ARROW King of Soca
Image taken from Album Cover 'No Rules'
Some of the memories that resonate with me when it comes to Arrow pertain to my aunties (aunts). Right now, I have this urge to call my Dad as I recall the memories of his sisters coming home from London at Christmas time excited. They could not wait to go to Sturge Park in Montserrat to see Arrow perform. There would be lots of gold, black, red, green glittered blouses; high heel shoes and stockings, there would be men and women raw with excitement. Arrow would come on stage in the early hours of the morning to perform one or two songs. That irritated some, but even for them it was worth everything. I remember my maternal aunt who had a passion for the Arrow song “Man Must Live,” she always recited the lyrics as if they pertained to her own life.
As I grew older his works took a more personal interest. When I was studying abroad, in College, receiving the news about the volcano erupting, the song that resonated with me was “Ah Just can’t run away.” Particularly during those College years I would play the song and sang the lines “On the map you can’t hardly find it but it has always been my paradise,” to the tip of my voice as I found it hard to believe that most people I would meet never heard of Montserrat.
His work has brought a lot of recognition to Montserrat especially the song “Hot Hot Hot” it gave us as sense of ownership no matter where in the world we were. When he came to the Bahamas in the late Nineteen Nineties our friendship was born. I remember going to Clifford Park to watch him perform. It was ‘ram pack’ (filled) that night. I was always filled with pride about my island but that night it bore a deeper root.
From then I would go home and always visit him or from time to time I would get personal messages from him. I am grateful to my husband to have the insight to encourage me to purchase a copy of each of his compact disc (CD) and have him autographed them (they are not for sale). Montserrat, The Caribbean and the world over will forever celebrate
In the middle of the morning Rush Hour
By royal command he rests
His movements always legendary
He carries his island in his spirit
The sound track of our lives in a Stranger’s Paradise
The Groove Master made many loose control
Flamboyant magnetic appeal on stage we can see
The world turns with his borrowed energy
Like a torch lit flame, memories blaze
With mix match dance and cadence
Now his music is louder and sweeter
The explosion blend of soca , meringue, rap, salsa
The Art of his natural instinct – songs with social commentary dance
He thrived with passion, tempo, and kindness
Roll Back – Sweet Beat – Breakdown
No volcano can erase his classical incantation
Lava flow pales in comparison
The rest of the world mourns
He was our own
As we Montserratians Hold on to our property
He left us a rich legacy
-
Poem Written by Brenda L. McCartney
Recent Comments