Note 3: $250 Jamaican dollars is about $3US.
NEWSCASTER: “Three miles down the road is the Yallahs River. Residents were forced to pay between $250JA and $500JA dollars to cross, as transportation was restricted to either a heavy-duty vehicle or being lifted across.Right now, nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can understan’ it cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only a fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can manage (handle/negotiate) the water
It’s only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we(‘re) around to help them.
Nobody can swim
‘Cause if you cannot swim, you cannot cross it.
Nobody cannot cross it (Unless) If we around to help them over
Fisherman can cross it
And a fisherwoman could cross it
Cannot swim? Trust me.. You gone (you’ll be carried out by the current) to St. Thomas pond!
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who understan’ it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only (a) fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can manage (handle/negotiate) the water
It’s only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we(‘re) around to help them.
Not all the vehicles – can cross it
This vehicle – cannot cross it
We’re locked away in the wilderness
Nobody cross it. (CROSS!)
Yesterday, the bus just come in from town… A bus load of people
It was just the mercy of God why the bus don’t go over (capsize)
The bus can swim! The bus can swim! The bus can swim!
Believe it or not, the bus can swim!
Yesterday, the bus just come in from town
The bus can cross it
The last time, (we had a) hurricane, we had to bury up the top (not sure about this line-W)
Nobody nuh fi walk (Nobody should walk)
The bus can swim
Nobody nuh fi walk (Nobody should walk)
The bus can cross it
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can understand it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can manage (handle/negotiate) the water
It’s only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we(‘re) around to help them.
I’m very concerned; very concerned
Because nobody cannot cross it
Not even the kids dem* can go to school, trust me!
Because nobody cannot cross it
Fisherman and a fisherwoman can cross it.
Like, them understan’ it
Cannot swim? Trust me: You’re going to dead up (you’re going to be dead up there)
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can understan’ it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
It’s only who can manage (handle/negotiate) the water
It’s only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we around to help them.
Nobody cannot cross it! Nobody could cross it
It’s only who can swim (can) cross it
Cr cr cross it (CROSS!) No no no no no..body cross it!!!!
COMMENTATOR: “Dara Smith, TVJ News”
*dem (them) can be used to make a noun plural (“Di bwoy dem a play football”). However, it can also serve in what is a uniquely Jamaican secondary pluralization of an already plural noun. So, “the kids dem” might best be translated, for instance, as “the kids–all of them–cannot cross it.” However, it also serves as a term of endearment that has the effect of humanizing or evoking empathy for the shared experience of the group or animals being referred to. You wouldn’t typically use “dem” when referring to inanimate objects. However, you might typically say “The people dem start to riot caw dem can’t get no food!” (the new double plural noun is “people dem”); Or, you might say “Di dog dem start to bark when the fire start!” (The new double plural noun is “dog dem.”)–a cultural note from Walt Goodridge, Jamaican in China
YAAD STYLE (NO TRANSLATION!)
NEWSCASTER: “Three miles down the road is the Yallahs River. Residents were forced to pay between 250 and 500 dollars to cross, as transportation was restricted to either a heavy-duty vehicle or being lifted across.
Right now, nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can understan’ it cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can manage the water
Is only so dem c’n come over
Or if we around to help them.
Nobody can swim
‘Cause if you cannot swim, you cannot cross it.
Nobody cannot cross it. If we around to help them over
Fisherman can cross it
And a fisherwoman could cross it, cross it
Cannot swim? Trust me.. Yuh gone to St. Thomas pond!
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who understan’ it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can manage the water
Is only so dem c’n come over
Or if we around to help them.
Not all the vehicles – can cross it
This vehicle – cannot cross it
We lock away in the wilderness
Nobody cross it! (CROSS!)
Yesterday, the bus just come in from town… A bus load of people
Is just the mercy of God why the bus don’t go over
The bus can swim! The bus can swim! The bus can swim!
Believe it or not, the bus can swim!
Yesterday, the bus just come in from town
The bus can cross it
The last time, hurricane, we had to bury up the top (not sure about this line-W)
Nobody nuh fi walk
The bus can swim
Nobody nuh fi walk
The bus can cross it
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can understan’ it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can manage the water
Is only so dem c’n come over
Or if we around to help them.
I’m very concerned; very concerned
Because nobody cannot cross it
Not even the kids dem can go to school, trust me!
Because nobody cannot cross it
Fisherman and a fisherwoman can cross it.
Like them understan’ it
Cannot swim? Trust me: You’re going to dead up!
Chorus:
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can understan’ it, cross it
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody cannot cross it
Is only who can manage the water
Is only so dem c’n come over
Or if we around to help them.
Nobody cannot cross it! Nobody could cross it
Is only who can swim cross it
Cr-cr-cross it! (CROSS!) No no no no no..body cross it!!!!
COMMENTATOR: “Dara Smith, TVJ News”