The Tradewinds - Mr. Rooster (Caribbean sound file and lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases an example of and lyrics for The Tradewinds' song "Mr. Rooster". Information about The Tradewinds is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRADEWINDS
From http://www.ecaroh.com/profiles/tradewinds.htm
"Known for their witty and insightful songs of Caribbean life, the Tradewinds, formed in 1966, have become one of the most revered groups in the West Indies.
Led by the versatile Dave Martins (Guyana) with his guitar, vocal and composing ability, the group, like its name, reflects the span of the Caribbean. Tradewinds also includes Clive Rosteing (Trinidad) on drums and vocals, Jeff Japal (Grenada) on keyboards, Richard Terry (Cayman Islands) on bass and Harry Cupid (Barbados) on percussion and vocals.

Formed in Toronto in 1966 with immigrant musicians from the Caribbean (early members were Kelvin Ceballo, Joe Brown and Glen Sorzano, all of Trinidad, and in later years, Terry Dyal, also a Trinidadian) the band had been based in the Cayman Islands since 1982, continues to records and still makes occasional appearances playing their music to devoted followers in North American and the Eastern Caribbean"...

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From
"http://www.dtradewinds.com/about/
"From the beginning, the songwriting ability of Dave Martins would set Tradewinds apart from the many of the talented groups in the Caribbean. A naturally gifted writer, able to achieve the difficult task of writing in many forms (calypso, ballad, folk, pop), Dave Martins has caught the flavour of life in the Southern Caribbean in a unique way...

Moving to Canada gave me an appreciation for Caribbean life that I would not otherwise have had, and as a writer that awareness leaves me able to find song subjects that someone else might overlook. ‘Copycat’, for example, ‘West Indian Suitcase’, ‘Where Are Your Heroes’, ‘It’s Traditional’ — those songs could only come from someone who has lived in both cultures. On the other hand, Creations such as ‘You Can’t Get’, ‘Play De Ting’, ‘Not A Blade of Grass’, ‘Mr.Rooster’, etc., are rooted in the Guyana/Caribbean experience”....

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FEATURED EXAMPLE

Mr Rooster - The Tradewinds


bajanmusicfan•Published on Apr 28, 2013

Sweet Caribbean music from the 60's and 70's
-snip-
Here's a comment from that song file's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5HjXzp_CKo
copperlocks1, 2013
"Thank you!!!..I can die in peace..finally found this song from my childhood!!!..I always thought it was Neville Willoghby that sung this song....on a side note..we used to raise layer chickens..and occasionally put roosters to help supplement the layer feed in with them..they would be dead within 2 weeks from exhaustion..LOL!!"

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LYRICS: MR ROOSTER
(Dave Martins)

They had a man with sixteen chickens
All refuse to lay
So he went and buy a big red rooster
When the chickens see the rooster
They suddenly gone mad
If you see them chasin him
round and round the yard

Chorus:
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
Round and round the corner.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
He bawlin for order.
Run, Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co*.
Run, Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co
Run, Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run, Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.

Man, the rooster gallopin
He movin very fast.
Sixteen chickens really having to win.
Finally they corner him,
Refuse to let him pass.
He start up [sound effects]
If you hear him goin.

Chorus

And they trap the mister
And they started advancing.
We haven’t see that rooster
Since October.
Well, they treat you nice and bring you food
You’ll live just like a king.
The history books will call you
Chicken Cassanova.

If you see the rooster runnin
Sixteen sexy chickens chasin him
He bawlin for order.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasin him
Round and round the corner.
So run Mr. Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.

Six o clock next morning
Well they had a funeral.
Sixteen chickens cryin in the place.
Man, if you see the rooster
Like a prince of Madrigal,
Lyin in the coffin
With a smile upon his face.

If you see the rooster running
Sixteen sexy chickens chasing him
Round and round the corner.
If you see the rooster running
Sixteen chickens chasing him
He bawlin for murder.**
Run Mr Rooster,
Cokey oh co.
Run Mr Rooster
Get up and go.
Run Mr Rooster
Cokey oh co.
Run, Mr Rooster
Look out below.
Run, Mr. Rooster
Cokey oh co.

[song fades out]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from this recording. Additions and corrections are welcome.

*I'm not sure about this transcription. My guess is that "Cokey oh co" is something that people who raise chickens say to scatter them. However, I saw these lines given as "Run Mr Rooster Pokey fuh so" on the another viewer comment thread of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwqZfEwn5gU&list=PL152E5D454BF29FC3

** previously transcribed "he bawlin for order"
Corrected 4/24/2014- Thanks anonymous!

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Thanks to Dave Martins for his composing this song. Thanks also to The Tradwinds for their musical legacy. And thanks to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

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