THE RASTA MAN [INTRO] The Rasta Man walks down the road Under mango trees where the warm wind blows Kids run barefoot, laughing in the sun He taps his drum — and the day has begun [VERSE 1] No gold, no crown, no fancy shoes Just an old guitar and a beat to choose A little red hat and a weathered smile He's been carrying that rhythm for a thousand miles He sees a boy sitting under the tree Head down low, like he don't wanna see He taps the drum and says, “Come on, my friend You got a rhythm hiding there somewhere again” [PRE-CHORUS] One beat... then two... The boy looks up and starts to move A little spark, a little sound And suddenly the whole place gathers round [CHORUS] The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man He keeps the fire moving hand to hand No gold, no crown, no throne, no plan Just one more beat from the Rasta Man The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man He puts a little sunshine where he can If you've got a heart, you've got a song Come take the rhythm and carry it on [VERSE 2] An old woman smiles from her wooden chair A fisherman stops with salt in his hair Someone brings a shaker, somebody sings And the little boy discovers what a drum can bring The Rasta Man just laughs and plays He never counts the hours or the days He lets the rhythm wander through the street Till tired old feet remember how to beat [PRE-CHORUS 2] One voice... then two... Now everybody's singing too No stage, no lights, no velvet rope Just open hands and a little hope [CHORUS] The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man He keeps the fire moving hand to hand No gold, no crown, no throne, no plan Just one more beat from the Rasta Man The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man He puts a little sunshine where he can If you've got a heart, you've got a song Come take the rhythm and carry it on [BRIDGE] When the night comes down And the last drums fade He leaves one spark For the next parade Tomorrow someone else Will pick it up and play That's how the fire travels That's how it finds its way [BREAK] [Male ad-lib] Keep it alive... [Children / choir] Keep it alive! [Male ad-lib] Pass it along... [Children / choir] Pass it along! [FINAL CHORUS] The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man He keeps the fire moving hand to hand No gold, no crown, no throne, no plan Just one more beat from the Rasta Man The Rasta Man, the Rasta Man Now every hand is moving with the band The boy who came with nothing but a frown Is beating that old drum all over town [OUTRO] The Rasta Man walks down the road Under mango trees where the warm wind blows He doesn't look back, he doesn't need to know The rhythm he gave is already on the road [Male ad-lib] One love... Keep it moving... The Rasta Man...
