A couple of decades ago, I was lucky enough to spend a couple days in Trinidad right before Carnival. What a scene it was! But the big thrill for me was being introduced to soca music – soul calypso. It sounds like a cross between calypso and Memphis-like horns, and it sounded great to me.
I went to a show by the great David Rudder, who just blew me away. Brilliant musician – he seems to be almost Bob Marley level, which ain’t too shabby. I got a few of his albums and they have been favorites for a long time.
When I saw this week’s theme, I doubted I could do justice to any Rudder song. I still don’t know if I have, but I gave Dus’ In Deh Face a shot – at least the first verse and a chorus. It uses Trinidad slang pretty heavily, and the story needs a little explanation too.
As best I know, each year in Trinidad they have a steel drum orchestra competition called Panorama. (Steel drums are called pans down there.) This song is about one of those competitions, complete with band names, and the title refers to a boast by a band that the others will just be following behind them, with dust in their face.
I have included the lyrics here. And if you don’t know David Rudder, you can get a taste of his great music here (https://youtu.be/vtIrAyvdQG8). This one is about a legendary pan man called The Hammer, and this live version has wonderful interaction with the audience.
“Oh gorm!” Ah fella bawl out like Sprangalang
“Oh gorm!” It was a man from a big steelband
Shot call, ah fella stand up and start to cuss
How come they give the first prize to Exodus?
Well they come from the East and they play like they mad
And they wheel and they tumble
And when the dust done clear and the marks declare
Big men start to grumble
Even the Lord Kitchener start to make the manema
He say “They can’t catch we so next year Panorama
Tell them boys they have to beg for they supper”
We coming, and it’s doye doye doye doye doye doye
Doye doye doye doye doye Doye Aye!
When we see we come down
War declare in de town, is dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face!
Guns will be blasting for sure
In this musical war – Dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face!
We lookin’ for a fight, it’s trouble tonight
We feelin’ alright, it’s a panman’s war – yes me bruddah!
We come out for war, to settle a score
The tenors sawed off so it’s
Booyaka booyaka Aye mama
Dus’ in deh face! Dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face! Dus’! Dus’! Dus’!
I went to a show by the great David Rudder, who just blew me away. Brilliant musician – he seems to be almost Bob Marley level, which ain’t too shabby. I got a few of his albums and they have been favorites for a long time.
When I saw this week’s theme, I doubted I could do justice to any Rudder song. I still don’t know if I have, but I gave Dus’ In Deh Face a shot – at least the first verse and a chorus. It uses Trinidad slang pretty heavily, and the story needs a little explanation too.
As best I know, each year in Trinidad they have a steel drum orchestra competition called Panorama. (Steel drums are called pans down there.) This song is about one of those competitions, complete with band names, and the title refers to a boast by a band that the others will just be following behind them, with dust in their face.
I have included the lyrics here. And if you don’t know David Rudder, you can get a taste of his great music here (https://youtu.be/vtIrAyvdQG8). This one is about a legendary pan man called The Hammer, and this live version has wonderful interaction with the audience.
“Oh gorm!” Ah fella bawl out like Sprangalang
“Oh gorm!” It was a man from a big steelband
Shot call, ah fella stand up and start to cuss
How come they give the first prize to Exodus?
Well they come from the East and they play like they mad
And they wheel and they tumble
And when the dust done clear and the marks declare
Big men start to grumble
Even the Lord Kitchener start to make the manema
He say “They can’t catch we so next year Panorama
Tell them boys they have to beg for they supper”
We coming, and it’s doye doye doye doye doye doye
Doye doye doye doye doye Doye Aye!
When we see we come down
War declare in de town, is dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face!
Guns will be blasting for sure
In this musical war – Dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face!
We lookin’ for a fight, it’s trouble tonight
We feelin’ alright, it’s a panman’s war – yes me bruddah!
We come out for war, to settle a score
The tenors sawed off so it’s
Booyaka booyaka Aye mama
Dus’ in deh face! Dus’ in deh face!
Dus’ in deh face! Dus’! Dus’! Dus’!