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.