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‘Here Comes The Judge’

sung by Tellison “Tello” Forde
composed by Tellison Forde

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“Here Comes The Judge”
Tellison “Tello” Forde
Provided with the expressed permission of the composer(s)

click here for lead sheet

LYRICS

Verse 1

The Steelpan have gotten increased attention
Pan Trinbago holds world’s first IPC,
Pioneers were proud of our invention,
I’ll show you it alludes to Deity!
Through innate wisdom of our Nation’s Father
Harness the name PAN-O-RA-MA for we
We tuning artform went, no standardize patent
Through dat the invention couldn’t make a cent (For the Culture!)
But for Panorama, showtime of we Culture,
We judges preserve Culture with criteria

Chorus

Sweet sound of steel we bring, (play them Pan we just celebrating)
Tonight is real jamming (Don’t judge we judges, no complaining)
Come leh we jump and sing, and celebrate we thing,
Let’s gih dem everything!
(Rhythm, Jam, Excitement they getting)

Verse 2

One scholar have suggested foreign Tuning
In search of different tonal quality,
disregarding the natural law of nature
Temperature and Radiation Theory
No doctorate or PhD from U. W. I.
Only have basic Egyptology,
When Rah the Sun God shine
Rays on dem notes Devine
Tone change playing Wappie front and behind (shining brightly)
But for PAN-O-RA-MA, show time of we Culture,
We judges preserve Culture with criteria

Chorus
_________________

Verse 3

Rudy Piggott, George Bailey, Terrance Evelyn,
Depict from the Nile through the Savannah
My Invaders sister Geraldine Connor
First Queen to arrange for PANORAMA,
Rudolph, Beverly, Jit, “Smooth”, “Boogsie”, Bradley,
And Pelham shaped PAN-O-RA-MA history
Unto the Lord Kitchie revealed the mystery
Add some Rain to O-RA-MA Secrecy
(Hope you see now!!) note: {RAIN
O-RA-MA!}
But for PAN-O-RA-MA,
Showtime of we Culture
We judges preserve Culture with criteria.

Chorus
_________________

Bridge

O-RA-MA!
Drama in Savannah,
Big Party jump and get on ‘Wassi!’
O-RA-MA!
Big Jam in Savannah,
Big Party, jump and get on ‘Wassi!’

Verse 4

Ah big-time arranger ask my opinion
On foreign judges, for Panorama
He told me a few of them are in favor
But not arranging tunes from foreigner
I found the conversation real amusing
Its direction, and his mentality
So then I had to say, come up for Labor Day
Bring your foreign tune jam on the Parkway, (or we J‘Ouvert)
When you go back down dey hope you enjoyed your stay
Dem Judges down dey eh going no way

Chorus

Visit When Steel Talks

Tellison ‘Tello’ Forde is the son of an “Invader” - Cecil “Coye” Forde - and Beryl Isaac. He was born at 67 Rosalino Street in Woodbrook, Trinidad, adjacent to the pan yard of Invaders Steel Orchestra.

That “Tello” was the son of an Invader was proven when Invaders performed at his christening. Father Cecil took the Steeldrum throughout Russia, and was one of the first to introduce Pan in Spain and Morocco in North Africa. Young Tellison followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a member of Invaders Steel Orchestra, and also played tenor pan in New York’s Moods Pan Groove, Pan Rebels and Bramblers USA.

“Tello” enlisted in the US Navy from November 1972 to December 1984, during which time he had the good fortune to serve under the late Commander W.W. Pippenger aboard the USS Brumby DE 1044 which arrived in Chaguaramas, Trinidad in November 1975.

Tellison returned to dedicated service with Sealift Command Department of the Navy for 13 years, always keeping his tenor pan at hand.

He is well known within the steelband community for compositions such as I Is On Rock of Laventi, Prophet of Pan and Coye: Pan Religion, among others. For 2016 “Tello” is back with Here Comes The Judge featured here.