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‘Big Mama’

sung by K V Charles
composed by Michael Gabriel

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“Big Mama”
K V Charles
Provided with the expressed permission of the composer(s)

click here for lead sheet

LYRICS

Verse 1

Last year for Panorama
Ah meet up with dis Big Mama
She say, “Come in de band
Rasta man, leh we jam
I can't help dancing to dis sweet pan”
De rhythm section was pumping
If you see this gyal how she jumping
Sounds from de band rising up through de air
Dis woman wining like she doh care

Chorus

She say “Come on and jump up with me
Come on and shake yuh body
This year for Panorama
Yuh Jammin’ wit a Big Mama
Come over here my honey
Doh worry ‘bout nobody
Ah doh have no man in dis band
Ah hope yuh do have no woman”
She jumping, she bumping, she whaling, whaling, whaling

Verse 2

She say she from Puerto Rico
And she like to dance to calypso
Jus den a tenor pan started ringing out a melody
Big Mama grab meh by meh hand, an pull meh close to she
I in meh glee wit amazement
See we wining down on de pavement
Hand on she head backing back on de Dread
Ah hold on tight because I en scared

Chorus

_________________

Verse 3

De next week was big fete with Army
Well guess who wining in front me
Music was blazing - de place in a rave
Soca artiste rocking de stage
She say she come down Trini to join the festival
And she really want to play mas for Carnival
I ask she “Which band?” When I hear wey she say
Ah went an grab a costume next day

Chorus

_________________

Outtro

Jump jump jump
She want me to jam jam jam
She want me to wine wine wine
She want me to wave and wave and wave and wave
Jump jump jump
She want me to jam jam jam
She want me to wine wine wine
She want me to wave and wave and wave and wave
(REPEAT)

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KV Charles

“When I was seven, my mother took me to the Belmont Community Center in Trinidad for an event Belmont 5th Dimension Steel Orchestra was playing.

“It was right there and then I fell in love with “Pan.”

“I guess the look on my face compelled one of the players to come over to me and ask, “Yuh like PAN?” (They called him “Gorilla”). I was scared but said “Yes.” He then asked, “Yuh want to play?” I said “Yes!!” Then he said, “Tell yuh Mudda tuh bring you in de Panyard.” I looked up at my Mom and she gave me the nod of approval. I played my first Panorama in 1974 at 7 ½ years old (Shadow’s “Bass Man”) and continued to play with the band until the age of 13.”

“In 1980, I started playing with Casablanca Steel Orchestra and joined their ‘Stage Side.’ Around the Panorama season, I would also play with other bands (up to eight at a time) just for the pure joy of absorbing beautiful music.

“Pan has become life for Michael Gabriel. He toured Europe and North America with Casablanca, relocating to the USA in 1987. To date, the versatile Michael Gabriel is a composer, panist, producer, educator, pan tuner and vocalist.

“He goes back home to Trinidad and Tobago annually, playing with Phase II Pan Groove for Panorama. In 2015, Gabriel was named Vice President of Casablanca Steel Orchestra and plans on arranging for Panorama 2016.”

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