It Noh Funny and I agree
Howdeedoo. Dis is Algernon now. Yesterday I meet up with Elijah and I try to reason wid him. I tell ‘im how I understand what it is like for him as a young man growing up today, that I know what its like to be young man inna Ingland. But he tell me that I could never know what it like to be young now cuz it so violent on the street wid post code war and other madness.
But I can tell him some story an’ story when I was a yout’ and we had to fight off the racist teddy boys. Yes I have some story for him. But that is for later…
Remember I tell you about It It Noh Funny by LKJ? Well, wid a likkle help from Elijah he help me find this on the hinternet. I fin’ the words for Linton Kwesi poem and a link where you can find out more about him. Seems he knows alotta tings about poetry and politics. Yes, he seem like a man wid nuff wisdom. Mm hmm.
So I put them both, de words and de music for your henjoyment and maybe a likkle heducation. Click on the triangle below to hear Linton read his poem “It Noh Funny”.
IT NOH FUNNY
people sayin´ dis
people sayin´ dat
`bout di yout´ of today
how dem carryin´ on away
an´ it noh funny
it noh funny
dem wi` tek chance
fi get a likkle kile (coil: money)
dem wi` tek chance
fi live-it-up a while
dem wi` tek chance
fi live-it-up in style
dem wi` tek chance
fi goh jump an´ prance
dem wi` tek chance
an dem love blues dance
dem wi` tek chance
an´ dem don´t count di caas (cost)
people sayin´ dis
people sayin´ dat
`bout di yout´ of today
how dem causin´ affray
an´ it noh funny
it noh funny
dem wi` tek chance
an´ dem love cuss raas
dem wi` tek chance
dem wi´skip dem class
dem wi` tek chance
fi goh pap a likkle style (to pop style: wear fashionable clothes)
dem wi` tek chance
dem dhu it all di while
dem wi` tek chance
but some a dem laas (lost)
dem wi` tek chance
an´dem don´t count di caas
people sayin´ dis
people sayin´ dat
`bout di yout´ of today
´bout di way dem stay
an´ it noh funny
it noh funny
dem wi` tek chance
fi get a likkle kally (cully weed: marijuana)
dem wi` tek chance
wid y´u likkle sistah Sally
dem wi` tek chance
far dem feel dem force
dem wi` tek chance
but dem gat no course
dem wi` tek chance
but dem is nat advanced
dem wi` tek chance
an´ dem don´t count di caas
people sayin´ dis
people sayin´ dat
`bout di yout´ of today
how dem really stay
an´ it noh funny
it noh funny
Now listen to the dubwise version from the album “Forces of Victory”.
Its wid the Dennis Bovell Reggae Band.
I did skank two foot when I heard dis! Heh heh hehey!
CLICK A LITTLE MORE LINTON INFO
01/06/2009 at 12:41 pm
Hey Algenon. Thanks for putting this poem on here Because I used it for the workshop in Stockton the other day. Nuff people liked it and they saw the relevance of it today.
Thanks yeah. Ayleen.
01/06/2009 at 5:45 pm
Glad I could be of help my dear. Say hello to your mother for me. Algernon.