THIS..track is MY favorite diss track ever... If you can even call it that...No names are called. The Guilty Know who they are. My Favorite line is...

I am distinguishably deeper as opposed to the paper-thin

David Rudder is a Prophet. An Oracle. Madman Chant was written in 1996. FOURTEEN years ago!
It's as if he took a future snap shot with this song. After I get over the "Prophecy" of the lyrics I can pay attention to the obvious mastery of subtlety that is Charlie's Roots playing this song.

They do not over power the Instrument that is David's Voice but supplement it so well, so brilliantly.

I love Rudder because although his message is of the world....he speaks ALWAYS in the vernacular of Trinidad - always creating a a visual thats distinctly ours - so we KNOW he's speaking to us...OF us.

Who else would understand "A bullet start to wine and put an end to they joy??"

I want to take out a newspaper ad in Trinidad with just the lyrics of this song.

I miss him. I feel like we've disappointed him. His own people....have disappointed him by not giving him more...by not making him greater...and he's left us so we don't have to face that shame when we see him.

We didn't deserve him.

Vote for we and we will set you free!
Anywhere you turn somebody chanting to we
Somebody promising jobs for all
Some renting gun to make other people bawl
But somebody promising more police car
Somebody going to take de country far
Somebody putting all de bandits away
We say, "If dey do the crime, dey going to damn well pay!"
But somebody promising human rights
While somebody threatening to put out yuh lights
The mortuary full with little Trinidad boys
A bullet start to wine and put an end to their joy
Now dey lying tall fuh dey Mama to mourn
Dey Nike gone, dey gold teeth gone
You see dey, dey want dey pocket full with blue, blue silk
Dey want dey statue drinking full cream milk
The little red silk is not dey true friend
De blue one had two extra nought on de end
So ah tag on dey toe is now dey ticket to hell
But look where we reach, well, well, well, well, well, well.

Ah hear a madman bawl as he spread out on a wall
He say, "Dis is it, dis is it, dis is it, I’ve been hit!
No time to give up brother, no time to quit!"
Was the chant of a madman, in this tale from a strange land
Give me the chant of de madman. It’s the only salvation
Ah say de chant of a madman, in this tale from a strange land
Give me the chant of the madman, Lord, is de only salvation.

Anywhere yuh turn somebody chanting to we
Vote for we and we go set you free
Somebody promising natural law
Die like a yogi, end all de war
Seek inner peace, end all de pain
De same woman promising to go down again
Somebody promising to run all de bread
Somebody pushing a world class head
Somebody clean out de weed well fast
But somebody letting de cocaine pass
Somebody promise to abolish de tax
Somebody promise to gih we de facts
Somebody promise to clean up de land
But in this clean land, rat still killin man
We bright little youths going to waste
Somebody dinge the smile on dey face
Somebody take “One Love” off de shelf
Den de One Love boys start to sell out dey self
Somebody going to end all dis talk about race
But dey cyah tell me dat with a straight, straight face
Big, big men dying, de crime cyah solve
A madman rant is mih only resolve
Ah hear de madman bawl
As he lie on a wall.
He say, "Dis is it, dis is it, dis is it, I’ve been hit!
But no time to give up, brother, no time to quit!"

A chant of a madman in this tale from a strange land
It was a chant of a madman, in dis tale from a strange land
Give me de chant of de madman. Is de only salvation.

Press Play

I get Homesick..often

In spite of the horror stories I read and hear about in Trinidad..

because as always Being home is a colored memory for me that may not always tie into the REALITY

I rely on my bloggers living in Trinidad to reconcile the Rose Colored Memory with the TRUTH of life at home..

But still i know in part that I live in illusion...

But some days I almost cry,

There is vice and evil everywhere..

Why not be in a place that requires no explanation of my needs and loves,

Of what is innate to me..?

That i can find joy in Just hearing a voice speak in a tone or say a phrase that can make my spirit warm ...?

Still some days I cry...

I miss the sounds of rain...

Somehow its different at home

I miss the smell of a temporarily clean world after the rain..

I love to hear men call out to each other in passing..

and unlike the sisters that Live there now..

I miss the little hail up from a random man in the street...

In our trini cadence...

"Ey Sweetness...."

[they might not be saying that now]

But Rudder Helps...in particular today

Song for a Lonely Soul...[how apropos]

Song For a Lonely Soul

Soca music take me back to my island [x 4]

Oh how I long for island breezes and to see..

My woman roll like a steel drum solo ringing through a calypso night

Don’t get me wrong, this big city really made a man of me

But a concrete jungle drum can’t play no calypso

No no no

Soca music take me back to my island.

