BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ONE of the most popular songs for this year’s Carnival is called ‘Worm in De Pumpkin’.
‘Worm in De Pumpkin’ was written and performed by Clement Wilkins, known in the calypso arena as King Lala, a veteran of over 25 years.
In his explanation of the ideology behind the song, King Lala said, “I have a farm and in my farm I have some pumpkins and I had to keep spraying them and I kept spending a lot of money on chemicals for the pumpkins. I did not have to spend so much money on any other crop and I started to wonder why so much worm following the pumpkin?”
Kin Lala said that he brought the situation to the attention of a representative from the Agriculture Department called Jumpin, who is mentioned in the song, and was told to use dish-washing soap.
He then said that he developed some lyrics for the song because he did not had any other song planned and realized it was a good topics to sing about.
King Lala explained that the song originated from a real life situation, not fictional as people perceived it to be.
“It is not a jokey song. People are saying that worm on this and worm on that, but normally we have the worm problem. So it was the farming that gave me the idea and not gossip.”
King Lala said that the support he has been getting from the general public is great and that he feels like he has created “a monster”.
The veteran calypsonian said that he feels the song is such a big hit because it is a creative one and it is due the fact people love him as a calypsonian.
He added that for the upcoming Carnival season he hopes the judges would listen to the song and give him the opportunity at the monarchy, following his 25-year hardship in the art form.
King Lala also said that farming is essential to the everyday man in St. Kitts and Nevis, proclaiming that he would always try and honour the farmers because they play a larger role than they get recognition for.
Being a farmer, Lala expressed his desire to sing about farming.
“They are various topics out there that I could have sung about, but I always choose to sing about farming because we have to eat to live, and farming is very important.”
He also made mention of a second song called ‘The Man Behind the Man’, which he said would be his competition song, adding that ‘Worm in De Pumpkin’ is just a song for the tents and he would not use it in the competition.
The new song, he explained, speaks to persons who are unemployed but are still able to afford fancy material things.
The most frustrating thing King Lala said he had to face was the fact that for 25 years he has been ignored by the judges and not given what he calls a “fair chance“.
Apart from that however, he is disappointed that he is unable to get any significant financial help and has to spend a lot of money on calypso in order to make the image of the art form better and do not get anything in return.
Lala is also known for patting himself on the back before every performance and is also seen as one of the best dressed calypsonians to compete in the tents.
