a dance
She dribbled on mi stomach till I was wet
The older woman was dancing so close to the singer that they became sweaty
She said she want to dance
The older woman expressed her desire to keep dancing
From night until morn
The older woman wants to dance all night long
I say not with me, you mashing my corn
The artist declined the offer to dance because the older woman was stepping on their toes
She said you lie you must do this thing
The older woman accused the artist of lying and demanded they dance with her
I want to dance the bitterbug swing
The older woman specifically wanted to dance the jitterbug swing
The set was done, she started to bom
The dance ended and the older woman continued to move around the dance floor
I took her to the bar and gave her a rum
The artist took the older woman to the bar and bought her a drink
As I could I leave from the gallery
The artist attempted to leave the venue
Like a thunder ball, she break in on me
The older woman suddenly appeared and approached the artist again
She said you bound to go home with me
The older woman demanded that the singer accompany her home
I got me money and property
The artist has their own money and possessions
Hold my head and bawl fi murder
The singer is upset and distressed
When I got to find was my grandmother
The singer realized that the older woman was actually their own grandmother
Writer(s): papá houdini
Contributed by Chase K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.