A mind excursion it can take me

To a far off country road

Sticky mango juice, running down my naked chest

And sturdy people who can still smile a mile into their pain

Put their shoulders to the wheel

And their Gods will do the rest

And in the end, they will pass the test

Soca music take me back to my island.

Trinity mountains, Trinity mountains calling me home

Making me high, calling me home, making me high

Sing a soca melody, you can sing it and be free

Sing a happy soca melody my friend, sing a soca melody

You can sing it and be free

And in this freedom, there will be no end

Soca music take me back to my island.

In particular for me...

growing up in Tobago, Signal Hill Alumni Choir was a pride and joy

To hear them sing , all genres, was a pore raising, awe inspiring , pride inducing thing.

My Mom worked with them when I was growing up...so I got to see the inner workings of the choir. Rehearsal was a treat..I would sit on the floor of the stage while they surrounded the piano..and John Arnold the director then would piece together the Complex melodies..and then the MOVES! Perfect! 

I was lucky to perform with them , either in joint productions with my steelband, or with the dance company [Children's Academy of Dance...now TAPA and the now defunct NDTC] or representing Tobago in the Inter Island Cultural Shows..[haha..i remember dancing in a number, changing to play pan, and then changing back to go dance again..anyways ah Rambling..lol...follow the ramble]

The chorus behind Rudder is ALWAYS the Alumni Choir...regardless of who it really is..i think I heard them do this song once...it brought me to Tears..[I cry too damn much .maybe cause I'm Pisces..hahaha]. I see faces I know..and know me..And the music just seems Elevated here..

Anyways...Rudder
Ever Rudder..
More than Music and Melody..
Its like a Psalm..
Cooling to the senses..
He refers DIRECTLY to me..
Reverence to all the things that make MY Existence important and beautiful, My TRIN-BAGONIAN existence..
Thank you Rudder..
You restore me..


----------------
Now playing: David Rudder - Song for a Lonely Soul
via FoxyTunes

Lyrics:

Every now and then
I get a feeling
Like I’ve left something behind me
But I don’t know what it is yet

Like I tied a piece of string
Round my finger
And I hope this will remind me
Of the places I have been through

When I’m down, down, down
When I’m down, down, down

Every now and then
When I’m feeling lonely
I turn on my radio
Because I’m hoping that you’re out there

It seems so long ago
I would see your writing
On a postcard or a note
And your stories would excite me

When I was down, down, down
When I’m down, down, down

Wherever you stop along the way
I hope the wind blows you
Back into my life
At the end of the road

And if I’m only dreaming
Then won’t you tear the curtains down
And let the light back into this empty room?

Kissing in your room
Climbing out the window
Trying not to make a sound, but
With my first love on my mind
You see, we were never through

I never said I loved you
Even when we said goodbye
I never thought it was the last time

Down, down, down
And I’m down, down, down

Wherever you step along the way
I hope that the wind’ll blow you
Right back into my life
At the end of the road

Still, every now and then I hear a voice
Singing to me softly
Deep inside my head
And it sings till I fall asleep

If I’m only dreaming
Won’t someone tear the curtains down?
Tear the curtains down

Every now and then
I get a feeling
It’s like I’ve left something behind
But I don’t know what it is yet

Every now and then
When you’re feeling lonesome
Just sing this melody
And remember where you’re goin’

When you’re down, down, down
When you’re down, down, down
When you’re down, down, down
When you’re down, down, down
When you’re down, down, down, down
When you’re down, down, down, down, down
And I’m sayin’ oh, oh, oh

The Noisettes are in charge of my life this month. Constant repeat!!
Their Lead singer is a chocolate sister [yay!], a bass player and writer for the band. Her style is ecclectic and amazing. I love them.

Each song on their album "Wild Young Hearts" resonates with me. Its music I would share. The imagery is so amazing...and the melody completely captures the melancholy of the lyrics. This Is Poetry..floating on a melody. I'm Inspired. I love it.

Press play to listen....

