Linton Kwesi Johnson - Story Lyrics

wance upon a time
jus like inna nursery rime
before piggy tun swine
mi did wear
mi fear
pan mi face
like a shiel
like a mawsk
an evrybody tink mi cool an deadly

nottn yu coulda seh
woulda mek mi tek it awf
an if yu get mi nervos
ah voulda jus lawf it awf
an evrybody tink mi cool an deadly

but not soh long ago
ins like inna pitcha show
whey di hero get a blow
mi spirit get vex
an mi get soh ressless
dat mi get careless
an goh bare mi mawgah chess

mi newah indah tink seh
dat it mek outa glaas
dat di whole wide worl coulda si
rite dung to di vien inna mi awt
ow dem twis-up
ow dem tie-up
ow dem tite-up
o mi awt
ow it cut-up
ow it craw-up
ow it scar-up

( it is a aad awt fi mawstah yu noe
dis smilin an skinin yu teet
wen yu awt sweel-up soh till yu feel it a goh bus
wen yu cyaan fine di rime fi fit di beat
wen yu cyan fine di ansah fi di puzzle complete)

soh mi tek awf mi mawsk
an staat fi wear daak glaas
but eyry so awftin
mi haffi tek it awf
an evry nowanden
mi fine mi laas
oonu evah
si mi trial
si mi crawsiz ?