Banning of Records - Attila the Hun

Attila really gives the colonial government what for in this classic from 1938.





Banning of Records - Attila

Imagine our records being banned from entering in our native land.
Imagine our records being banned from entering in our native land.
That they are obscene I must deny, but all things look yellow to the jaundiced eye.
I think they’re ungenerous to attempt to take our music from us.

Our local talent, is my contention, should be given help and recognition.
For all their faults I don’t care a rap - we have put this island on the map.
For from New York, Haiti and Curacao, on stage, gramophone and radio,
Every chance that these boys have had they have glorified and advertised Trinidad.

For the benefit of those who don't know, calypso is a heritage from long ago
Many of the Puritans in this land want to muzzle the Calypsonians
They hate to have their dirty linen washed in public and so they have devised this curvy trick
To apply pressure strong and vigorous and try and take our music from us

Whom I offend I do not care, but many things I see as unfair
If John steel car - go to jail or pay, and you see headlines in the papers next day
But when mistress so-and-so is guilt of unchastity you mustn't give it no publicity
It's not our fault if she's not virtuous so why try to take our music from us?

Honi soit qui mal y pense! Is my cry - evil to him who thinketh evil says I.
It’s known a man with a perverted mind with the most moral work, some fault he will find.
If Netty Netty* is indecent then I must insist that so is Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis.
But over these writers they make no fuss but poor we they want to take our music from us.


Key: Aish (poss. Bb?)

Chords:
A D E A
A D E A
F#7 Bm E A
A D E A

*Netty Netty was a 1937 record from the Roaring Lion, supposedly upon arrival in Trinidad 4,000 copies of the record were dumped into the harbor by customs officials.

The Coldness of the Water - the Growler

Here's a great one from the Growler released in 1939.





Coldness of the Water - The Growler

It seems as though me wife going mad
Because I left the shouters she talk me bad
It seems as though me wife going mad
Because I left the shouters she talk me bad

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead

She said to me, "Ozzie you must be bold"
Because the dipping in the river bound to save your soul
If that is the way to find the lord
Not me she wouldn't send me in [B.H.? P.H.? ward??]

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead

To save me soul I was more than glad
But when she dipped me in the river I felt so bad
Water in me nose and inside me mouth
To hear the congregation how they start to shout

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead

They took me up to the mourning ground
And all I saw was lighted candles all around
Candles start the road back to number 3
And said I'm on my way to Galilee

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead

The preacher tell me when I reach the Galilee
All me sins would be washed away entirely
But I got too much tied and burdened down
Because I never meet no food at any mourning ground

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead

It is a thing for the foolish, but not the wise
To be tying up your head and banding down your eyes
For when the power comes it got no sympathy
You got to be beating up your body so brutally

The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead
The coldness of the water nearly kill The Growler dead


Key: Bb/Gm

Chords:

Gm Cm Gm D7
Gm Cm Gm F

Bb F Bb F
Bb F Bb F