Clear de Road
This type of song is called a "cariso". They were sung as a call-and-response among women, commemorating an historical even or used to spread news. This specific cariso is about the emancipation of 1848. Traditionally, one woman would sing the verse and the group would sing the chorus.
Clear de Road
Clear the Road
Freedom Song
Freedom Song
(Virgin Islands Creole English)
(English)
(Chorus)
Clear de road,
Ah'yo clear de road,
Clear de road, let de slave dem pass,
We a'go fo' a'we freedom.
Hardship in the marnin',
Sufferin' at night.
No one ever help us,
It is only Father Ryan.
Dey bring we here from Africa,
Das we barnin' land
Bring we ya in slavery,
In the land of Santa Cruz.
(Chorus)
We no want no bloodshed
Not a drop of bloodshed
What we want is freedom
Oh gi' we ah'we freedom
Com leh ah'we go to town
Leh we meet de Gen'ral
Gen'ral name is Budhoe
He gon' gi we freedom.
(Chorus)
Governor von Scholten
Da Governor von Scholten
Stretch he power till he crack
And he write down ah'we freedom.
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Clear the road,
All you clear the road,
Clear the road, let the slaves, them pass,
We are going for our freedom.
Hardship in the morning,
Suffering at night.
No one ever helps us,
(It is) only Father Ryan.
They bring us here from Africa,
That we were born on land
Bring us here in slavery,
In the land of Santa Cruz.
(Chorus)
We don't want any bloodshed
Not a drop of bloodshed
What we want is freedom
Oh give us all our freedom
Come let all us go to town
Let us meet the General
The General's name is Budhoe
He's going to give us freedom.
(Chorus)
Governor von Scholten
The Governor von Scholten
Stretches his power till he cracks
And he writes down that we have freedom.
(Chorus)
Notes
General Buddhoe is actually the former slave Moses Gottlieb. He helped organize the rebellion that helped the slaves on St, Croix (aka Santa Cruz) gain their freedom in 1848. You can see his picture at the top of the page.
"This recording was made in 1957 by Raymond and Hazel Higdon, owners of the first radio station in St. Croix..."
"This cariso expresses the hardships of slavery and remembers the events that led to the proclamation of freedom on July 3,1848. Marie Richards (1890-1960), the performer of this song, was born on the island of St. Maarten and came to St. Croix as a young woman..."
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Image: Moses Gottlieb, aka General Buddhoe (circa 1800)
