1.

Don't Stop The Carnival

Ralph McDonald

Had to talk to the Governor today
Concerning the Carnival parade
Had to talk to the Governor today
Concerning the Carnival parade
Trinidad people running wild
Governor say no Carnival
Big riot police and things picket signs
And the people start to sing

Lord don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival is a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't make no fuss if you cut up Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

Here come me woman walking up the block
With she bottom going like a clock
Here come me woman walking up the block
With she bottom going like a clock
No Carnival the woman said
Oh Lord you're better off dead
Show me the way to the Governor's mansion
I'm going to have me a reckon session

Lord don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival is a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't make no fuss if you cut up Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

A little boy can't be more than nine
Standing on the corner speaking out his mind
A little child can't be more than nine
Standing on the corner speaking out his mind
He said "We must unite
Oh yes stand up for your right
Contact the Governor we want action
I speak-a for the young generation"

Lord don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival is a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't make no fuss if you cut up Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

Believe me people what I say is true
You know Harry wouldn't lie to you
Believe me people what I say is true
You know Harry wouldn't like to you
Man the Governor he went mad
Arrested all of Trinidad
Whoa he made a big mistake
Just some things that Trinidad won't take

Lord don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival is a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't make no fuss if you cut up Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

I tell you friends it's a part of history
Carnival time's a big necessity
I tell you friends it's a part of history
Carnival time's a big necessity
Half the world couldn't sing the songs they sing
From Carnival and all the joy it brings
Oh Lord it make me glad
Carnival time is back in Trinidad

Lord don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival is a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't make no fuss if you cut up Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I won't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I wouldn't think you mean if you cut up the Halloween
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I don't care what they say if you cut up the May Day
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I said-a please don't stop the Carnival
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
Carnival time's a Creole bacchanal
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I wouldn't make a fuss if you cut off Christmas
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)
I wouldn't have no fear if you cut off the New Year
(Lord don't stop the Carnival)

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2.

Chinita

Ralph McDonald

3.

Trinidad Carnival Time

Ralph McDonald

By this time back in Trinidad
They're making arrangements for the fact to start
And what's the big occasion
That's causing such a jubilation

Well it's Carnival what else could it be
People line the roads up and down to see
Waiting for all the bands to pass
To jump in and play their mass

It's Carnival come join with me
Grab your partner and you'll feel free
Be merry and gay relax enjoy your stay
Have fun this Carnival day

Jump up to the rhythm and the rhyme
Shake your body in the line
It's Trinidad Carnival time

Oh I never seen so much a rum yet
And those bakes and biscuits I can't forget
Steel band boys bing bang their tune
People romancing under the moon

Well it's masquerade all over the place
Like a convention of the human race
Day and night it's still going on
Well it's there my friends Calypso was born

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4.

Lena

Ralph McDonald

One day I went on a pleasure cruise
Sailing cross the ocean it was beautiful
All at once something caught my eye
It was Lena passing by

Right then and there I knew
This was the girl for me
As we looked at each other
She smiled and I asked her name

As she spoke I could tell
I would never be quite the same
I said will you come go with me
To a calypso jamboree

And dance the calypso rock and roll a go-go
Lena don't tell me no
And dance the calypso rock and roll a go-go
Lena don't tell me no

As we stood there together
Gazing at the open sea
I couldn't help telling her
What she meant to a guy like me

With such beauty and with such class
For I knew that I must act fast
I had to find a way to make Lena go with me
I could see she was anxious to go but she hesitate
She was afraid to agree with a stranger for a date

As the sun slowly slipped away
I was happy to hear her say
She would dance the calypso

Rock and roll a go-go
Lena I'm happy so
And dance the Calypso
Rock and roll a go-go
Lena I'm happy so

Carnival is tomorrow we're gonna have a ball
I know that Lena will be the prettiest girl of all
All the fellows will envy me
They'll be poppin' their eyes to see

When we dance together
We will want nowhither
They will want to get her
I will tell them never

Dancing the calypso
Rock and roll a go-go
Lena I love you so

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5.

Black And White (Together)

Ralph McDonald

Attention everybody I have a message for all of we
Attention everybody I have a message for all of we
Yes I'm out of desperation all thru the nation
We have to live peacefully let's join the races in harmony

Black and white together
We must love one another
Black and white together
All of we are brothers yes

Black and white and white and black and
Black and white and white and black and
Lets live in harmony with peace, justice and equality
Lord yes in harmony with freedom and liberty

The black man is small and mighty
Like Dr. King and Mohammed Ali
The white man is very powerful
He could unite the whole world in brotherhood

Together we can build a nation
Of love and integration
We don't have to go to the moon
The earth has plenty of room yes

Integration today is the future of the USA
Foundations we must build
For the young generations provide the skills

The future is in our hands
So let's unite and plan, plan, plan
Let me hear you now all together
Black and white forever yes

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6.

