Calypso War

War is a calypso form that has existed since at least the turn of the twentieth century. Originally it was sung in patois or French creole. The classic War form is an eight-line stanza, the first four lines in a minor key, then modulating into the major, and returning to the minor with the refrain "santimanite" ("sans humanité" in patois, in English "without humanity").

The object of War is to promote the calypsonian and defeat his competitors.

A War verse by Growling Tiger:

When I was a child at the age of fiveAnd my dear old grandfather was aliveHe would sit me upon his kneeAnd say "boy listen to me"He said "boy I will tell you your birth" [i.e. fortune]"and it is to rule over men on this earth".So I'm sorry for the molesters who mess with this Tiger

Santimantay

A War verse by Mighty Terror:

If you want to see what I say is trueJust call a Jamaican singer to youAnd ask him to sing extemporaneouslyYou will see he hasn't this abilityBut if you call me or Lord KitchenerWe will sing from January to DecemberWhy? For we are born Trinidadians and true calypsoniansHere in Great Britain