David Rudder - Mad Man Rant - Earth TV (1996)

Producer - Danielle Diffenthaller
DOP - Walt Lovelace
“Madman’s Rant” tells a true story and mirrors the words of Katha Upanishad, “Abiding in the midst of ignorance, thinking themselves wise and learned, fools go aimlessly hither and thither, like blind led by the blind.”
Rudder delivers the message to the listener as a passer-by observing the ranting of a “madman.” It becomes clear that although society would casually refer to the protagonist as a “madman,” he is acutely aware of the infirmities of said society and the wrongs being dealt to the people. David Rudder alludes to the belief that politicians are the ones who are truly ‘mad’ in society, creating and feeding mayhem. The song speaks of the false promises made by countless politicians time and time again on party platforms during election season, “Vote for we and we will set you free! Anywhere you turn somebody chanting to we. Somebody promising jobs for all…He say, “If they do the crime, they going to damn well pay!” But somebody promising human rights.” Then, he states that in spite of all these promises, change is not being seen. Every election season, parties deliver impressive, colourful manifestoes, with intentions to free the people from poverty and crime, yet still, “the mortuary full with little Trinidad boys. A bullet start to whine and put an end to their joy.” Young men are the truest victims of crime in this society. As Rudder sings, “the little red silk is not dey true friend, de blue one had two extra nought on the end,” meaning that poverty is the major driving force for young people entangling themselves in a life of crime. The red silk ($1.00 bill) is all that they have access to, but this is not enough to live on, so instead, they pursue the blue silk ($100.00 bill) through crime. Oftentimes, handing over their youth to gangs. Government’s failure to deal with poverty and inequality has contributed greatly to the perpetuation of a legacy of crime among young, black boys.
The chant of this ‘madman’ is not what one would expect. Instead, it provides authentic insight into the tainted fabric of society. Rudder goes on to sing about the corruption that plagues the nation, starting from the government. “Somebody clean out the weed well fast. But somebody letting the cocaine pass. Somebody promise to abolish the tax. Somebody promise to give we the facts.” Between national accounting books being found fraudulent and being ranked 72/168 on Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perception Index, there is no doubt that people from Trinidad and Tobago need to listen to words of this madman.

[@donnatornay2537]

Mad Man Rant is timeless! Today in 2020 the year of Covid 19 David Rudder's ballad remains current.

[@1jsoveral]

The chant of ah mad man, the only salvation.... Preach, man preach. True then still true today, and true tomorrow.

[@nigelkhan5331]

One of my favourites from King David ☺

[@moeshajackson9904]

We live in time like these now.

[@fayadali6722]

If you didn't know, you would think this calypso was composed yesterday.

[@facematicbraven3124]

classic ....

[@andymaxime4883]

This song is a living prophecy in 2024

[@kennymirchar2869]

Use to watch this on channels 2 & 13 thirthy plus years ago

[@coolxify]

Wow