[Verse 1] Breeze a-blow from di coconut tree, Sun still hot pon di Christmas Eve. No snow fall, but di sand so white, Lights string up, mek di shoreline bright. Grandma bake up har fruitcake done, Sorrel chill, ginger inna di rum. Choir from di likkle church downtown, Sing “Joy to di World” inna island sound. But if ya deh pon di beach all alone tonight, Even stars inna di sky don’t feel so bright— [Chorus] ’Cause you can be pon di island, but don’t be a island, Christmas time fi hold somebody hand. Call ya bredren, hug ya fambily, Love a di gift weh di Baby bring we. From Bethlehem straight to di Caribbean sand, We all need each odda fi truly understand. So be on di island wid laughter and smile, man, But don’t be a island, not even fi a while, man. [Verse 2] Reggae carol pon di radio play, “Silent Night” inna rub-a-dub way. Kids run ’round weh di sea grape grow, Draw nativity scene in di shoreline snow. Mango tree dress up like Christmas pine, Shells and tinsel inna one straight line. Still, di sweetest part of dis holy night, Is di people ’round di table inna candle light. So if ya phone full a name weh ya never call, Tonight is di night fi reach dem all— [Chorus] ’Cause you can be pon di island, but don’t be a island, Christmas time fi hold somebody hand. Call ya bredren, hug ya fambily, Love a di gift weh di Baby bring we. From Bethlehem straight to di Caribbean sand, We all need each odda fi truly understand. So be on di island wid laughter and smile, man, But don’t be a island, not even fi a while, man. [Bridge] No man stand up like lone palm tree, We root get strong inna community. Under one moon, under one bright star, Same Jesus love reach near and far. So share ya rice an’ peas, pass di ham ’round, Lift ya voice inna warm-night sound. If ya see somebody quiet, sittin’ to di side, Pull up one chair, mek dem come inside. [Verse 3] Midnight Mass, we a dress up clean, Gold, red, green inna every scene. Crib set small ’pon di altar stand, Remind we God reach down fi hold we hand. Him lef Him throne fi dis likkle earth, Teach we how fi know we true net worth. So when we share up di gift dem under di tree, Remember di greatest gift is “we.” [Chorus] ’Cause you can be pon di island, but don’t be a island, Christmas time fi hold somebody hand. Call ya bredren, hug ya fambily, Love a di gift weh di Baby bring we. From Bethlehem straight to di Caribbean sand, We all need each odda fi truly understand. So be on di island wid laughter and smile, man, But don’t be a island, not even fi a while, man. [Tag] So if ya hear dem church bell chime, Open up ya door dis Christmas time. On di island, we stand side by side— ’Cause nobody should be a island inside.
