[INTRO - SPOKEN] Ladies and gentlemen... I remember the old nursery rhyme: The King was in his counting house, Counting out his money... The Queen was in the parlour, Eating bread and honey. ....But nowadays? Well, apparently... ....THE KING WASN'T HOME! Crowd: NO KING DEY!! [VERSE 1] The old nursery rhyme come back in meh head, From the days when every schoolchild knew.... Sing a song of sixpence, Pocket full of rye...... But that was then. This is now...... ....And this is what happened When the Caribbean came calling... THE KING WASN'T HOME! Crowd: NO KING DEY!! [CHORUS] The King wasn't home! NO KING DEY! We come all the way from the Caribbean, But the King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! Crowd: Was he counting his money? Maybe! Crowd: Was he sitting on the throne? Maybe! But somebody shoulda check de diary Before we leave from home! THE KING WASN'T HOME! NO KING DEY!! [VERSE 2] Now Babsie lead the delegation, Shining bright and grand, Cloth flashing in the London sun— Too late for de Notting Hill band! Not Kinte, but the cameras say, “Look at this display!” And all the Caribbean watching From a million miles away. Then suddenly I spot a man... I say, “But hold on, wait!” Is that the former Vincey Prime Minister Looking lighter by the weight? From de hustings of elections, Now de London streets he roam, Armed with all he persuasion— But unfortunately— THE KING WASN'T HOME! Crowd: NO KING DEY!! [CHORUS] The King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! The King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! Ralphie had all the arguments, But the King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! He bring eloquence! He bring persuasion! He join de delegation! But tell me, partner... WHO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT? THE KING WASN'T HOME! NO KING DEY!! [VERSE 3 - THE KINGSTON IRONY] Hold on— Before you laugh too loud, There is one little detail That must be said out proud. Dey leave de King's representative Right there in Kingston town, He coulda take de petition And send de matter down! Official channels open, No need to make a fuss, Seal it, stamp it, send it on— BY DIPLOMATIC POUCH! The King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! The King wasn't home! NO KING DEY!! [VERSE 4 - SPOKEN / COMIC BREAK] Now don't misunderstand me, I ain't laughing at reparations. No! I laughing at Caribbean people sometimes— Because we could plan a conference, Plan a delegation, Print de pro-gramme, Book de airline, Pack de suit... And forget to ask: IS DE MAN GOING TO BE THERE? Somebody say: “Minister, everything arranged!” “Transportation?” “Arranged!” “Accommodation?” “Arranged!” “Security?” “Arranged!” “Media?” “ARRANGED!” “The King?” ... EH-EH... Crowd: NO KING DEY!! [VERSE 5 - SERIOUS TURN] But now de laughter stop, And let us reason for a while. Because reparations is not fashion, Nor a photograph and smile. This is centuries of unpaid labour, Blood and sugar, tears and cane, Wealth was made from Caribbean backs— And somebody still must explain. From Jamaica to Barbados, From Africa across the sea, The descendants of the exploited Still demanding equity. [BRIDGE - BUILDING] We ain't begging! Crowd: No! We accounting! Crowd: Yes! We ain't forgetting! Crowd: No! We demanding redress! Crowd: Yes! Because every chain have a history, Every plantation name, And those who built their fortunes— MUST ACCOUNT FOR WHERE IT CAME! [VERSE 6] Meanwhile CARICOM gathering, Barbados calling the roll, Repair Campaign gaining momentum, Reparations on the move. Africa and Caribbean Now beginning to align, Building pressure, building purpose, One determined step at a time. So perhaps London teach a lesson— Even embarrassment have use: Don't put all your hope in palace gates When you're fighting for the truth. 'Cause de movement bigger than one monarch, Bigger than one royal throne— And if justice ain't waiting— WE MUST KEEP KNOCKING AT DE DOOR! [FINAL CHORUS] You could miss an appointment, You could find no King at home— NO KING DEY!! But don't let the cause of reparations... DON'T LET IT... DON'T LET IT... DON'T LET IT MISS ITS THRONE! [FINAL SPOKEN TAG] The nursery rhyme say: The King was in his counting house, Counting out his money... The Queen was in the parlour, Eating bread and honey. Well... Maybe that's the problem. After all these years— IT DON'T MAKE NO DIFFERENCE— IF DE KING WASN'T HOME! Because de debt... STILL DEY! The history... STILL DEY! The people... STILL DEY! And de King? NO KING DEY!! DE KING WASN'T HOME!
