Jonkonnu Morning

Boxing Day! Hear di fife a come from Morant Bay! Run outta di house, leave di ham pon di plate! Di band a pass by yuh granny gate! Mi eleven year old, and mi have one shoe on Mama seh wash up, but di boy dem gone Fife a squeal high and di bass drum knock Whole a di town a run down di block Grater a scrape and a rattle a shake Dust a fly up from di road, mek no mistake Peeping through di fence with mi heart inna mi throat Who dat a come inna di long striped coat? Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, dance down di lane! Every Christmas yuh a frighten mi again! Run from di mask, then yuh run right back Follow di drum down di old train track Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, nuh stop di band! Whole of St. Thomas a clap dem hand! Here come Pitchy Patchy, all rag and flame Every colour ribbon, and him leap like a game Him spin and him whirl, and him clear out di road Likkle pickney scatter, like a hen and a toad Him bow to di shopkeeper, him tek one bun Him leap pon di wall, and him turn and him run Here come Horse Head, with a jaw weh snap Real old bone and a big burlap Him chase Miss Daphne right up har own stair She lick him with a dishcloth, and him nuh care Clack clack clack with him long white teeth And a big hard back man a sweat underneath Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, dance down di lane! Every Christmas yuh a frighten mi again! Run from di mask, then yuh run right back Follow di drum down di old train track Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, nuh stop di band! Whole of St. Thomas a clap dem hand! Here come Belly Woman, with a pillow inna frock Wine up pon di barber, gi him quite a shock Everybody know a Uncle Fitz inna di dress Him moustache a show, and him a mek a big mess Him grab up di parson, fi a likkle two-step Parson wife a laugh till she nearly wept Blow di fife! Lick di drum! Grater man! Everybody come! Then here come di King with a crown made a tin Mirror pon him chest, and a sword and a grin Queen in har lace, and har veil to di ground Walk like di whole of di island she crown Mi run up beside dem, mi feet full a sand Di King look down, and him tek mi by di hand Him seh, likkle man, yuh see all a dis? Slave did dance it, with a chain on di wrist One day a year when di massa stand aside Dem put on a mask, and dem dance with pride Yuh see dis yah drum? Is a long, long story Keep it inna yuh foot, and carry di glory Lift up di mask, and a Mass Ferdie smile Mi uncle from di bakery, him did fool mi a while Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, dance down di lane! Every Christmas yuh a frighten mi again! Run from di mask, then yuh run right back Follow di drum down di old train track Jonkonnu, Jonkonnu, nuh stop di band! Whole of St. Thomas a clap dem hand! Now mi sixty-three, and mi knee dem stiff But mi still can blow one likkle riff Grandson, come, tek di drum from di shelf Next year yuh a go lead di band yuhself Boxing Day!