'Twas the Night Before the game
'Twas the night before the Big game, when all through the land
Not a man was stirring, not even a socawarrior;
The cleats were hung by the bed with care,
In hopes that they go be worn out there;
The Warriors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of goals danced in their heads;
And Beenie in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long night’s nap,
When out on the road there arose such a clatter,
all man sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen pan
Gave the lustre of mid-day to feteing below,
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a pan side , and a band of soca revellers ,
With a little old mas, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it must be a trick.
More noise than plan they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and called out for fame;
"Now, YORKE! now, LATAS! now, SHAKA and CARLOS!
On, MARVIN! on LAWERANCE! on, SPANN and STERN!
To the top of the street! to the top of the savannah!
Now jump ! whine party! soca away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild game fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, the warriors go make them cry,
So up for the show AVERYand BIRCHALL the pan and tassa make them grew,
With the town full of noise, and the hotel too.
And then, in a twinkling, they heard on the ground
The prancing and pawing of a warrior sound.
Playing on the land, and was turning heads around,
Out ah de blue their came a bang the team Germany bound.
Time tuh get up and get dressed all in football outfit,
And their uniforms were all shiny with red white and black;
A bundle of hopes all heaped on each players’ back,
And they looked like winners ready fuh attack.
Eyes – wide opened! And face all merry!
Man done eat and dress already
Beenie mouth all drawn up like a bow,
And his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
The team was fit and strong for a game of plenty,
All man focus and serious and looking like they ready
A wink of their eye and a twist of their head,
gave everyone to know they had nothing to dread;
They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
Filled all the net; with heaps of goals,
And laying their feet aside ,
And giving a nod, each man abide;
They sprang to their bed, when Beenie gave a whistle,
And away to dream of goals like missles.
You could hear them exclaim,
"SWEET SOCA WARRIORS CHEERS TO ALL, IN SWEET TNT!"
