Lyr Req: Roosevelt in Trinidad

Subject: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Will Bakker
Date: 30 Mar 99 - 08:59 AM

There's a song about the visit of Roosevelt to Trinidad. When Roosevelt came to the land of the hummingbird... I couldn't find it in the database. Who knows the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From:
Date: 01 Apr 99 - 12:27 PM

I heard it on a Ry Cooder album. Some of the lyrics are: "When Roosevelt came to the land of the hummingbird, shouts of welcome were heard (2x). His visit to the 'rhymeland' is bound to be an epoc in local history, [? marking a new era...?]...You know everybody was glad to [see?] Roosevelt in Trinidad..." When I get home from this trip to Oregon I'll try to find the album and get the rest of the lyrics, if no one else has filled 'em in by then.

Mark

Subject: RE: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Bsondahl
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 12:48 AM

We understand that the president had just been on a visit to Brazos in the Argentine, Mr. Cordell Hall and his attendants, Decided to attend a peace conference. To stop war and atrocity, Make the world safe for democracy, The greatest event in history, In the interest of suffering humanity.

We were touched by his modest style, Were impressed by the great Roosevelt smile, Definitely marking a new era, Keeping Trinidad in America

That's the fragments I can remember

Subject: RE: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Night Owl
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 01:22 AM

Wondering if this may have been one of the political songs written by Sparrow from ?? in the West Indies?

Subject: Lyr Add: F.D.R. IN TRINIDAD (from Ry Cooder)
From: dwditty
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 06:25 AM

F.D.R. IN TRINIDAD (As on Ry Cooder's "Into the Purple Valley")

When Roosevelt came to the land of the hummingbird,
Shouts of welcome were heard.
When Roosevelt came to the land of the hummingbird,
Shouts of welcome were heard.
His visit to their island is bound to be
An epoch in local history,
Definitely marking a new era,
Keeping Trinidad in America.

For this great man jubilation
Was evinced by the entire population.
Friendship for the USA was shown
And from his house the Stars and the Stripes were flown,
For the state threw open the gates
To the President of these United States.
In fact, everybody was glad
To welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad.

We are privileged to see the democratic
President of the great republic
With his charming and genial personality
And his wonderful urbanity.
We were struck by his modest style
And was intrigued by the famous Roosevelt smile.
No wonder everybody was glad
To welcome Roosevelt to Trinidad.

Now we understand that the President had just been
On a visit to Brazil and the Argentine,
Mr. Cordell Hull in attendance.
They took part in a peace conference
To stop war and atrocity
And make the world safe for democracy,
The greatest event in the century
In the interest of suffering humanity.


This is always a big hit during perfomances.

DW

Subject: RE: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Will Bakker
Date: 03 Apr 99 - 08:31 AM

tHank you dwditty and bsondahl, this seems complete to me!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 12:37 PM

ROOSEVELT IN TRINIDAD (note title) was originally recorded by Attila (a.k.a. Attila the Hun), 17-Feb-1937. It was released as a 78-rpm record, Decca (American) 17302B. It is also on "Calypso: Best of Trinidad, 1912-1952."

I have listened to both Ry Cooder's version (shown above) and the original on Spotify, and I have spotted a couple of important differences.

Verse 1, line 8: Between Trinidad and America.*

Verse 2, line 5: Port of Spain threw open her gates**

* Cooder's version "Keeping Trinidad in America" seems to imply that Trinidad was then part of, or a possession of, the United States. It never was. It was a British possession at the time the song was written, and, as part of Trinidad and Tobago, is now independent.

** Port of Spain is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago. Cities have gates (either literally or figuratively); countries, and especially islands, do not.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Roosevelt in Trinidad
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 13 - 02:03 PM

Jim Dixon is correct in the lines he gives by Atilla (Raymond Quevedo).
Add one more:

Verse 3, last line:
At the great honour shown Trinidad.

From the article, "The Golden Age of Calypso," www.mustrad.org.uk