Michael Smith.  Me Cyaan Believe It

Me seh me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Room dem a rent
me apply widdin
but as me go een
cockroch rat an scorpion
also come een

Waan good
nose haffi run
but me naw go siddung pon high wal
like Humpty Dumpty
me a face me reality

One little bwoy come blow im horn
an me look pon im wid scorn
an me realize how me five bwoy-picni
was a victim of de trick
dem call partisan politricks

an me ban me belly
an me bawl
an me ban me belly
an me bawl
Lawd
me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Me daughter bwoy-frien name Sailor
an im pass through de port like a ship
more gran-picni fi feed
an de whole a we in need
what a night what a plight
an we cyaan get a bite
me life is a stiff fight
an me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Sittin on de corner wid me frien
talkin bout tings an time
me hear one voice seh
‘Who dat?’
Me seh ‘A who dat?’
‘A who a seh who dat
when me a seh who dat?’

When yuh teck a stock
dem lick we dung flat
teet start fly
an big man start cry
an seh me cyaan believe it
an seh me cyaan believe it

De odder day
me a pass one yard pon de hill
When me teck a stock me hear
‘Hey, bwoy!’
‘Yes, mam?’
‘Hey, bwoy!’
‘Yes, mam!’
‘Yuh clean up de dawg shit?’
‘Yes, mam.’

An me cyaan believe it
an seh me cyaan believe it

Doris a modder of four
get a wuk as a domestic
Boss man move een
an bap si kaisico she pregnant again
bap si caisico she pregnant again
an me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Deh a yard de odder night
when me hear ‘Fire!  Fire!’
‘Fire, to plate claat!’
Who dead?  You dead!
Who dead?  Me dead!
Who dead?  Harry dead!
Who dead?  Eleven dead!
Woeeeeeeee
Orange Street fire
deh pon me head
an me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Lawd
me see some blackbud
livin inna one buildin
but no rent no pay
so dem cyaan stay
Lawd
de oppress an de dispossess
cyaan get no res

What nex?

Teck a trip from Kingston
to Jamaica
Teck twelve from a dozen
an me see me mumma in heaven
Madhouse!  Madhouse!

Me seh me cyaan believe it
me seh me cyaan believe it

Yuh believe it?
How yuh fi believe it
when yuh laugh
an yuh blind yuh eye to it?

But me know yuh believe it
Lawwwwwwwwd
me know yuh believe it

from It A Come, 1986  (13-14)