De Devil Went… Do Dixie

One of the local radio stations used to have an Independence poll aimed at identifying the greatest Bajan song of all time.

I have plenty of favourites of my own ranging from Endorse de Cou Cou by Dacosta Allamby, Burn Mr. Harding by Gabby; Mr. Bassman by the Opels and Juicy Miss Lucy by Ivory, to Thundah by Coalishun; Ultimate Party by Krosfyah; The Challenge by Lil’ Rick and In the Meantime by Square One. I even have a soft spot for Please Don’t Stop the Music by Rihanna. And are there better Christmas songs than Maisie by RPB or Gallon o’ Rum by that man DaCosta Allamby? There are also a few what I call neo-classics by Mr. Dale, and T.C. to name a few. And Arturo Tappin and Carole George's version of Light My Fire blows me away every single time I hear it!

The point is, I can’t possibly narrow my favourites down to one song and I defy anyone else to do so.

However, I believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that the most awesome verse in a Bajan song is the following (and anyone that knows me well, knows what’s coming):

Turn on the radio, to the morning show 

Every station, in de celebration 

Hold it right dey, leh dat one play 

Is Kadooment morning, local music playing 

Hilda what is that yuh wearing 

Short and cut just like a G-String 

If yuh wear dat, town block 

Yuh has best put on a frock 

Yuh say de frock does mek yuh hot 

Got yuh sweating like a pot 

Cause de music non-stop 

And De Devil pon top 

She can shake she bot bot 

Hilda come leh we rock 

Later tonight, everything will be alright

Chorus 

Today we gine do dixie‍  ‍

I come up to you baby  

You come up to me honey 

(Come up to me) 

And if I behind, pooch back 

Unless yuh frighten to do dat 

You come up to me honey 

(Come up to me) 

And if I should tumble down 

All dat in de fun 

Hold on and enjoy de celebration