Brother Marvin: Jahaji Bhai

Brother Marvin sjunger Jahaji Bhai (Brotherhood of the Boat) på den gigantiska scenen vid Queen´s Park Savannah i Trinidad & Tobagos huvudstad Port of Spain. Inspelningen är gjord under finalen i Calypso Monarch-tävlingen 1996 då Brother Marvin kom på andra plats med denna sång som blivit något av en klassiker.

Jahaji Bhai (Brotherhood of the Boat)

Kumayah Zindawey Ayayo

I am the seed of mih father
He is the seed of mih grandfather
Who is the seed of Bahut Ajah [great grandfather]
He came from Calcutta
A stick and a bag on he shoulder
He turban and he kapra
So I am part seed of India, India.

Chorus:
The indentureship and the slavery
Bind together two races in unity [Achcha dosti - good friend]
There was no more Mother Africa
No more Mother India, just Mother Trini [Jananbhoomi]
My Bahut Ajah planted sugarcane
Down in the Caroni plain
Ramlogan, Basdeo, Prakash and I, Jahaji Bhai
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai

I would be ah disgrace to Allah
If I choose race, creed or colour
Bahut Ajah had to make that journey
For I to have Zindagee [life]
So it is ah great privilege
To have such unique heritage
Fifty percent Africa, fifty percent India, India
I have "do chuttee" [two holidays]
Emancipation and Arrival Day [Aant bhala so bhala]
Since Fatel Rozack made the journey
150 years gone already [Bahut achcha -very good]
Whether you're Hindu, Muslim or Christian
Let's walk this land hand in hand
We could only prosper if we try a Jahaji Bhai
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai

Kumayah Zindawey Ayayo
O mera dost mera saathi [o my friend, my companion]
Chal tahalna ek matt [let's stroll together]
Agal bagal.... [side by side]

For those who playing ignorant
Talking 'bout true African descendant
If yuh want to know de truth
Take ah trip back to yuh roots
And somewhere on that journey
Yuh go see ah man in a dhoti
Saying he prayers in front of a jhandi, jhandi

Chorus:
Then and only then you'll understand
What is ah cosmopolitan nation [Haat melawo - let's join hands]
There's no room for prejudice at all
United we stand, divided we'll fall [Bete baat ko garro - child, pay heed to what I'm saying]
So to all races here in Trinbago
Aapko kalyan ho dhaniaho [may you be blessed, may you prosper]
Let us live as one under the sky, Jahaji Bhai,
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai
Brotherhood of the boat, Jahaji Bhai

Kumayah Zindawey Ayayo
O mera dost mera saathi [o my friend, my companion]
Chal tahalna ek matt [let's stroll together]
Agal bagal.... [side by side]



Albumversionen av Jahaji Bhai (Brotherhood of the Boat)