Calypso War

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War is a calypso form that has existed since at least the turn of the twentieth century. Originally it was sung in patois. 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 five
 And my dear old grandfather was alive
 He would sit me upon his knee
 And 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 molestors who mess with this Tiger
 Sandimanite

A War verse by Mighty Terror:

 If you want to see what I say is true
 Just call a Jamaican singer to you
 And ask him to sing extemporaneously
 You will see he hasn't this ability
 But if you call me or Lord Kitchener
 We will sing from January to December
 Why? For we are born Trinidadians and true calypsonians
 Here in Great Britain