If you haven’t heard about the latest viral hit to reach youtube, it’s a new genre of infotainment called a “News Remix” by Jamaica’s DJ Powa! Here’s a little background, plus the lyrics for those of you who need a little help deciphering exactly what’s being said.

Certain parts of the island of Jamaica (specifically, the parish of St. Thomas) were experiencing some flooding recently…A news report was produced highlighting the situation. A creative Jamaican DJ deftly edited the report and added a musical track and, word has it, it’s such a catchy hit that it’s even being played in the clubs in Jamaica! Here is that “remix” of the news report  that puts the situation into musical perspective! I love my countrymen!

Click on the image or link to watch it on Youtube. (Opens in a new window, so you can keep the lyrics handy.)

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Lyrics to “Nobody Canna Cross it”
(Nobody Cannot Cross it)
A News Remix by DJ Powa

• Note 1: This is my Listener’s Guide, modified from mscdubya’s youtube comment.
• Note 2: As a Jamaican, I can tell you that Clifton is saying “Nobody cannot cross it.” (We’ll forgive him for the double negative)
• 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”

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