Singing a song in first person- racial issue

Subject: Singing a song in first person- racial i
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 10:25 PM

Has anyone ever sung a song in first person where the narrator was of a different race? How did you handle it?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial i
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 10:32 PM

Many American songs are narrated by people of a different race and we just sing them. Nellie Gray, lots of Stephen Foster..Swanee River, Old Kentucky Home. What the songbooks do is give pictures that depict European Americans, often with mansions, but you listen to the words and they are people living in cabins etc...who of course could be EA, but in general I do not think they were. Just sing them respectfully. mg

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial i
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 12:00 AM

This is not exactly the issue Morwen is talking about, but I think the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess fits into this discussion well. Wikipedia says the first live performance was in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. It was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and his subsequent play Porgy and Bess, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row (based on the area of Cabbage Row) in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s.

Heyward was born in 1885 in Charleston, South Carolina and was a descendant of Thomas Heyward, Jr., who was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of South Carolina - so I'm guessing Heyward was white. The play was written in "Negro dialect" (or the white conception thereof). The first movie production of Porgy and Bess was in 1959, directed by Otto Preminger and starring Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Bailey, and Diahann Carroll. Poitier and Dandridge did not do their own singing. As I understand it, the movie was terrible, particularly because it portrayed racially-stereotyped characters in a time when racial issues were becoming heated. Blacks were portrayed as oversexed, good-for-nothing gamblers who couldn't do "honest work." My understanding is that the Gershwin family disliked the movie so much, that the family did not allow its reissue on videotape or DVD.

A second movie was released in 1993, produced by BBC with a cast of unknown actors. I saw this production, and I really liked it. If was more of a televised stage play, not a full-blown movie. I'm getting a little hard of hearing, so I watched the movie with subtitles. What I found particularly interesting was that the subtitles were in "dialect," but the actors used only a hint of so-called dialect. For the most part, they spoke and sang in Standard American English.

I would suggest that when we sing "Negro" songs that are written in "dialect," we're better off to sing them in Standard American English.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 01:15 AM

"I would suggest that when we sing "Negro" songs that are written in "dialect," we're better off to sing them in Standard American English."

Joe, I 'speck thass whut Ah'm gwine ter do too, if'n Ah'm a-gwine ter be singin' enny ob dem kind 'er songs.
An' also when Ah reads Bre'r Rabbit.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Darowyn
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 03:59 AM

Like this then? -
" Elderly man river, that elderly man river
He must know something, but he doesn't say anything
He just keeps rollin'-- rolling,
He just keeps rolling along.
He don't (buzzer) doesn't plant taters-- potatoes,
He doesn't plant cotton/cotting,
And then these/those that plants them are soon forgotting.
But elderly man river, he just keeps rolling along."
(Stan Freberg)

Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 04:05 AM

I seem to remember that when I was small I used to read the Brer Rabbit stories in a broad Yorkshire accent.
Actually I also have problems with when people who try to write forum postings or song lyrics in "Geordie" or "Scots". It just doesn't work! Fair enough to try to give a suitable spelling to real regional words, but in my part of Yorkshire, the words heard as "weeer" and "theeeeeer" are spelt where and there. There is no need to change the spelling - we KNOW how to pronounce them...
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 04:30 AM

I agree, Geoff. Most of the time when I write Scots I use standard English spellings, unless I'm highlighting a particular singer's pronunciation. There are problems, of course, when the English spelling is how the words would be pronounced in Scots, eg night, laugh, plough.

To return to the original point, I've been singing 'Bourgeois Blues' for half a century despite the fact that I'm only black (or dubh) in Scotland.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 04:49 AM

A LOT of the blues!... and I wouldn't worry about it, but when you perform it, it is important for you, and for the performance, to BE the character. If you do it WELL, it goes over well, and probably gains you respect. Remember, that is it is in the first person, the narrator probably is not going to be disrespectful to himself....so speak for him...BUT BE the character!!

Break a leg!

