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Trinidad & Tobago Panorama 2018 - HOME
sung by “The Original De Fosto Himself”
composed by Winston Scarborough
Verse 1
Journey of
the veterans, boy, is not an easy
one
Choosing this profession –
Prepare till thy kingdom come
Those who gone before - they sang to
the last
It was no stopping, no - not until
you pass
But the sporting fraternity - was a
different call
You could be a billionaire - with a
bat and ball
Tiger Woods destroy the eighteenth
hole –
Usain Bolt mesmerize the world
But we have to sing Oh Lord –
Till we get old, old, old
Chorus 1
So hold on
Mighty Sparrow - hold on
Hold on Calypso Rose -
Hold on Lord Nelson - hold on
Most of we veterans gone already –
Some died in anguish and poverty
So hold on Black Stalin Hold on
Brother Superior and Composer - hold
on
Bill Trotman - Explainer and Bomber
–
Hold on, hear me
Hold on - hold on, hold on -
And
keep on jamming
Verse 2
Those who
died as true Calypsonians –
Sang the full cycle to the end
Farewell my brothers and sisters –
‘Til we meet again
It was kaiso wall to wall –
From Sunday to Sunday
Tents full, no room at all –
It was excitement all the way
Look Brian Lara made his millions
and retire
Dwight Yorke did the same –
Oh yes and he in order
Still Calypso fighting up to survive
–
The veterans struggling to stay
alive
Holding on in dey twilight zone –
Through all this pain and strife
Chorus 2
So hold on
Mighty Chalkdust - hold on
Crazy, Baron and All Rounder - hold
on
Relator, Bally and Poser - hold on
We have to hold on no time to stop –
We cannot afford to be giving up -
No
Hold on Contender - hold on
Brown Boy - Gypsy - Aloes and Pink
Panther - hold on
Cro Cro - Short Pants and Mudada –
Hold on - hear me
Hold on - hold on, hold on –
And keep on Jamming
Verse 3
We sacrifice
all these years –
As true Cultural Patriots
Held on to our Faith and Prayers –
Heaven knows we have done a lot
So hold on as long as you can –
Compensation is on the way
Better late than ever –
For we to have a brighter day
Even Lord Brigo say to hold on, and
Zandolee
Roaring Lion - Growling Tiger and
the Veterans’ family
Lord Kitchener say “Well this is
good news –
Melody wants a new pair of shoes”
To sing in this chorus - Blakie say
he can’t refuse
Chorus 3
So hold on
Brother Valentino - hold on
Shadow - Funny - Luta and Rio - hold
on
Singing Francine - Axe Back –
Bindley B and Baker - hold on
Calypso Kerr - Versatile - Twiggy -
Sandra –
Surpriser and Drupatee - Yes
Hold on Organizer, hold on
Dirty Curty - Johnny King –
Young Creole and Scrunter - hold on
If you haven’t heard your name –
Please forgive me and hold on, yes
_________________
Hold on -
hold on, hold on –
Lady Gypsy and Dr. Will B - hold on
Protector, Wanderer and Exposer -
hold on
Et al...
And keep on jamming
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“The Original De Fosto Himself”
Winston Scarborough is considered by many to be one of the all-time great composers of steelband ‘Panorama tunes.’
A performer artist himself, 2017 will mark the 39th year that Trinidad & Tobago’s Winston Scarborough (The Original De Fosto Himself - as he loves to be called) has been singing calypsos. For him it was an uphill struggle to be recognized by the fraternity and public at large.
Abandoned by both his parents at the young age of 6 months, Scarborough was sent to the Tacarigua Orphanage in east Trinidad where he remained until age 17. The experience in the orphanage would place an indelible stamp on him.
One of the most important aspects of De Fosto’s work as a calypsonian is the tributes he has paid in song to many of Trinidad & Tobago’s cultural icons; the late Lord Kitchener (calypsonian Aldwyn Roberts) would be one such with whom people are most familiar.
The last several years continued to be fruitful for The Original De Fosto Himself, with the release of such hits as “Smooth Sailing;” “A Raging Storm;” “In She Rainorama;” In De Minor, “Boogsie Sharpe” and Champions.
For the 2018 steelband Panorama season “De Fosto” is performing his composition Journey Of The Veterans, in the spotlight here.
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