Université du Calypso | Commentaires Michael Oliver Goodwin | Traduction Anita Bonan

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Take Yuh Meat Out Meh Rice
« Otes ta viande de mon riz »

Ce calypso est une fable de société. Elle nous raconte l’histoire d’un Barbadien « malin » qui se moque d’un « pauvre » Trinidadien. C’est un des calypsos préférés de Kitchener. Le Barbadien est ostensiblement de mauvaise foi, diminuant la valeur du bout de viande achetée par le Trinidadien à chaque refrain. C'est un odieux personnage et ses menaces sont de plus en plus violentes; Premier refrain : « je vais te donner un bon conseil »
Deuxième refrain « je vais te piler comme de la glace ». Relator prend un accent barbadien tout à fait ridicule, Kitchener le faisait aussi.

 

Footnotes

1 - native of Barbados

2 - angry

3 - a Bajan hice is when you pick somebody up and throw them

A Bajan[1] and a Trinidadian
Dyin' for starvation
The Bajan said, 'Look Trini
Leh we make a cook
I put the rice, an' you going put the meat
Den we going both have something to eat'
But when the pot was ready to done
The Bajan decide to pull a fast one

The Baje say 'Trini, I'm a born Barbadian
I don't like to fight
But when it comes to the occasion
I going die for meh right
Yuh put in a 12-cents meatbone
Yuh Trinidadian lice
I going give you a word of advice
Take yuh meat out meh rice'

Trini got in a big rage
'What wrong with you Baje
Ah go' tell you flat
Baje, ah ent takin' that
When we were shopping we both agree
The food will be cooked and shared equally
Ah put meh las' penny in dis meat
An' ah ent movin' until ah eat'

The Baje say 'Trini, I'm a born Barbadian
I don't like to fight
But when it comes to the occasion
I going die for meh right
Yuh put in a six-cents meatbone
Yuh Trinidadian lice
Before ah crush you like ice
Take yuh meat out meh rice'

Now by dis time de pot finish
Trini pick up a dish
The Bajan say 'No, no, no
Never happen so
What ah mention I can repeat
I said to lend me yuh piece of meat'
Trini get so vex[2] he started to cry
'Baje, in front meh eye, yuh tellin' a lie'

The Baje say 'No, no Trini, I'm a born Barbadian
I don't like to fight
But when it comes to the occasion
I going die for meh right
Yuh put in a three-cents meatbone
Yuh Trinidadian lice
Before ah give you a Bajan hice[3]
Take yuh meat out meh rice'