The Evolution of Pan -Henry Miller

[Henry Miller]

Tell me again and again

Brother help me understand

The evolution of the Steel Band

The stories told of days of old

Really fascinate me

So ah ask (may) granny

How sat me down and explained me,

she said 

It was Man better Man,

Pan better Pan

Band better Band

And Lord help you

If you touch the flag woman

And when we coming down Marie Square

With we bomb ringing in the air

 

You just had to be there to understand

Those golden years of pan

 

Tell me again and again

About the years of stigma

Long before pan get culture

And what about the "Bar Jon Era"

She explained to me de pan geography

And the confrontations

Between de rival steelbands

And the repercussions.

 

And then de bards of the land,

Those Lord and Mighty "Calypso-ions"

For "De Mach Gra" would have a new tune

And by Jouvert Morning

That's what we beating

And when we heading for the Grand Stand,

Man woman and child pushing dey pan

 

You just had to be there to understand,

Those golden years of pan.

 

Pan gone but panman stay

That is what they tell me

But they can't fool we

Because we know the history

Mama used to say

That come one day

You'll see Made in Japan

Or even Taiwan

Stamp on a stellpan

 

But doh matter how far I roam

Trinidad will always be home

And when ever ah hear ah sweet pan

It takes me right back to de island

I remember de big yards

  Big Boy - the men of steel

 And The holy fathers of bands 

Yes I was  there to see

And I understand

Those golden years of pan.

 

 

 

[Adrian Bartholomew]

Nicely done and it says it all

[Ayesha Mohammed]

Nice summary!

[Rudolph Walker]

Beautiful !!!