GfS

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 04:53 AM

So that means I can sing Lord Invader's version of "Brown Skin Girl" with the line "And the baby don't belong to the Negro race" without feeling just a bit funny? That's great.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Marje
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:00 AM

It's really a question about dialect rather than race, isn't it? I'm assuming that the singer speaks (approximately) the same language as the racially different person.

The only difference between this and other dialect issues is that it's more likely to be seen as patronising or offensive if a white person sings a song in a "negro" accent. To an extent the same applies to, say, a Londoner attempting to sing in a Geordie accent, but that is more likely to cause mirth than to cause offence.

Now I think about it, it happens all the time in popular music, though, doesn't it? Many of the traits of musical style, accent and dialect used in R&B, blues, and jazz are derived from black music and speech, but that doesn't stop white singers from trying to sound black. Is traditional song different, I wonder? And if so, why?

Marje

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:02 AM

Dave MacKenzie, isn't "Bourgeois Blues" written from the POV of Lead Belly? If you're singing it, that means as GfS says about being the character, you are being Lead Belly for a while. And that means that I'm playing Lord Invader for a while, too, when I'm singing that song (Brown Skin Girl).

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:14 AM

A lot of it has to do with respect - for the song, for the character, and in some cases for yourself. It can depend on the song. In some cases an oppressed group has enough in common with a different oppressed group, so the underlying spirit of the song transfers easily.
There are some songs I would happily sing but there are others, that are specific to a particular struggle, where I would feel that I was being patronising. I am culturally and racially too far removed from being a black South African to feel comfortable singing certain types of first person song. This doesn't mean I didn't fully support their position aginst apartheid.
Only you can make a decision as to where you stand with a specific song.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:18 AM

Just sing the shit out of it..do it right, do it as if you ARE the character! The people came to hear the song, not to make racial/political judgements about you. Blow them away, with your rendition! Practice till you ARE black. Believe me, you will only gain their respect and admiration.

GfS

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:24 AM

As a Chinese-Australian with a great respect for Lord Invader, his singing and the tradition (I've previously stated that I want to be a calypsonian), I believe that this song is alright, really. The real issue is the line, "You can see I'm a fellow with a funny face, and the baby don't belong to the Negro race."

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:48 AM

Let's face it: most time we sing any song, we would be guilty of perjury if we pronounced the lyrics under oath. This even applies to situations of affirmation, such as Church hymns. In other songs, the singer normally acts the role of someone in quite a different situation (currently). Acting must not be overdone, such as men singing falsetto in the role of women.

The more difficult question is about cultural authenticity, in particular for public performances. If you sing, say, a Chinese song about a girl, it won't be of much help to look authentic, if you otherwise betray your different cultural background (just assumed for sake of an example, not meant personally in any sense).

In such cases, acting should be even more "abstract", unless you are actually playing theatre, e.g. Porgy & Bess or Puccini's Turandot. "Abstract" means: reduced to the point of the song. Not always easy.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Musket
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:57 AM

I've sung a few old blues songs before. I have to admit, the voice does lose the South Yorkshire / North Derbyshire somewhat and is in danger of sounding a bit transatlantic..

I suppose it is similar to, when as a volunteer hospital radio presenter back in the '70s, I may have been guilty of playing the latest offering by "Zed Zed Top". Once I found out that in The USA, they pronounce it Zee, I was quite comfortable saying Zee Zee Top without wondering if people thought I was about to eat turkey a few weeks before Xmas and visit Vietnam with strong weedkiller.

Race? Howsabout gender? If I sing a song written for a woman to sing, I say I am about to sing as a woman. Very badly. A couple of reasons...

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 06:14 AM

If I sing an old South Chinese peasant song, I'll look the part (my ancestors are all originally from South China and were nearly all peasants) but I won't be able to speak (or even sing) the language, so that would be an issue! :). But I've got no problem singing as a man in songs, so I guess pretending to be Invader for a bit wouldn't hurt :).

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 07:37 AM

Can blue men sing the whites...?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Musket
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 07:43 AM

Or have they ever tried to sing in tune?

