Traffic Jam
Stephen Marley & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley Lyrics

Cho! Stabba dom! (Yeah!)
An exclamation of enthusiasm and energy.

Stabba labba dom (Hear dat)
Another exclamation of energy and excitement.

Stooby labba labba dom ram labba babba labba labba dom, I say (Watch mi lion!)
An energetic verse with no clear meaning.

[Chorus] Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom This is raggamuffin from di ghetto yutes camp Anyway mi go mi seh mi must leff mi stamp
The chorus serves as an introduction to the song, with the words 'raggamuffin' and 'ghetto yutes camp' establishing the reggae style and the Jamaican origins of the music.

Marijuana weh mi smoke dem seh too ignorant Just some odda day some puff a whole mek fi one Then mi bredda Juju and mi idren name Don Bounce and listen to Gong when mashin' up di traffic jam
The first verse talks about smoking marijuana and how it is considered ignorant by some. The lyrics talk about how the musician and his friends (Juju and Don) enjoy the drug while listening to music, particularly 'Gong' (Bob Marley), while stuck in traffic.

Police pull mi ova talkin bout him smell bud From mi look inna him face and know this bwoy have a plan Juju touch mi pon my shoulda seh di bwoy a demon First ting him waan to know is where dat smell is comin' from Are you smokin' marijuana and I said yes I am True him seh some man trance seh it cost a couple grand Him seh mek mi see di license and registration And where are yuh headed what's yuh occupation Dun know seh raggamuffin nah go answer question As is says on the paper read di information From mi nah go tek nuh switch or interrogation So book mi if yuh book mi carry dung a station Mek mi show dem how we did it inna style and pattern I'm di judge, di lawyer Juve I'm my own bails man And if yuh check it out dat would be my station Mi seh sekkle Juju royal for yah run England And when mi plane land yuh nah go through nuh customs This is raggamuffin inna different pattern Mi nuh go inna nuh session unless it conk and ram And from yuh see we face and wanna ask a question And anywhere we go we haffi ra pa pom, pom
The second verse talks about being pulled over by the police for smoking marijuana. The lyrics suggest that the police pull the driver over intentionally and question him about his use of drugs. The driver responds that he is indeed smoking marijuana, prompting the police officer to ask for his license and registration. The driver is uncooperative, asserting his right not to answer questions, and instead insisting on being taken to the station. He brags that he can handle the situation himself, without the need for a lawyer or judge. The last line of the verse serves as a triumphant declaration of his identity and individuality.

Well if a ganja dem a look fah dem know where to find us Well we a nuh criminal seh rasta ever righteous Some bwoy a scope out di ride a we drive and puff And him jealous a we seh shine and buff Well from him look inna di car and how di interior plush And look upon di rims how dem full out and flush And scope out we jewels him a wonda how much And him jealous well then prize caan touch (Why) And him jealous well then prize caan touch (Ragga now!) Then mi seh royal have a new tune fi rise and buss And there extra large size muffin dem a light up A bwoy dig dung di car until him find some stuff And him jealous a we so rank and nuff (Lawd) And him jealous a we so rank and nuff
In the third verse, the lyrics talk about jealousy and envy towards the musicians for their apparent wealth and success, and suggests that people will look for them because they know they smoke marijuana. The lyrics also suggest that some men will scope out the musicians' nicer things, including their cars and jewelry, and experience jealousy when they realize they cannot have them.

Hin exact cau a few stripes deh pon him shoulda Cau him too par wid we we deh when Demus show love Give dem couple C.D. some promo photos Now him jealous cau everybody knows us Now him jealous cau everybody shows love Yo some feel di wey yuh pass and dem a smile and blush And true dem see some man a star dem could a have a light crush Now him jealous now even twice as much (Hear dat) Now di bwoy jealous now even twice as much (Lawd)
The fourth verse continues the theme of jealousy and suggests that some people are jealous of the musicians because of their success and popularity. The lyrics suggest that some individuals may even have a crush on the musicians. The words 'hear dat' and 'lawd' are repeated for emphasis.

It's just a minor set backa who yuh waan call up Every month then di super get a ting fold up Seh natty dreadlocks nah wear handcuffs Seh any kind a cuff it haffi diamond cuff Go tell dem natty dreadlocks no wear handcuff Seh easy papa muffin yuh ruffa than ruff And sekkle Juju Royal yuh tuffa than tuff And tell dem seh natty dreadlocks nah wear handcuffs Always stick togetha even when time tuff Bwoy yuh brighta tink a shine and puff, sekkle!
The final verse talks about minor setbacks and the importance of solidarity among friends. The lyrics assert that the musicians don't wear handcuffs and that any cuffs they do wear are diamond cuffs. The words 'sekkle' and 'ruffa than ruff' are repeated for emphasis.