carnival... we loss it

carnival ah de saddess ting...
mas used to make like mancrab, claw used to grab, tantan, saga boy an ting.
now is a bead by bead, quick speed, front line gone ah lead, feathers and g-string.
price never nice blink twice, look yuh vice done dip in yuh bank an clip yuh wing.
check landlord, sad song ah sing.
check grocery, nuff crix buying.

yuh know dem streets get dangerous
man lookin out to rob and take tings from us
yuh in a band in a jam wid a drink in yuh hand,
phone gone an yuh crucifix chain geh buss.
yuh doh care, cause de soca have yuh feelin tuss.
yuh in ah gear, so yuh chippin an yuh raisin duss.
play yuh muss, de bug it contag-ious
when yuh make triniscene it go be a plus!

carnival... we loss it... Q boy
festival... we loss it.
portrayal... we loss it... Q boy
musical... we loss it.
his-torical... we loss it... Q boy
tra-ditional... we loss it.
carnival... we loss it!
carnival... we loss it!

comin back to de music ting
used to be nuff topic and style, concept all de while in de riddim and de songs we sing
when sparrow was de bird, super blue... blue boy, kitchener, to de shadow and de johnnie king
when men bring tune and dey croon on a riddim and de riddim woulda make gyal body swing
and horns blow like orchestra ting
live an alive, nuff steel band playing

yuh coulda tell when pelham or len pull a pen, hear de riddim beat pi-kee-likky-likkity-ting
now pan is a lime, have a time at de semis cause yuh know finals doh sayin nothing
an when man write song, take long in a studio session, den mix and master ting
de radio men dem not listening.
cause dem too busy palancing.

it shitty dat de people in de city doh know, never hear, never learn canboulay ting
when de people had a voice and dey choice was to overs, done wid all dat slavery ting
and de chantwell come like he was king
when he talk all man jack listening
but today he hadda pay radio for dem to settle and play he ting

carnival... we loss it... Q boy
festival... we loss it.
portrayal... we loss it... Q boy
musical... we loss it.
his-torical... we loss it... Q boy
tra-ditional... we loss it.
carnival... we loss it!
carnival... we loss it!