SANTA ROSA, by Melan Garcia

SANTA ROSA, by Melan Garcia from Maximilian Forte on Vimeo.

Lyrics (by Melan Garcia):

The Caribs are a peaceful people

This is what we know.

And Arima is the home of Caribs

From many years ago

Long ago.

So look back and I am sure that you will agree with me

That somewhere in your family you have Carib ancestry

Sing me with, now...

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people from Arima.

Had it not been for the older folks

Then none of us would know

We wouldn't know...

Santa Rosa was found by three men

In that village called Pinto

In Pinto.

The three men were Raimundo, Punyan, and Puyon.

So now you see, my people, this is history put in song.

Sing along, with:

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people from Arima.

Yes, we learned too that the hunter went back

To where the Saint was found

And on that very spot they found her necklace and her crown

And her crown...

The crown was made with roses of colours real distinct

That is why we use the colours of red, yellow, white, and pink.

What you think was...

Santa Rosa

The feast that holds us all together.

Santa Rosa

Come sing you people of Arima.

***** ***** ***** *****

Filmed by Maximilian Forte in September, 2006, at the cannon on Calvary Hill in Arima. The filming was done in late afternoon just as the sun was setting, and the camera faces south, overlooking the centre of Arima.

Melan Garcia, a well known parrandero from Calvary Hill in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, in the past played with Los Tocadores and Rebuscar.

For many years he served as an Arima Borough Councillor, representing Calvary Hill, for the People's National Movement. He is also tied to the Carib Community and has Indigenous ancestry.

ARIMA WAS, by Melan Garcia

ARIMA WAS, by Melan Garcia from Maximilian Forte on Vimeo.

Lyrics (by Melan Garcia, originally transcribed by Guanaguanare)

In years gone by, this ent no lie

And I am sure you'll remember

Arima was a place with plenty water

We fertile soil, that and all spoil

We hardly getting good cassava

Quarries and farms polluting our rivers.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was. Woh oh ho

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

The Spanish came and settled here

Along with peons from Venezuela

Together they did big plantations for we

Then came the French and Africans

Who accepted parcels of land

You see, Arima was always cosmopolitan. Yes, man!

1797 British came, planted their flag and left their name

In 1806 we got some Chinese too

East Indians joined up in the fun

Followed closely by the Syrians

That's true, Arima was one big pot of callaloo.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was. Woh oh oh

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

Yes, Arima, this Easter star

Wallen bought a Dial and give her.

A gift you'll hardly find any other place

Them years ago was love for so,

But where the love gone, boy, I don't know

I think is since they open the Yankee base.

Oh, Arima, oh, Arima!

Like we heading for a disaster

I think is time we call upon The Master

Is endless crime, a waste of time!

Rape and robbery, even mass murder

Well, if it ent Sodom, well is Gomorrah.

Chorus:

So let us try and see

If we could make Arima just like it used to be

Don't mind, don't mind, we population more

But is we, the Arimians, to make it like before

We have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was, Woh oh oh

Yes, we have our duty to perform now because I'm sure

We'd like to see Arima just like Arima was.

***** ***** ***** *****

Filmed by Maximilian Forte in September, 2006, at the cannon on Calvary Hill in Arima. The filming was done in late afternoon just as the sun was setting, and the camera faces south, overlooking the centre of Arima.

***** ***** ***** *****

Melan Garcia, a well known parrandero from Calvary Hill in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, in the past played with Los Tocadores and Rebuscar. For many years he served as an Arima Borough Councillor, representing Calvary Hill, for the People's National Movement. He is also tied to the Carib Community and has Indigenous ancestry.