King Ellie Matt chronicles the events of Wednesday 19th October 1983 when Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others were executed and replaced with Bernard Coard who was later on replaced with military Leader Hudson Austin. He speaks also to the Caribbean and UK's poor response and subsequent invasion by the US under then President the Old Ronald as he called him in the song. The names of major political players in the region like George Chambers and Eugenia Charles are mentioned as well
This song should be a mandatory listen for high school history students in the English speaking Caribbean.
Below are the words to the song. Copy and paste to better follow.
Grenada, Grenada, May God Bless you.
Wednesday 19th October, 1983, will go down as a bloody memory in Grenadian history,
Subsequently the Caribbean came in for a rude awakening, cause events in Grenada that day were shocking,
Listening to Radio free Grenada, I was dismayed and upset, to learn how your comrade leader and his diehards met their death,
By fellow party members who struggled for the same cause, but is like Judas came and wreaked havoc in your shores.
Oh Grenada my heart bleeds for you, the whole world mourn your troubles too,
Oh Grenada, may peace with you abide, the world is standing at your side.
But coup greets coup, everybody should understand, but there is no need for the wanton destruction of lives in your land.
So I pray for a swift return to democracy, unity, justice and of course prosperity,
And may your enemies reap their destruction and I pray God will watch over your nation.
Despotic Austin imposed day long curfew, forcing in servitude so many innocent people,
Inequitable confinement morning, noon, day and night, and who dare come on the street will be shot on sight,
Promiscuous killing and jailing of people is contrary to common sense, war in a lesser developed country can only bring indigence,
You have many homeless natives who have heard the battle cry, Bernard Couard your retribution will surely be high
Oh Grenada my heart bleeds for you, the whole world mourn your troubles too,
Oh Grenada, may peace with you abide, the world is standing at your side.
The sword of insularity shines for your spicy throats, just check the result of the commonwealth leaders vote,
Hats off to those who enfranchise you, be careful of those who want to use you,
Your transgressors will surely fail, for God is with you and you must prevail.
I eulogise the profound and decisive Eugenia, but I disdain the Falklands bully Margaret Thatcher,
After working your better years for Great Britain, they refused to join your rescue operation,
George Chambers you let down your helpless neighbour, I didn't expect no better from Guyana,
Luckily the old Ronald still believe in his gun play the Caribbean alone could not save your day
Oh Grenada,my heart bleeds for you, the whole world mourns your troubles too,
Oh Grenada,may peace with you abide, the world is standing at your side.
As say the exodus of Cubans and Russians must surely please your soul, well say thank you Regan and let them Yankees roll
For I beg to dissuade friendship of them superpowers, for they only go to wars in foreign waters
Why Russia and Cuba don't fight America in Moscow, Havana or California
21 окт 2024
