‘This Bass Stick’

sung by Anthony Johnson
composed by William Bannister aka “Dr. WillB”

arranged & produced by Pelham Goddard

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“This Bass Stick”
Anthony Johnson

Provided with the expressed permission of the composer(s)

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Click here for lead sheet

LYRICS

Verse 1

Walking through savannah
On the morning after
We national panorama
As I cross the stands
Among some old cups and pans
This sponge ball
Drew my attention
As I bent over to pick it up
The sight blew my mind
When I realize
Among the disguise
Was a broken pan stick I find

Chorus 1

THIS bass stick, play so much sweet melody
This bass stick, had so much ah people happy
Played A to G
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Throughout the country
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Tune by Sparrow
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Kitchener and Maestro
This bass stick had yah like - yuh was on remote
Not for once did it ever play ah bad note
But as it sustain ah lil injury
Yuh drop it like it’s hot immediately
Throway, throway, drop it right dey
Throwway, throway, throway

Verse 2

Was it a foreigner?
Who played for panorama?
Male or female whatever de gender
Maybe they don’t understand
When it comes to the steelpan
It’s scared all throughout our land
Maybe in their haste to leave real quick
Right after the show
The stick fall out - without a doubt
And they really didn’t know

Chorus 2

THIS bass stick, play so much sweet melody
This bass stick, had so much ah people happy
Played A to G
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Throughout the country
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Tune by Fosto
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Rudder and Shadow
This bass stick had yah like, yuh was on remote
Not for once did it ever play ah bad note
But as it sustain ah lil injury
Yuh drop it like it’s hot - immediately
Throway, throway, drop it right dey
Throwway, throway, throway

Verse 3

If was Mr. Farrell
Shadow bassman from hell
Who found this stick, he’d cast ah spell
Whoever was that fella
Would ah suffer a seizure
A buss toe or a ruptured liver
And then he would understand
When it come to pan
Facing North or Grand
Just do what you can
But make sure yuh have stick in hand

Chorus 3

‘Cause THIS bass stick, play so much sweet melody
This bass stick, had so much ah people happy
Played A to G
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Throughout the country
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Tune from Scrunter
(tippy tippy timpy timpy tam tim tim tim)
Merchant and Super
This bass stick had yah like - you was on remote
Not for once did it ever play ah bad note
But as it sustain ah lil injury
Yuh drop it like it’s hot immediately
Throway, throway, drop it right dey
Throwway, throway, throway

Click for more songs for Steelband Panorama 2015

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Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson

William Bannister, better known as “Dr. WillB,” has been a patriarch of Trinidad & Tobago culture for the past 40 years. “Dr. WillB” was born May 29, 1951 to Sarah and Goldbourne Bannister. With his parents hailing from Tobago and Barbados respectively, “Dr. WillB” is a true Caribbean man who has Trinidad and Tobago culture deeply entrenched in him.

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“Dr. WillB” began dabbling in the arts in the 1970s with a number of carvings and sketches, later on further developing his talent with a course in screen printing. He then maintained his passion for design and art when he designed and released a line of screen printed and hand painted t-shirts and dress shirts in the late 80s and early 90s.

Continuing to hone his artistic skills, “Dr. WillB” changed his medium from clothing to canvas in 1995. Painting a series of culturally influenced pieces such as “Drumology” and “Engine Room” propelled him even further into the world of portrait painting. After this, he began a second series entitled the “Calypso Icons Series.” It included portraits of the Mighty Sparrow, the Lord Kitchener, Calypso Rose, The Lord Pretender, Valentino, The Mighty Shadow, The Mighty Duke, Lord Nelson, and The Mighty Bomber. His work is featured in several Trinidad & Tobago state organisations such as the Ministry of The Arts and Multiculturalism.

“Dr. WillB” has also been an avid Pan player and as a calypsonian, has performed with the Klassic Ruso calypso tent. Muster Point was his composition for the 2012 Panorama season, with People’s Choice being put out for that of 2013 and Bounce Meh Nah in 2014. “Dr. WillB” is back again—here as composer—in time for 2015 with the featured track, This Bass Stick.