Roots Archives Forum

I play this in a group and the singer just cant understand Jacob's lyrics. I can only understand this:

Jenny and her sister from Manchester, come a carry .....?


Sister Jenny, a sister to marry, set dem come from a good family

And, obviously, the chorus.
I've been looking on the web and havent found anything, its because I come here, hope you guys can understand this Jacob Miller lyric.
Please any help would be appreciated.


Thanks!

"Come a Carifesta" (festival) I think it is, another festival song contest entry, slightly better than your average Eurovision effort! Would have to listen to it again (find it first) before helping with the rest of it though.

Yes, you're right, in 1976 the Carifesta (never heard of this before) was in JA. Its every 3 or 4 years. An that year the winner song was "Dance Dis Ya Festival" by Freddie McKay, recorded at Channel One.

Little bit offtopic: I found [this story](http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/ ... /ent2.html) about both songs.


Anycase, every word is very appreciated, thanks.

Nice article, abey, thanks for finding it. I didn't know the Miller song was with Sly and Robbie at Joe Gibbs.

Hey, I've been listening to the song with a friend and we advanced a little bit.

Jenny and her sister from Manchester,
come a Carifesta, a Boko Bahia (??)

Chorus

I man I a
Inna "chesta" (from Manchester??)
I go a to
Jenny and a sister

Chorus

Sister Jenny, a sister to marry,
set dem come from a good family


Boko Bahia, after searching, just didnt find anything about it. Manchester I supose is Jamaican Manchester. And in the middle of the song just go a little harder to understand for me.

If anyone can help to improve this in anyway, thanks.

Jenny and 'ar sista
from Manchester
come a Carifesta
buck up on I a
(means: the girls run into me/ meet me)
chorus

I man I a
I nah jester (means: I am not a joker/fool)
I a go at a
Jenny and ar sister

Chorus

Sister Jenny
'ar sista too, Mary
said dem come
from good family

break

one inna 'pike heel (pike = spike = stiletto heels)
di odda inna blue booth (wearing blue booths)
when di music tek dem
dem seh: Ites rules, natty roots

chorus, fade out

and a whole lot of oh, ah, ie, eh's thrown in between !!

oh yeah!!

thank you very much Return of Jesco and Jumbo Shower for take your time for this!

bless

no worries, the only part i am not sure of is the
Ites Rules

this could also be

ites roots or ites rocks

Sounds like you got the lyrics worked out perfectly to me Jumbo

and people... what a great choone

Janie and her sister
From Manchester
Come a Carifest
And them buck up 'pon I

It was all night 'til daylight (x2)

I man iyah
I nah jester
I a go hot up
Janie and her sister

It was all night 'til daylight (x2)

Sister Janie
A sister to Mary
Say them come from a good family

It was all night 'til daylight (x2)

One inna spike heel
The other in blue
When the music takes them
They say "ites roots, natty roots"

It was all night 'til daylight (x2)