[Intro – Soft, soulful singing] Oh, Jamaica, mi likkle island home So much history inna yuh soil So much tears weh soak yuh stone But through di struggle, yuh people neva spoil Yeah, yeah… oh Lord Jamaica, mi remember… [Verse 1 – The First People] Lang time before di ship dem come Arawak people deh yah under di sun Dem fish inna di river, plant food pon di land Live wid di nature, wid di earth inna dem hand But strange man sail in wid dem iron and gun Change di life weh di people did know Whole heap a sorrow, whole heap a pain An old way a life neva come back again [Verse 2 – Slavery] Dem bring African people cross di ocean wide Tear dem from dem family, tek dem freedom and pride Work dem inna cane field from morning till night While di massa live rich and call it dem right But deep inna dem heart, freedom still burn Dem carry dem culture, dem faith and concern Though dem lash dem back and chain dem feet Dem spirit stay strong, dem heart still beat [Verse 3 – Nanny of the Maroons] Big up Queen Nanny, a warrior bold Maroons fight fi freedom inna days of old Up inna di mountain, dem stand dem ground Babylon couldn't keep dem people bound Through bush and valley, through river and stone Dem fight fi di right fi live pon dem own Nanny show di world seh courage nah dead A freedom-loving spirit can rise from di dread [Verse 4 – Emancipation] Eighteen thirty-eight, hear di freedom bell ring But freedom bring struggle, still a hard, hard thing No land fi di people, no money fi spend Dem work fi dem survival, again and again Dem promise dem justice, but justice move slow And di poor man still wonder which way fi go Yet every generation keep di fire alive A people wid determination always survive [Verse 5 – Marcus Garvey] Marcus Garvey raise him voice to di sky Tell African people fi hold dem head high Unity and dignity, remember yuh worth Know yuh history, know yuh place pon di earth Him seh educate yuhself, mek yuh mind strong Never mek oppression tell yuh seh yuh wrong From Kingston town to di faraway shore Garvey message still knock pon di door [Chorus – Soulful, aching vocals] Oh, Jamaica, can yuh hear mi cry? So much tears beneath yuh beautiful sky From di days of chains to di flag weh fly Still a million dreams nah willing fi die Oh, Jamaica, keep yuh memory near Remember di struggle, remember di tear Though di road get rough and di future unclear Love for di island will always live yah [Verse 6 – Rastafari and Reggae] Haile Selassie, Rasta rise and proclaim A message of freedom, dignity and name From di hills of Jamaica to di world overseas Roots reggae carry a message of peace Bob Marley sing truth, make di whole world hear Peter Tosh speak out, mek di people draw near Bunny Wailer hold firm to di roots and di sound While di heartbeat of Africa echo all around [Verse 7 – Independence] Nineteen sixty-two, di black, green and gold A new chapter open, a story unfold Jamaica stand tall, wave di flag inna di breeze A nation wid hope and a longing fi peace But independence alone couldn't feed every child Some road stay rough, some system stay wild Still di people dem laugh, still di people dem dance Still dem hold on tight to di hope and di chance [Verse 8 – Jamaica Today] From Trench Town corner to di country hillside Whole heap a talent and love deep inside But young youth still search fi a better tomorrow Too much ambition get drown inna sorrow Some leave fi foreign, go seek dem bread Carry Jamaica inna dem heart and dem head From London to Toronto, wherever dem roam When dem hear one-drop, dem remember dem home [Verse 9 – Never Forget] So teach every pickney weh di elders dem know How dem ancestors suffer, how dem spirit still glow Don't hide di hard truth, don't polish di past A people without memory can't know how fi last Give thanks to di mothers who carry di load Give thanks to di fathers who show dem di road From every generation, let di truth be told Jamaica history more precious than gold [Chorus – Repeat, with backing harmonies] Oh, Jamaica, can yuh hear mi cry? So much tears beneath yuh beautiful sky From di days of chains to di flag weh fly Still a million dreams nah willing fi die Oh, Jamaica, keep yuh memory near Remember di struggle, remember di tear Though di road get rough and di future unclear Love for di island will always live yah [Outro – Slow fade, echoing vocals] Jamaica… mi love yuh so Through every high and every low From African roots to di island shore Di story live on forevermore History nah dead… no, no Inna every heartbeat, di story still grow Jamaica, mi homeland, wherever mi roam Yuh always deh yah… deep inna mi soul.