Out De Fire

Charles Carter

© Folkways Music, BMI

Long time ago in Trinidad
Happen such a thing to make you sad
Had a big fire where they make the rum
For miles around all the people come
And they shouting

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

A little old woman past eighty eight
Running in the fire thru the burning gate
Before you could beat on a funeral drum
She was rollin' out a peck o' rum
And she singing

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

The way de woman runnin' into the flame
Man you would think was a Carnival game
I Tell you friends it was a sight to see
I never had known such bravery
And she screaming

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

The way de woman runnin' with a bucket and line
Man she was working overtime
She work up her sweat and never complain
She was drinking rum and prayin' for rain
And she singing

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

You could see the fire way down the road
Everybody waited for the thing to explode
The distillery burnt down to the ground
Not a single drop of rum could be found
And they singing

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

Although it all happened a long time ago
There is one thing that I don't know
She was eighty eight there is no doubt
How she get all the rum in she mouth
And she singing

Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there
Out the fire down there

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7.

Season For Carnival

Ralph McDonald - Alonza Sealy

Carnival time here in this land
An old familiar custom you will understand
Everyone looking so bright and gay
Calypso songs from the break of day

Carnival starting
People line up watching
As the bands go dancing by
Pease and rice cooking

Curry goat and lamb stewing
This is the season for carnival
This is the season for carnival
This is the season for carnival
This is the season for carnival

Lovely woman from far and near
Come to Trinidad this time of year
Young lovers strolling through the town
Caressed by the music that's all around

Lady's bracelets in the market ringing
Little children dancing and singing
All the happy faces you'll see
Getting ready for the jamboree

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8.

Custer's Last Stand

Ralph McDonald - Ronald Greene

In 1876 on that bright summer morn at the Little Bighorn
The arrogant Custer caught a few licks
When he tried to stand up to the Cheyenne and the Sioux
He was confident he'd win the fight
But he underrated the Indian's might

Of White Bull, Iron Lightning, Swift Bear and Gall
Black Moon Little Wolf Crazy Horse
And Sitting Bull chief of them all oh, oh
Oh Sitting Bull chief of them all

Oh the Indians tried to live in peace
On that bright summer morn at the Little Bighorn
They signed the treaty that warship cease
The white man was cold he wanted gold
He killed all the buffalo destroyed the corn
Even brought unknown diseases to the unborn

Custer's Cavalry pressed the attack
On that bright summer morn at the Little Bighorn
They thought they had driven the Indians back
But like a wave came an ocean of braves
Custer exclaimed to the noonday sun
Tell me where all these red skins is coming from

Well it wasn't long fore the dust settle down
On that bright summer morn at the Little Bighorn
The soldiers was spread all over the ground
The battle was gone the braves had won
Custer's men had fought their best
But the Indians had stood the test

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9.

Mango Coconut Sugarcane

Ralph McDonald

If you ever take a vacation
There's a place that's quite a sensation
Yes we call it Trinidad
Lord it almost drove me mad

From the time I 'wake in the morning
I could tell a great day was dawning
Hear a vender in the street
Selling juicy things to eat

It was mango coconut sugar cane
Lord me belly in pain
I said mango coconut sugar cane
Driving me insane

In the market place I went walking
Everybody laughing and talking
Where you barging for a prize
And you wind up paying pies

When I shopped around for some punchy
Smelling all the food I went hungry
Had a taste for something sweet
So I stop awhile to eat

Walking down the beach really lazy
Women start to driving me crazy
So I jump into the sea
Thought that was the place to be

While I'm swimming round in the ocean
Saw a woman's body in motion
Then and there I make me plan
Took the woman by she hand

In the evening we went out dancing
Held her close and started romancing
Listen to the steel band play
Bing bong till the break of day

Drinking rum that night I got naughty
She said Harry not till we merry
Now I pass me life's complete
Every night I get the treat

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10.

Elegant Donkey (Jackass)

Ralph McDonald

I was walking down the road one day
When I pass a horse and a fat donkey
I overheard the donkey say
She was a movin' up in society

Seem she merry common law
To a donkey man but he had no class
She wanted to make a baby but
Not if the father was an ass

The ways of the world are very strange
Laws and pagan never change
The elegant donkey wanted class
That's why they call she jack-ass
Jack-ass Jack-ass Jack-ass

Well it happen in the early Spring
When the circus came she went to see
Got to know an elephant
A little too intimately

Oh the elephant ask please marry me
The donkey agree oh pity she
It's too late now to change she mind
She's in society

Well now my friends the baby born
Half donkey half elephant
And if you see the mother now
She's only got embarrassment

Say de baby is elite
Not a common ass as it should be
And when it walking down the street
The tail ain't where it ought to be

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