{{Unreferenced, date=December 2009 War is a calypso form that has existed since at least the turn of the twentieth century. Originally it was sung in

patois ''Patois'' (, pl. same or ) is speech or language that is considered nonstandard, although the term is not formally defined in linguistics. As such, ''patois'' can refer to pidgins, creoles, dialects or vernaculars, but not commonly to jargon o ...

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 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" .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 Fitzgerald Henry (13 January 1921 – 14 March 2007), better known as the Mighty Terror, was a Trinidadian calypsonian. Early career in Trinidad He was born Fitzgerald Cornelius Henry in Anguilla Village, Arouca, Trinidad.

: :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

See also