I just love the Calypsonian Mighty Sparrow. His use of funny double entendres, his amazing ability to rhyme and just the fact that his sometimes 60 year old music can still appeal to the younger generation, makes him, to me, the undisputed Calypso king.A lot of his songs are about funny sexual anecdotes, but there’s this particular song that albeit its funny delivery, has a very important message.

It’s an Aesop’s fable that has been brilliantly adapted to a song, and it’s the last verse that contains the very important moral of the story:

Well, the moral of the story is plain to see
Please yourself because you can’t please everybody
Don’t be ashamed when those newsmongers call you names
Stay on top the ass like a king
They go talk but you still riding.

Yes, we need to stop worrying about what others are going to think when we make decisions regarding our own life. Do what makes you feel satisfied and happy. It’s your life after all.

On this blog I have featured Calypso songs before here,.. and here but this particular one may be my all time favorite.

Lyrics provided by Guanaguanaresingsat, and corrected at certain parts.

OLD MAN AND THE DONKEY
By Mighty Sparrow

Well an old man, a lil’ boy and a donkey was in some difficulty
Going Tunapuna from Port of Spain where they just complete a bargain
Old and feeble, he decided to ride and had the little boy walking by he side
When he reach by Success Village, the crowd start shouting, “Advantage!”

Old may, hey, you old criminal!
Old man, you ain’t got no conscience at all!
Get off the jackass, with you too damn advantage ass!
You on top the ass like a king and the poor little boy walking!

Well, the old man ready to please everybody, right away, jump off the donkey
Lift up the boy, put him on the donkey and he start walking the journey
It made him feel good, although they criticize, he gave up his ride and let them satisfy
When he reach by Morvant junction they start calling him a stupid old man.

Old man, hey, you duttish old fool !
Old man, like you never went to school?
The little boy young, he should be on the ground,
But he on top the ass like a king
And an old man like you walking?!

Now the old man decide to please everybody, none of them must ride this donkey
So the next thing he do, he make the boy come down and both of them walking in the sun
Man, they soaking with beads of perspiration, all their ambition is to please everyone
When they reach the Croisee again, the whole of San Juan start to complain.

Old man, hey, ease the load off your feet!
Old man, you have a jackass to ride and beat!
Don’t hold the tail ———– you should be in jail
You behind the ass suffering and a bareback jackass walking!

They made a last try to please everybody, two of them climb on the donkey
But in Champs Fleurs they met some folks up there who found them very unfair
Ring the police now, somebody say, call the SPCA, don’t let them get away
—————- to make bacchanal, charge the old man cruelty to dumb animal.

Well the moral of the story is plain to see
Please yourself because you can’t please everybody
Don’t be ashamed when them newsmongers call you names
Stay on top the ass like a king
They go talk but you still riding.