Bringing a canine dimension to the debate...

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 07:54 AM

Morwen, what I wanted to say is: don't pretend to be His Lordship, just act the narrating figure to the extent necessary to make the point of the song.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:30 AM

You mean the Invader? Huh, well I don't know if it is "him" as in "him" himself and not a persona that's singing the song. I'm reminded of my first singing teacher who was teaching another girl at the same time as I was there for my lesson at school. She was saying "Don't try to be Norah Jones." (This girl was singing Norah Jones).

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:32 AM

Of course when Irish singers sing a song from another part of the world in their own accents, they are liable to be accused of a kind of cultural imperialism, trying to make people believe it was an Irish song to start with...

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:34 AM

Grishka, the distinction is that if it *is* Invader who is meant to be singing the song, then this Australian will have to *act* him for the period of the song.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:38 AM

That could almost be another thread; singing a song in which the original singer/composer's name is mentioned.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:40 AM

Personally, when I sing a song, I am the song.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 08:42 AM

"And she said, "Lord Invader, not because you sung "Rum and Coco-Cola", Don't bother if you know you ain't got that Yankee dollar." What about those types of situations?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,norman K jensen
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 10:41 AM

I remember that I read the Pearl Baily really resented Porgy and Bess because of the use of dialect. She was answered by some wag who suggested that "It is not necessarily so" is not an improvement over "It ain't necessarily so."

I sang "Luck ole Sun" once and never even thoughtt about it. got lots of compliments from a racially mixed audience. I think respect for the song is what works best.

On a different note (get it?) I have wondered about gender issues when the words are specifically about "Her" or "Him" in love songs. Most love songs are understood to be about the opposite sex, but what about the singer who happens to be gay? Should he or she make the gender fit his or her orientation? I have not worked this out yet. Sometimes I think it's best to adopt the attitude that the singer is an actor playing a part and just stick to the script. At other times I want to make a bit of a fuss.
Any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 11:31 AM

Re gender..My thoughts are to sing it exactly as you learned it and do not change it..unless you find out that someone else changed it before and you change it back to the original or more common usage. It really messes with songs and usually makes them worse. mg

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 12:02 PM

Or maybe, sing it as you remember it, which may not be quite how you learnt it. We do a bit of editing subconsciously sometimes which makes us feel more at home in singing a song.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 01:25 PM

As we all know, transgendered cover versions are absolutely common in pop music, which includes singer-songwriter songs. Even transracialized songs occur: "There is a rose in Black and Spanish Harlem ..." Sometimes it works well, sometimes not so well - when conventional roles and clichés are alluded to, or real cultural gaps exist.

As far as I know, genuine folk songs, though otherwise readily "processed", are rarely transgendered, since they are felt to come with fat quotation marks anyway.

For performing any music publicly, one must have some good reason that is understood by the audience.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 02:39 PM

I would suggest that when we sing "Negro" songs that are written in "dialect," we're better off to sing them in Standard American English.쳌 -Joe-

Hooray for Seamus Kennedy.

One might rightly discern that I disagree with Joe, and pretty much agree with what Seamus wrote, even if he might have been ironic.

First, dialectal (and most) stereotypes have their roots in reality...that is, some folks in a group actually do/did speak in the 'offending'쳌 dialect or pronunciation. So, in the songs of Foster, or the stories of Joel Chandler Harris, the patois was basically being transcribed. Is this jarring to modern sensibilities? Probably to some. Is it meant to offend? That's a more difficult question. If a Klan member sang in dialect, it is likely meant to demean; if Joe Offer so sang, it probably (certainly?) is not meant to offend.

Personally, I like dialect. I enjoy Jewish (in Yiddish or English) songs and jokes, and I enjoy them more if they have the cadence and pronunciation of the shetl Jew. I like Connie Francis' version of 'My Yiddische Mama,'쳌 but I really appreciate Sophie Tucker's or the Barry Sisters' version of that song much better.

