2020-FEB-07-2133Hrs
Godd to see the entry by the great Pearl Mulrain of Princes Town from my year group, '67-69. And I am glad she provided lyrics for "The Pudding Tumble down" because after all these decades I see the chorus in its fullness, with that wonderful last line "No proof in de eating" a thing of pure beauty, pure genius.
Pearl asks about our memories here, and I think that Agnes Howell also did "Mayfair Mansion", which was hilarious....."Mayfair mansion have a radio station"....this song readily understandable by all....made more so by her samples of some of the calls that came over the station in the dead of night....mayfair men pleading mournfully with their roommates, by name, to come home...the whole campus being privy to this....
Also from our year group in calypso was Gregory Byrne, brilliant scholar, came from Naparima, tenor in the choir, member of the College steelband, and mid-fielder/defender on the campus football team. Under the sobriquet "Scateback" a name he picked up in first-week,(as many of us did, some for life) he sang "Watchman Watchman!" in the competition in our second year, as runner-up to me.
This song, described an orange field encounter, not unlike what Finbar Ryan described recently.
I went to the orange field
I went to steal
But I was frightened, by Harrison
Alisford, and McBurnie
They all were there with mee-eeee
Chorus:
Nine-O'clock in the orange patch
(Refrain) Watchman! Watchman!
Ah heard (clicketyclick?) a torchlight flash
Watchman! Watchman!
This was a true tale, where Harrison Joseph, son of Principal Harry Joseph, who used used to lime with students, decided to frighten a group of Mayfair men as they foraged the orange field one night. Harrison pretended to be a watchman and appeared in the dark, and I think flashed a torchlight and might have said something...and the men hightailed it back to Mayfair.
In my view, if it were Haven men, we would have stood our ground.
I'm just saying that.
As to oranges, I think the award for the share volume moved from that field to a hostel after dark must go to Udho Rambharran (nickname Django) from Sunset Villa. His modus operandi was to be solitary. Yes, he went to the field alone, always, and could be seen crossing Fairhaven square on return, bareback, with a large crocus bag bulging with citrus produce. All for Villa men.
Scratchie (67-69).
Theodore Lewis 69
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