Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides information about Singing Francine and showcases a YouTube video of Singing Francine singing a version of her song "Runaway".
I've included my partial transcription of this song from the embedded video. Please add to and correct this transcription.
Additional lyrics for that song from a pdf file for what appears to be another version of Singing Francine's song "Runaway" are also included in this post.
Thanks to Singing Francine for her musical and social activism legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this post on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT SINGING FRANCINE
Excerpt #1:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgFAO6oAsUI&t=3s [summary of another video of Singing Francine performing "Runaway"]
published by CARIBBEAN INSIGHT TV , Mar 24, 2017
"FRANCINE EDWARDS Known in the calypso arena as “ Singing Francine” is a woman who has changed the dynamics of calypso. Born in Barbados and migrated to Trinidad in the late 1950's joined the calypso clique and became a backup vocalist for Kitchener and sparrow. She was crowned Calypso Queen in 1972, 1973, 1974 with hits like “ Mass in the Savannah”, “Happiness”, “Runaway” and “Carnival Fever”. She has one of the sweetest voices in the calypso arenas and is as versatile with her music."
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Excerpt #2
From https://newsday.co.tt/2017/12/21/dont-forget-singing-francine/ Keith Anderson via e-mail Thursday 21 December 2017 Newsday "Don’t forget Singing Francine"
"Many of our cultural heroes are in life’s departure lounge. Some have gone to graveyards unheralded. As a true blue “Culture Man” I have been shouting from the rooftop that there is need to honour them while they are alive.
I could list calypso veterans and other cultural heroes, worthy of honour, who have enriched our lives through their contributions in their various fields.
I am overjoyed with all the accolades the 77-year-old “young girl” Calypso Rose (Mc Arthur Sandy Lewis) is receiving, including the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT). Her six decades of contribution to calypso is a tribute to her longevity.
Rose and Francine (Francine Edwards) kicked down the doors of prejudice, spite, discrimination and labels, not worthy of mention, that blocked the path of women in calypso.
Calypso Rose is a well-loved artiste, who has done this country proudly, locally, regionally and internationally. As a young man, I had the honour of meeting Rose, and found her warm and friendly.
However, while we celebrate Calypso Rose, the Government, the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and the National Carnival Commission (NCC) must focus on honouring calypso veteran Singing Francine (Francine Edwards) in a big way. Next year’s Dimanche Gras show is a wonderful way to start! “Mr Dollar Wine” Colin Lucas, are you listening?
Francine, like Rose, has contributed heavily to the development of calypso, and the liberation of women in calypso paving the way for Calypso Princess, Singing Dianne, Denyse Plummer. Singing Sandra, Drupatie Ramgoonai, Singing Sonia, Sanelle Dempster, the late Beulah Bobb, Marvellous Marva, Tigress and others.
I say give Singing Francine the recognition she deserves. Roll out the red carpet! I am sure calypso lovers will agree."
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1994: SINGING FRANCINE "Run away"
Gentle Benjamin, Jan 21, 2012
7-23-94 - EVERYBODY'S MAGAZINE "World Calypso Monarch Competition" @ BROOKLYN COLLEGE, BROOKLYN NY
-snip-
Unfortunately, there are only a few comments on that video's discussion thread. Here's one of those comments:
Brian Browne, 2020
"The calypsonian as social commentator supreme! Sad but still so relevant today...Thank you Francine!"
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LYRICS: RUNAWAY*
(Singing Francine)
[Introduction to this video-.01-.040]
Every two seconds there is abuse, abuse of spouse.
Battered housewives in the streets and in the home.
I have one solution and it’s the only solution:
If you can’t agree, agree to disagree.
Otherwise, they will read on the tombstone:
Return if possible.
The name of my song is entitled “Runaway!”
One, two, one two, one two three four
[Song begins around .041]
You wait for you put a ring on she hand.
?? she man
She said she love she bursting with joy
She give you a baby boy.
Little did she know you wanted a maid
The next lady ? could make the grade
Now she sat up and wondering what to do
How to get away. How to get away.
How to get away from you.
Doggies run away
Horses run away
Jack rabbits run away
Know that you can run away too.
Get out!
Run!
You went out and you put those teeth in she mouth
????
You makin she shame all over the place
My you are a dark disgrace.
Not even the judge know she cannot go.
She beg for the love she said that you know
She tryin like ?__ to make up a plan
How to get away.
How to get away
How to get away from you.
Doggies run away
Horses run away
Jack rabbits run away
???
Get out
From there
and don’t go back.
Run!
???
???
they say it ____ wife
than getting abused the rest of your life
When company comes
You have to smile
And pretend that he so nice.
????
????
It’s not all in your head
woman, run away
Woman, run away
Run before he kill you dead.
Run! Run!
Doggies run away
Horses run away
Jack rabbits run away
???
Doggies run away
Horses run away
Jack rabbits run away
What about you?
Woman, you can run away.
You too.
Get out!
[Francine speaking] Now this verse
This verse that coming up
Is for all the men
All the men that’s listening to me,
Now men, listen!
If you know you don’t treat your woman nice
Start checking out now, you take my advice
You think that you know the truth
that woman never run from you
No, no, no no.
Just tell your lady that she sweet
Hold the lady hand when she cross the street
Just do as I say
Handle she with care
So she don’t run away.
She would never run away.
She would never run away.
Doggies run away
Horses run away
Jack rabbits run away
???
She will get out
She runnnnnnn!
????
-snip-
This is my attempt at transcribing the words that Singing Francine said & sung in the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post. Please improve this transcription with additions and corrections. Thanks in advance.
-snip-
Here's an excerpt of lyrics [from another version of Singing Francine's song "Runaway"?] that were included in this pdf file:EXCERPT FROM PDF
http://genderlinks.org.za/wp-content/uploads/imported/articles/attachments/historical_culture_of_gender_hetersexual_violence_maude_dikobe.pdf "Historical Culture of Gender and Hetero/Sexual Violence in Calypso in Trinidad: Treat ‘Em Rough" By Maude Dikobe [in] GENDER & MEDIA DIVERSITY JOURNAL [page 117-125]* (no date given]
"If she bring she friends to visit the house
You insulting she you calling them louse
If she talk to Greg you say she with he
Like she is a slot puppy
Morning noon and night you blowing she mind
You binging she old, old before she time
Seven years you living in misery
Woman runaway, woman, runaway, woman run away
from he"
--“Runaway,” Singing Francine
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/01/excerpt-from-pdf-entitled-historical.html for the pancocojams post entitled Excerpt From The Pdf Entitled "Historical Culture of Gender and Hetero/Sexual Violence in Calypso in Trinidad: Treat ‘Em Rough"" which includes those partial lyrics.
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