UNIVERSITY OF CALYPSO | Transcriptions and song notes by Michael Oliver-Goodwin
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Peddlars
In the 1950s, Lord Melody (real name Fitzroy Alexander; 1926-1988) was one of the most popular calypsonians in Trinidad. He wrote some of the most delicious calypsos in the history of the art form, including "Shame and Scandal," and "Mama Look a Boo Boo Dey," which he sold to Harry Belafonte. In fact, Belafonte hired Melody as a staff writer for a time. "Peddlars" is one of his coolest calypsos. Based on a primeval Caribbean tune often called "The Vendor's Song," it's another example of Relator's relaxed mastery at singing his way through complicated lists. The riff from Charlie Parker's "Anthropology" at the top and in between the verses is direct from Melody's original recording. What a hipster he was.
Footnotes
1 - Note the charming Trinidadian pronunciation of "town" to rhyme with "gong."
2 - a popular calypsonian at the time
3 - In the old days, before ozone-destroying aerosol spray cans were invented, a brand of bug spray called Flit came in a pump-handle dispenser known as a Flit gun.
4 - San Fernando, in the south of Trinidad
Beware of the peddlers in town[1]
A police nearly carry me down
Beware of the peddlers in town
A police nearly carry me down
At the corner of George and Marine Square
A young man he approach me dere
When I t'ought he was beggin' for charity
This is what the young man expose to me
He expose old shoes, old boots, old pitch oil lamp
A suit from an old concentration camp
Needles, thimbles, scissors and thread
A photograph of Sir Galba's[2] head
Ash tray, cigars, old picture frame
Walkin' sticks and old switchblade
When he ask me what I was buyin' today
Ah tell him 'Mister ah 'fraid'
He had sheep skin, horseshoe for male and female
A six-inch gun from a cowboy trail
Woman panties and powder puff
A flit-gun[3] loaded right up with snuff
Rice bag, flour bag, onion crate, nail files and shoemaker tacks
When he ask me what I was buyin' today
Ah tell him 'Mister relax'
He had white lime, whitewash, all kinda rag
A piece of a German flag
Pillowcase, nighties, modest and socks
Rimless glasses and old matchbox
Needles, thimbles, buttons and beads, up came Constable Reid
He say, 'Young man you have a lot of nice things here
Dat I really need, but...
'Where you get dis, where you get dat
Where did you get the superintendent's hat
Dis nightie look meh neighbor own
Where did you get this tenor saxophone
So leh we go down like you own de whole of town'
Dis time meh hand on meh mouth
When ah read the evening news de next evenin'
Was a old t'ief come down from South[4]