Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring Lion)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring Lion)
From: GUEST,Azizi
Date: 04 Jan 13 - 01:31 PM

Greetings!

Here's a link to a post that I just published on my cultural blog:

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/roaring-lion-jail-them-sound-file-lyrics.html

That post includes a sound file of Roarin Lion's song "Jail Them" (the hyperlink to that song that was previously given in this Mudcat thread is no longer valid.)

I included a hyperlink to this thread in my post and combined the transcriptions given by GUEST,jail them for sure and GUEST,Alexander D Great and I thanked them for their transcription of this early Calypso song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring Lion)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 13 - 06:31 AM

just heard this for the firsdt time yesterday .wonderfull. does anyone have the cords for guitar? [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring L
From: GUEST,jail them for sure
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 10:08 PM

Here is the hyperlink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQbCpdwdsqY

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring L
From: GUEST,jail them for sure
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 10:06 PM

Thanks for the corrections, Alexander !
Its been a long time since I heard that song and is now part of nostalgia. Never knew the local lingo hence kind of made up those quoted words.
BTW, here is the song on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQbCpdwdsqY

Enjoy !

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jail Them (Rafael de Leon / Roaring Lion)
From: GUEST,Alexander D Great
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 11:01 AM

Hello everyone,I just want to clarify a few things about these lyrics.
With Guest's permisson I shall refer to their posting on 12th July of the lyrics and make the following adjustments.

Line 8 "Boller" is, in fact, "bobol", which is a common word for corruption in trinidad.

Line 17 is "shadow bengy" , line 18 is "timawi", line 19 is "kuzay maho", all types of herbs used in cooking.

Line 20 is "the damn bush is growing right in front your door.

Alex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: GUEST,jail them for sure
Date: 12 Jul 09 - 11:01 PM

My take on the lyrics:
Jail them (or 'dem'), before it's too late
Jail all these back market reprobates
Murder, John public can't buy
Raising the price of foodstuffs too high.

Day after day there's a hue and cry,
They can't buy food at prices too high,
Black market is rampant through rank and file,
The boller(?) profiteering is no this time

No use to lament comment nor wail,
From Ceasar to Ceasar to no avail,
There's every where to be seen,
The law is being contravened,
So the police should intervene-ah

Jail them...

Bush doctors are doing a raging trade,
The charge for their bushes they are not afraid,
Sixty cents for a piece of 'shadow penny'(?)
A dollar for a twig of 'keema weed'(?)
Ninety cents for the lease of 'huzay-ma-ho'(?)
The janbush(?) is going on in front your door
There's every where to be seen,
The law is being contravened,
So the police should intervene-ah

Jail them...


Love the song :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Oct 02 - 12:13 AM

Here's my partial transcription from a sound sample at CDNOW:

JAIL THEM
(Rafael de Leon a.k.a. Roaring Lion)

...this time.

No use to lament. Comment (or "commit"?) no ill.
From Caesar to Caesar to no avail,
It's everywhere to be seen,
The law has been contravened,
So the police should intervene.

Jail them before it's too late.
Jail all these black-market reprobates.
Murder! John Public can't buy.
They're raising the price of foodstuff too high.

I said to jail them before it's too late.
Jail all...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 08:02 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Giac
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 09:09 AM

Found this at www.icerecords.com:

Roaring Lion Viva Le King #951002 CD, vinyl, tape

Tracks include, Papa Chunks, Jail Dem, Shango, Woopsin, Man Centipede, Ugly Woman, Out De Fire, All Women Are Beautiful, The Highway Code, Wash Your Hands, Song of Peace.

Notice that the song here is called Jail Dem, which might be why a search for "Jail Them" is not productive.

Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Giac
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 08:32 AM

Haven't found lyrics yet, but here is a really good interview with The Roaring Lion:

Clicky

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Gentleman Jim
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 07:37 AM

I seem to have hit a dead end, Pene - in more ways than one, as Roaring Lion sadly died recently. Though his opus is being exhumed and edited by Eddy Grant, it might be a while before it hits the shops.

Any more suggestions as to where I might look?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 10:01 PM

This page (click) contains this fragment (probably less accurate than yours):

Jail them before it's too late,
jail all these black market reprobates.
Mudder, John public can't buy,
they raisin the price of booze up too high.

Probably not much help, but it's all I can find so far.

PA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Jail Them'
From: Gentleman Jim
Date: 03 Jul 00 - 08:15 AM

After a welcome weekend I'm refreshed, and so is this message! Any willing helpers out there?

Cheers

Gentleman Jim

Subject: 'Jail Them' Calypso
From: Gentleman Jim
Date: 30 Jun 00 - 10:03 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics for the above number by the late, great Roaring Lion? Here's a reminder of the chorus:

I said to Jail them
Before it's too late
Jail all these black market reprobates
Murder! - John Public can't buy
They're raising the price of booze up too high

...Although "booze up" could be "foodstuffs", which just goes to show my uncertainty!

Any help warmly appreciated.