Tarrus Riley: Protect Yuh Neck

bulby yuh a listen
ready

protect yuh neck
protect yuh neck
protect yuh head don't tek nuh check
protect yuh neck
look over yuh shoulder

yuh a hear mi now

duh nuh come out afta midnight iyah
all inna broad daylight dem a tek life
so imagine afta dark when di action start
wat a guh gwaan

duh nuh come out afta x-30
dem yah yute yah well blood tirsty
nuh mek sun down ketch yuh inna town
tek weh yuh self now

ova war-rieka hill
war neva stand still
and inna garden
mi neva see nuh cultivation nor nuh farming-a gwaan
dem will done yuh inna kirk (dunkirk)
all ova watahouse a drought still dem will wet yuh
is like yuh life nuh have nuh worth
i look inna callaloo bed
and nuh see nuh mo' vegetarian alone

and get dis straight sah
chant for a safer jamaica
who name dem place yah
dem neva know seh word sound a powah

yuh got to be care-ful
and protect yuh neck
protect yuh head back
careful and protect yuh neck protect yuh head

when yuh come out afta x-30
nuh trust nuh blue suit nor khaaki
nuff a pose like police and dem a tief
worst dan di klan weh wrap up inna white sheet
freaks come out anytime it touch dark
watch how yuh walk inside di park
he turn she and she turn he some sight to see
swap identity and waah come mingle wid we
new kingston
mi si dem a dust but mi nuh see nothing done
for my people
still no one knows the reason

and mi guh ask a hope road
still it was hopeless cause no one would hear ma cry
di struggle still continue
and inna payneland burn di pain and mek wi hold a joy

get dis straight sah
work for a safer jamaica
sweetest land sweetest watah
dash weh di pirate cultcha

yuh got to be care-ful
and protect yuh neck
protect yuh head back
careful and protect yuh neck protect yuh head

yuh betta protect yuh neck
protect yuh neck
protect yuh head don't tek nuh check
protect yuh neck
and look over yuh shoulder

mi well waah come out afta x-30
mi nuh waah nuh curfew country
woman and man tired fi lock up inna house
well waah come out and sport all bout

when wi come out and start party
yuh nuh si nuh one hot like we
nuh mek pagan mash up wi country
(?? in communit twist??) up in love and inity
shooters hill
di war neva stand still
and inna garden
mi neva si nuh cultivation nor nuh farming
now dem will done yuh inna kirk
all ova waterhouse a drought still dem will wet yuh
is like yuh life nuh have nuh worth
and inna callaloo bed mi nuh si nuh mo vegetarian alone

mek wi get dis straight sah
chant for a safer jamaica
who name dem place yah
dem neva seh word sound a powah
hey