Jamaica Talk
Baba Motta & His Orchestra Lyrics
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What kind of language we ?
We tell the say it's from english slang
But them still say them don't understand
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
And I hear them ask a-where we eat
I go and I say go north then west
And there you will find the very best
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
Them don't understand is what we mean
When we tell them say them look like queen
Them look so nice at them walk-about
You smile with them without a doubt
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
I met one lady a walk one day
She say where I can find a stay
I say go straight and follow your nose
And there you will find a sweet prepose
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
She still a-look like she don't understand
An she say what did you say my good man
I tell her again to follow she nose
But she still look like she in a dose
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
English they say it's french no doubt
The still a-try to figure it out
A-what we saw, a-wha we say
We tell them say wha we say
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourist them ask
A-wha we say
The song "Jamaica Talk" by Baba Motta is a humorous commentary on the language barrier faced by tourists in Jamaica. The song's lyrics describe various encounters between Jamaican locals and confused and bewildered tourists who struggle to understand the local way of speaking English. Jamaicans use an informal English slang known as patois, which can be difficult for non-Jamaicans to comprehend. The chorus of the song, "A-wha we say, a-wha we say, the tourist them ask, a-wha we say," emphasizes the disconnect between the two groups and the frustration that can arise from a failure to communicate effectively.
Verse one of the song portrays the common interactions between local Jamaicans and tourists who struggle to understand their dialect. In the second verse, Baba Motta describes how he advises a tourist where to find food, but the tourist struggles to understand his directions. In the third verse, a woman asks Baba Motta where to find a place to stay, but she also can't understand his directions. The lyrics make light of the situation, with Baba Motta telling the confused tourists to "follow your nose," only to have them still not understand.
Overall, "Jamaica Talk" conveys the cultural differences and language barriers between the local Jamaicans and tourists in a lighthearted and humorous way. The song emphasizes the importance of understanding local languages and dialects in order to communicate effectively with different cultures.
Line by Line Meaning
Tourists want know is what we talk
Tourists want to know what language we speak.
What kind of language we ?
They are asking about the type of language we use.
We tell the say it's from english slang
We explain that it is a mixture of English and slang.
But them still say them don't understand
Despite our explanation, they still do not comprehend.
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
Tourists keep questioning what we mean.
I went one morning down the street
While walking down the street one morning.
And I hear them ask a-where we eat
I overheard them asking where to eat around here.
I go and I say go north then west
I answered by saying go north then go west.
And there you will find the very best
You will find the best food options there.
Them don't understand is what we mean
They don't comprehend what we are trying to convey.
When we tell them say them look like queen
When we tell them that they look like royalty or elegant.
Them look so nice at them walk-about
They appear so elegant while walking around.
You smile with them without a doubt
You can't help but smile while interacting with them.
I met one lady a walk one day
I bumped into a lady while taking a stroll.
She say where I can find a stay
She asked where she could find a place to stay.
I say go straight and follow your nose
I directed her to go straight and trust her instincts.
And there you will find a sweet prepose
That's where she will find a charming place to lodge.
She still a-look like she don't understand
She still seems confused and doesn't get it.
An she say what did you say my good man
Then she asked me to repeat what I said.
English they say it's french no doubt
Some people mistake our language for French.
The still a-try to figure it out
They are still trying to understand the language.
A-what we saw, a-wha we say
They keep asking what we are trying to say.
We tell them say wha we say
We repeat what we said earlier.
A-wha we say, a-wha we say
The tourists keep asking what we mean by our words.
The tourist them ask
The tourists keep asking for clarification.
Lyrics © CALDERWOOD, INC.
Written by: RUBY THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind