As Carnival 2025 goes into high gear we feature one of the crowd favourites that have been making waves on the feting scenes, from the uptown fetes to the downtown fetes. Ian Alvarez aka Bunji Garlin “Carry it”
Photos: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Bunji Garlin
Carry it (lyrics)
Intro
Yes I can hear them saying, boy stop living in the past,
Where can I find that energy, the raw raw magic that comes down from the grass-roots
Yes ah from a place where soca the resounding power
Yuh could feel anytime any hour, sunshine or shower
Yuh will feel it any way you look,
AND IT READ LIKE A STORY BOOK
Chorus
I come from when ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
When the ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
When the ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
When the ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
Post chorus
When Arima – Had it
Maturita – Had it
Santa Rosa – Had it
Down Arouca – Had it
In Morvant – Had it
San Juan – Had it
Siparia – Had it
Look all over
Verse 1
Downtown fete was the vibes when
West people leave from, link John John and Beetham
to head to the playground
And who they link inside,
Arima and Central, Tobago and Southside
The traffic on insomnia morning
Down dey by Westmooring
Have cars parking like garage
Mi drinks bottle long like ruler in a cooler
And we chipping down to mobs 2 from carenage
Chorus
Dem time dey,
The ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
When the ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
And the flag crew did carry it
We used to carry it
And the cooler crew did carry it
We used to carry it
Post chorus
When Central – Had it
Coryal – Had it
Cunupia – Had it
Deep in penal – Had it
500 – Had it
And enterprise – Had it
Couva – Had it
Did full ah vibes
Verse 2
Downtown fete was a safe space
30,000 people of different background
Converge on PSA grounds
Shaking like a earthquake
But everyone was fine
It was when hot gyal wine
We used to see the downtown massive and the uptown massive
With no fences to separate
And it was like of rite passage
When yuh clothes get damage
‘Cause yuh start feting by the gate
Chorus
Dem time dey,
The ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
Up and down we did carry it
We used to carry it
When the flag crew did carry it
We used to carry it
When the mad crew did carry it
We used to carry it
Post chorus
Marabella – Had it
And Santa Cruz – Had it
Pinto – Had it
Palo Seco – Had it
And blanchisseuse – Had it
Through la Finette – Had it
And maracas – Had it
And everywhere
Bridge
Hands in the air now
Hand up the air, hand up in the air
Hands in the air now
Hand up the air, hand up in the air
Hands in the air now
Hand up the air, hand up in the air
Hands in the air now
Hand up the air, hand up in the air
Verse 3
Them time the lords of the ghetto did say
make sure nothing else ain’t echo but sound
Big CEO and management team
used to leave work to make sure that they touch ground
Big flag flapping all over like wing
Chocolate baby jumping with light skin
Them time a man drop a tune 2 weeks into carnival
And take’way everything
Chorus
Dem time dey,
The ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
When the ground used to carry it
We used to carry it
‘Cause we strong when we carry it
We used to carry it
Up and down when we carry it
Yea when we carry it
Post chorus
When wallerfield – Had it
Cumuto – Had it
Malabar – Had it
La Horquetta – Had it
Maloney – Had it
Point Fortin- Had it
Diego Martin – Had it
A mad thing