Lyrics if you



JaZmine Sullivan
Fear

I'm scared to try cause I'm scared to fail
I'm scared to die cause I'm scared of hell
I'm scared to kiss scared to hug
I'm scared of sex cause I'm scared to touch

I'm scared to look cause I'm scared to see
I'm scared of you cause I'm scared of me
I'm scared to fly cause I'm scared to crash
I'm scared to move on so I live in the past

I'm scared to fight cause I'm scared to bleed
I'm scared of love cause I'm scared he'll leave
I'm scared of drugs I'm scared to drink
I'm scared to swim cause I'm scared to sink

I'm scared to learn cause I'm scared of truth
Don't wanna gain weight so I'm scared of food
I'm scared to think that the label dropped me
I'm scared to think of my album floppin

This may sound silly but it's true
So don't pretend it ain't you too
We all afraid of something here
Cause you ain't human with out fear

I'm scared to start cause I'm scared I'll quit
I'm scared that people won't like my shit
I'm scared of fame and paparatzi
Rumors startin and people watching

Scared to grow up cause I'm scared to grow old
Scared of the dark and being alone
I'm scared of war I'm scared of jail
Scared to share a secret cause I'm scared you'll tell

This may sound silly but it's true
So don't pretend it ain't you too
We all afraid of something here
Cause you ain't human with out fear

Press Play to Listen

Lyrics if you

[Chorus]
I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears [oh my]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair [that's right]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?
Why it don’t last? Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

[Verse]
Sorry if I sound so filled with gloom
You say you care and I know you do
But this is from my experience
And my conclusion only makes sense
Just cause I love u and u love me,
It doesn’t mean that that we’re meant to be,
I can climb mountains, swim cross the seas,
But the most frightening thing is you & me!

[Chorus]
I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears [oh my]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair [that's right]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?
Why it don’t last? Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

[Verse]
Most circumstances I know my fate
But in this love thing I don’t get the game
Why does it feel like those who give in,
They only wind up losing a friend?
Just cause I love u and u love me,
It doesn’t mean that that we’ll ever be,
Fly cross the ocean, sing for the Queen,
But the most frightening thing is you & me!

[Chorus]
I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears [oh my]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair [that's right]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?
Why it don’t last? Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

[Bridge]
I’m not sure no, I’m not sure
But if we never try we’ll never know
It’s better to have loved than not to love at all
But trying is worst than to stumble and fall
And if what we do?
I’d rather it be with you
Cause at least there will be
Sweet memories

[Chorus]
I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears [oh my]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
I’m not scared to perform at a sold out affair [that's right]
But I’m scared of [loving you]
Am I the only one who thinks an impossible task?
Why it don’t last? Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

for somebody else?? how the hell can you assume that this is what they're thinking? or Feeling..? How arrogant can I Possibly be??

Like i said...just write this up as Tangled In My Brain Series..


ONE.


The Roots - COMPLEXITY featuring Jill Scott
Press play to listen

Lyrics:

[Chorus: repeat 2X]
I've been wondering about the complexity
Of what we have it shouldn't be
More
Just can't see
More

You're physically in this, but how could we tell
If we was meant to be in bliss if you're not mentally as well?
This energy you're sending me is tricky as hell
Usually it's like a 50/50, we could take a L
Before we start things, at this point being apart brings
The feeling of somebody plucking at your heart strings
I know it probably shouldn't feel like this
But any other woman I see is in your likeness
It's from your cheekbones
Yo your lips, to your curves, to your deep moans
To that walk, to your words
You love feeling like a breakdown on the verge
First we on good terms, then you on my last nerves
Got my back just aching, my shoes is all tight
It's too complex when we choose to do it right
It's wrong, one minute you a soldier strong
Then you trying a route talking about it's over and gone

[Chorus]

When your boyfriend's in town, it's bound to be trouble, Love
His name Black, and he known to be a lover of
Getting it on with my smoker's jacket on
Eyes racing back and forth listening to Chaka Khan
Trying to figure the cause why you always acting off
like I'm slacking off
Maybe our signal's getting crossed
For the case Love, you feel like you making a waste of
Your precious time you need to get a taste of
Some space to breathe, a moment as friends
We should've felt ourselves slipping into it again
Cuz it's like off and on, on and off
Passion, lost and found, found and lost
Clashing, asking for nothing but understanding
Your hearts made of glass, use care when handling
Girl, all in all I never leave you stranded
Cuz my respect you commanded, you figure it out

[Chorus]

I used to come into the party and stand around
Cuz I was kinda too shy to really get down
I used to play the corner and watch the scene
Deep down knowing I wanted to find me a queen
And I could feel that in my stomach and up in my chest
Because I knew a lot of women, and some was fresh
But then I found you girl, and just like me
You had a heart that was yearning to be set free
Now listen, see you and me we need to take the time
To erase any doubt that's inside your mind
It's not a mountain that I'm ever too tired to climb
And who's counting, but I know at least a thousand times
I let you know I'm here for you, care for you, and confide in you
Break bread, share with you, and provide for you
And that's full time, it's no 9 to 5 with you
That's why I'm trying to work it out with you, it's gonna work