A few years ago I tried reading one of the original Hopalong Cassidy cowboy novels. I finally gave up because the author, Clarence Mulhall, was slavishly recreating stereotypical cowboy lingo, making it too hard for me to read , although to an audience not far removed from the days of the trail drive it was clearly understandable.

Finally, I think context should guide whether or not to use dialect or stereotypical langusge. If one is recreating an era--a history of the ante-bellum south, for instance--the use of dialect is reasonable. If one is performing a musical potpourri, perhaps it would be better to use more standard English when singing songs which might otherwise offend.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Dave in Michigan
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 02:49 PM

Morwen, the Calypsonians were famous for their ability to adjust lyrics on the fly to make them more topical, so IMO you would be true to your adopted tradition if you adjusted the lyrics to be a better fit to yourself than to, say, Lord Invader. (Extra bonus points if you adjust then to the persona of, say, Darth N Vader, should you feel so inclined.)

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:27 PM

Dave from Michigan, just to get technical, the calypsonians *are*, not *were* known for adjusting lyrics on the fly. But then the problem becomes, how to think of lyrics that scan and rhyme?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 05:52 PM

And just to add another thing, they are also known for improvising verses- the melody coming with the words. That's another thing that's difficult for me.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Joe_F
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 06:09 PM

Of course, if I sing "Take This Hammer", I don't spoil the rhyme by translating "gwine" into my dialect.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 06:13 PM

I think there's a thin line here. Much of what was written in the past as "Negro dialect" was racially-stereotyped, and often inaccurate. Did black people ever actually say "gwine," or was that a white misconception?

I grew up in Wisconsin. When I tell people that, they put on what they think is a Wisconsin accent and pronounce it "Wiscansin. They say that's the way Wisconsinites talk, but I never heard a Wisconsinite talk that way. And while they insist that the "o" in Wisconsin is pronounced by the locals like a short "a," they never seem to notice that the locals pronounce "Milwaukee" with a silent "l" - muh-WOK-kee or MWOK-kee.

I think it's fine and necessary to put on a slight ethnic affectation when singing a song from another culture - but still I think it's important to avoid racial and ethnic stereotypes. It would be ridiculous to render "Old Man River" in a way other than "he don't say nothin.'" To my mind, "he don't say nothin'" falls within the broad spectrum of Standard American English - but the "shuck and jive" stereotyped dialect of blackface minstrel songs and of early movies (Amos & Andy, and the black dancer in early Shirley Temple movies, for example) is downright offensive. Despite what John on the Sunset Coast may think, much pre-1960 "Negro dialect" is a stereotyped and denigrating caricature that is very weakly rooted in reality. Interestingly, that exaggerated "dialect" was often used even by black performers before 1960.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Allan Conn
Date: 08 Jun 11 - 06:24 PM

"Actually I also have problems with when people who try to write forum postings or song lyrics in "Geordie" or "Scots"."

Scots does have it's own traditional spelling conventions which differ from English though. Then there are people (ie Tom Leonard etc) who don't use the traditional Scots spelling but instead write phonetically to reproduce a certain accent. Not sure which one you have trouble with or if it's both.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 01:36 AM

Anyone else want to talk about this issue?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 04:38 AM

Did black people ever actually say "gwine," or was that a white misconception?
"Gwine" (just as "de" for "the") is standard in current Jamaican (majority Black population) dialect. Black American dialects have changed a lot over the years. What may have been an honest attempt at description/transcription, at one point in time...once set down in print form, may have been reproduced (guessed at) without finesse or understanding in later (e.g. Amos and Andy) times, and with negative intent.

I grew up in Wisconsin. When I tell people that, they put on what they think is a Wisconsin accent and pronounce it "Wiscansin."
I believe you when you say it, but there has also been going on the famous Northern Cities Vowel Shift in the last many decades (possibly since you left the area?) which is typified by that pronunciation and reflected in what people have heard in recent years -- At least it is what they have heard *different* in Wisconsin (which probably applies just to the areas affected by the shift).

