MORE ROOMS WITH A TUNE
More Rooms with a Tune: Peter Tosh, Lord Melody and Superblue
Ever wondered why each room at Coconut Court has a name? You may not have taken it in as you couldn’t wait to get down to our beach for a swim.
But the name plates are all songs from the Caribbean.
In today’s post, we’re focusing on rooms named after songs by a world legend, while the second and third are calypso heroes from Trinidad.
Freedom and injustice
Peter Tosh was born Winston Hubert McIntosh in 1944 and began his recording career with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer in Trenchtown, Jamaica.
He was a self-taught guitarist who became one of the world’s best known reggae artists, particularly after his duet of Don’t Look Back with Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones.
While much of his work called for a fight against injustice, Reggae-mylitis shows Tosh’s lighter, more humorous side. In Reggae-mylitis, Tosh describes how the music is in his bones, his blood and “coming up to my brain, ah!”
Woke up this morning,
With a funny, funny feelin'...
…Went to the doctor,
To check out what's matter.
I went to the doctor,
To find out the matter.
Doctor said, "Son,
You have a Reggaemylitis".
Part devil, part molasses...
While many new arrivals in the Caribbean associate reggae with the islands, regular visitors to Coconut Court will know that calypso (or soca as it is now more often referred to) is the genre that dominates Barbados and Trinidad.
A popular character in the Trinidad carnival, which is closely linked to the islands’ musical traditions, is the Jab Molassie (sometimes called the Jambolassie), a fictional character, often painted blue, who is part devil and was historically daubed in molasses.
Trinidad soca artist Austin Lyons, aka Superblue, sings about this character, a regular feature in the February carnival (and room 60 at coconut Court!).
Jab Molassie Party on de road
Jab Molassie Jab Molassie
J'ouvert oh! Jab Molassie
Jab Molassie Wine down on de road
Jab Molassie Jab Molassie.
Cowboy Sparrow
And finally in room 58, Lord Melody, born Fitzroy Alexander in 1926, sings about his rivalry with Trinidadian compatriot and fellow calypsonian The Mighty Sparrow, who he dubbed Cowboy Sparrow. Melody was alluding to allegations that Sparrow had shot someone.
Attention, listen everyone
Beware, Sparrow have a gun
Shooting like Bill Buckaroo in the town
Ach, Sparrow have a gun
The row and rivalry continued for years. The Mighty Sparrow wrote songs about Lord Melody in reply!
You can listen to each song via the YouTube link below, but don't forget to check dates and prices at Coconut Court first so you can enjoy our Caribbean vibe and music in person.