WHEN I was a student in the 1970s, I would frequent the staff lounge to ground with many of the radical European lecturers who imbibe there almost every night. I got close to two such personalities. One was Bill Carr, the English professor in Literature who was married at the time to one of the leading figures in the Working People’s Alliance, Andaiye.

The other was Franz Lee from South Africa who lectured in Political Science. Both men were committed Marxist ideologues and my Marxist horizon expanded through my endless talks with them. Each time Franz was in the joint, he would ask the barman, Mr. Tucker to play “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

One night Franz was in a maudlin mood. He was alone drinking, and I joined him. He asked me to drink with him but I told him I don’t touch alcohol. We chatted for hours (the last state-owned bus at UG left at 11:30 PM) and I asked him what’s up with “Fantasy?” Why he makes Tucker play that song all the time?

He explained that the song is about his life as an exiled South African under the apartheid system. He said that the song is about one’s dreams that one must always fantasise about because when you do so, the dreams stick closer to you and drives you to seek its eventual realisation. He went on to add that his fantasy was about a free South Africa with a Black Marxist leadership. I remember him saying before we parted that a Black ruled South Africa is coming sooner than the world could imagine.

I explored the meaning of “Fantasy” long after I met Franz and to identify with its inner meaning because of my commitment to the anti-dictatorship struggle against Burnham. While studying in Canada, my wife and I invited Bill Carr to our student apartment and he came. I gave Bill a coffee cup to give to Franz and to tell Franz that I listen to “Fantasy” often. Bill died one year before his hero, Cheddi Jagan, brought his fantasy into reality and became President of Guyana. I don’t know where Franz is as I write.

Today I dedicate this fantastic song to President Ali of Guyana. I believe Dr. Ali has a dream of making Guyana a united country and I believe he will achieve a great legacy. We see what is to come with his multiracial achievement in the just concluded 2023 LGE. “Fantasy” is my second best soul song after Bobby Womack’s “Harry Hippie.” But there is something inexplicable about the version of this song that I have chosen. For reasons I will never know, I like the version done by the Vienna Boys’ Choir. It is simply amazing to listen to a choir of 10-year-old Austrian boys covering one of soul music’s most philosophical songs. I keep wondering why I like this rendition and I believe the arrangement by the Vienna Boys’ Choir reminds me of my memorable days in journalism with Jesuit Priest, Andrew Morrison. Listen to “Fantasy” and keep dreaming.

Every man has a place
In his heart, there’s a space
And the world can’t erase his fantasies
Take a ride in the sky
On our ship, fantasize
All your dreams will come true right away
And we will live together
Until the 12th of never
Our voices will ring forever, as one
Every thought is a dream
Rushing by in a stream
Bringing life to the kingdom of doing
Take a ride in the sky
On our ship, fantasize
All your dreams will come true miles away
Our voices will ring together
Until the 12th of never
We all will live love forever, as one
Come to see victory
In a land called fantasy
Loving life, a new degree
Bring your mind to everlasting liberty
Come to see victory
In a land called fantasy
Loving life for you and me
To behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find
Other kind
That has been in search of you
Many lives have brought you to
Recognize, it’s your life now in review
And as you stay for the play
Fantasy has in store for you
Glowing light will see you through
It’s your day, shining day
All your dreams come true
As you glide in your stride
With the wind as you fly away
Give a smile from your lips and say
“I’m free, yes I’m free, now I’m on my way”
Come to see victory
In a land called fantasy
Loving life for you and me
To behold, to your soul is ecstasy
You will find other kind
That has been in search of you
Many lives have brought you to
Recognize, it’s your life now in review