Lots of on-going changes... Which begs the question if singers are also expected to be historians!

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 04:46 AM

Gibb, what is your opinion of singing a song where the narrator is of a different race?

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 05:02 AM

Surely the colour of a man's skin does not make him belong any the less to human race? It might be different if he was green and of small stature.

Chris.

PS:
1) In the old English Law term "Male embraces female".
2) Surely "Standard American English" is dialect (ie not Yorkshire Speak)
C.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 07:49 AM

This has nothing to due with racial attitudes and more to do with the discomfort of me singing a song through the point of view of someone who is both different from me in sex/gender (male while I am female) and of a different racial background (Black West Indian, while I am Chinese Australian). I have no problem singing songs clearly narrated by men, and I have a great respect for the original singer, but when these two combine there is an uncomfortable feeling.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 03:25 PM

If you're uncomfortable with a song, don't sing it. While I wouldn't have any difficulty with adopting a persona in some songs (I'm not a whaler, soldier, &C), I consciously avoid any song which requires me to inform everyone that "Me name is Paddy Leary...", or "O'Hanlon", although "The Bard of Armagh" I've been singing for decades. Curious.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 05:52 PM

Another funny thing, "Jean and Dinah" by the Mighty Sparrow which includes the line, "Only West Indians like me or you, go in to get a drink or two" is not as much of a problem for me as this version of "Brown Skin Girl". Maybe I just need to get over the discomfort and realise that most people will be aware of the concept of "slipping into a persona" for the duration of a song.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Allan Conn
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 06:12 PM

"what is your opinion of singing a song where the narrator is of a different race?"

Surely as long as one is treating songs from another culture with the respect they deserve then there is no problem? I think it is more about culture rather than race. I mean we wouldn't say to a black Scottish person that they shouldn't feel comfortable singing trad Scottish songs because they are a different race? Would we!

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 12:30 PM

I very occasionally sing Bill Broonzy's "Black, Brown And White" but, because I'm not Broonzy and have never felt the racial discrimination described in the song, I change the words. So, instead of me being the black narrator of the song and describing what happens to me in it, I recount what I've been told by the black narrator.

For example:

Original
I went down to the employment office,
Got a ticket and stood in line.
They was callin' everybody's number,
But they never did call mine.

My changed version
Bill went down to the employment office,
Got a ticket and stood in line.
He said, "They was callin' everybody's number,
But they never did call mine".

A subtle but important change for me. I can recount the experience without the pretense of being the narrator. Why do I sing the song? Because I like it and it makes a social point that's not dated.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: GUEST,Dave in Michigan
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 03:38 PM

Allan Conn wrote: "we wouldn't say to a black Scottish person that they shouldn't feel comfortable singing trad Scottish songs because they are a different race?"

[tongue in cheek] I think that we will have become truly enlightened when a black Scottish person can sing a trad Scottish song expressing centuries-old hatred for the English, and a black English person, hearing it, can be offended. That's true assimilation, on both sides. [removes tongue from cheek]

Standing back a few light-years from the specifics, I hope that human individuals learn to internally question any call to identify with a group; but I'm not holding my breath in expectation of this (disidentification) becoming fashionable any time soon.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 05:45 PM

Will Fly, that;'s a good idea- but how would you do something like that with a song like that version of "Brown Skin Girl"? It would be a bit difficult.

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 06:00 PM

When I have a woman-singing song, I often do much as Will did re Black Brown White ~~ instead of starting, e.g.

"I am a young girl and my fortune is bad,
I've always been courted by the wagoner's lad",

I render it as,

"There is a young girl and her fortune is bad;
She said 'I've always...".

...Can then continue with the song verbatim, having 'distanced' the narrator.

Not sure if that would work with Brown Skin Girl, but some such expedient could presumably be devised.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Singing a song in first person- racial issue
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 06:11 PM

OK, have just thought of something that *might* work: A verse beginning:
"There's a calypsonian from Port-of-Spain
And Lord Invader is his name".

Comments? Haven't made up the rest yet.