MANASSEH
The ships came and docked
From ashore we watched
Anchors dropped
On time, stopped
And waded to our rocks
Men who knew us before we knew ourselves
MANASSE
We awoke from his blow
Heads ached, knees bowed
Muddled knowing
On boats going
Steam engines rowed on
Highs seas took us and stopped, and once stopped, kept moving
MANASS
We are broken and beaten
Our time knows no season
Strength weakened
Gifts taken
Fettered ankles, we sit in
The filth they have built with the strength of our bowels
MANAS
Day new like a risen sun
Our labour has borne us free sons
Rights won
Songs done sung
Victories overcome
We will eat the fruits nature brought with us
MANA
We become out of many one sheep
We follow them until they sleep
A talented people
A cunning people
When you sow we reap
We have it all figured out, the thief set to catch his kind
MAN
She brown, eh, son, marry her
You'll get a prettier daughter
Mother helper
Father gardener
Work is getting harder
Harder to find, step up man, step up inna life
MA
Head top gyal and mek yuh money
Shot a battybwoi cah nutten nuh funny
Sell value for nanny
For likki and nyami
Everybody out for everybody
We don't recognize Jamaica, something about us got lost at sea
M- M-
Whatever was I about to say?
