[Verse 1]
At the United Nations debate
I said politically Trinidad & Tobago is great
Eric was there, Hudson-Phillips was there
It was a shock when a Congolese spoke up
To me it sound like a [?]
'Cause I just couldn't manage
To know what he sound in Congo language
[Imitation of a Congolese language]
Luckily a professor from the university
Knowin' about Africa explain what it mean to me
[Chorus]
He said, "Mr. Prime Minister, great as you are
Karl says that he could do better"
[Verse 2]
Then the Indian representative
The way he talk 'bout Trinidad he sound so negative
He talk 'bout we roads
With all the potholes
The school system, water, and housing problem
Telephone, buses, and taxi bachanal
[?] we hospital
And in Hindi he [?]
[Imitation of Hindi]
[?]
[?] have a new land
But you need more motivation
Pride, and education
[Chorus]
"Mr. Prime Minister, great as you are
Karl says that he could do better"
[Verse 3]
Then a Chinese man jump up and say
I really do like politics, so we must join the fray
Culturally, a Trini-Chinese
Can contribute more than laundry and food I'm sure
Your immigration pursuit
Always catch me en route
So we can't get to commute to contribute
[Imitation of Mandarin]
'Cause I livin' in the land
Strangle the little man
Politics and corruption
Nowadays go hand-in-hand
[Chorus]
"Mr. Prime Minister, great as you are
Karl says that he could do better"
[Verse 4]
If the ethnics think that Karl so great
Let's hear the multinationals and expatriates
An economy
That's looking healthy
Holds their interest
Nothing else exists
[?] more than cock sure
The senior counsel's mature
But remember the Doc is no amateur
We are blamed for inflation, corruption
Bribery, and exploitation
But we all plead not guilty
Nobody more honest than we
Our policy is investment
And we deal through the government
The say how to operate
And we all divide the cake
[Chorus]
"Mr. Prime Minister, stay there forever
Karl could never treat we better!"
Karl Says was written by Mighty Sparrow.
Mighty Sparrow released Karl Says on Thu Jan 01 1981.