Sycamore tree

Dear Editor,

I still recall the initial shock on the faces of my ‘Music in Society’ class at the Jamaica Theological Seminary, years ago, when, after teaching them how to do a critical analysis of various genres of popular music, I played for them Lady Saw’s Sycamore Tree.

I proceeded to tell them that the negative hype concerning the then very popular song was largely due to our tendency to listen only or primarily to rhythm and tune without careful analysis of lyrics. Being forced to comment on the lyrics, they all came to the same conclusion I had formed after listening to the song for the first time the night before class — “it’s not as raunchy/bad as some people think”.

I’ll defend with all of my musical training and experience that my sister, Minister Marion Hall, could do a reprise of the song in the Sligoville Baptist Church without much tweaking of the lyrics, the only concern re expediency (appropriateness) would be the infectious rhythm and what it could/might trigger in the minds of those who heard the song, but who have never really penetrated the lyrics properly.

Clinton Chisholm (Rev)

clintchis@yahoo.com