Smiley Culture - "Cockney Translation"

London Reggae artist 'Smiley Culture' had one of the coolest singles of the 80's. If you could actually understand him, you were in for a treat. With his Jamaican heritage, he gives a lesson on the London dialect to his Jamaican brothers and sisters.... it is full of wit and over a nice dub soundtrack, albeit an 80's one. The greatest self help tape ever.... In fact, the Cassingle release of this song should have been in every library's Books-on-Tape section.

The Lyrics 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, It's I Smiley Cuulture with the mike in a me hand Me come to teach you right and not the wrong In a de Cockney Translation Cockney's not a Language it is only a slang And was originated yah so inna England The first place it was used was over East London It was respect for the different style pronunciation But it wasn't really used by any and any man Me say strictly con-man also the villain But through me full up of lyrics and education Right here now you a go get a little translation Cockney have name like Treey, Arthur and del-boy We have name like Winston, Lloyd and Leroy We bawl out YOW! While cockneys say OI! What cockney call a Jack's we call a Blue Bwoy Say cockney have mates while we have spar Cockneylive in a brum while we live in a yard Say we nyam while cockney gwt capture Cockney say guv'nor. We say Big Bout ya In a de Cockney Translation! In a de Cockney Translation! Well watch a man.............................. The translation of cockney to understand is easy So long as you don't deaf and you listen me keenly You should pick it up likea youth who find some money Go tell it to your friends also your family No matter if a English or a Yardy Ca' you never when them might buck up a cockney Remember warm dem dem deh man dem don't easy Dem no fire sling shot a me say strictly double B Dem run protection racket and control 'nuff C.I.D. Say cockney fire shooter, We bus' gun Cockney say tea leaf, We say sticks man You know dem have wedge while we have corn Say cockney say be first, my son! We just say Gwan! Cockney say grass, We say outformer man When dem talk 'bout iron dem really meam batty man Rope chain and choparita me say cockney call tom Say cockney say Old Bill, We dutty Babylon In a de Cockney Translation! In a de Cockney Translation! Well watch a man........................ Slam bam Jah man Hear dam Fashion Smiley Culture Origiantion But first let me tell you more about thr cockney Who live comfortably and have yacht by the sea And when it come to monry most of then have plenty But where dum spend it? In de bookie Lose it all on the dogs or on the gee gees Or paying off fe dem bribes to the Sweeney So dem nah go do no time fe no armed robbery Or catching antthing that fell off the back of a lorry Slam bam Jah man Hear dem Fashion Me strong Me long Me at the mike stand More time In a dance Me chat 'Pon a sound But sometimes me shake out and leave me home town And that's when me travel a East London Where I have to speak as a different man So that the cockney can understand So black man and white man hear dem fashion Cockney say scarper, We say scatter Cockney say rabbit, We chatter We say bleach, Cockney Knackered! Cockney say triffic, We say waaacked! Cockney say blokes, We say guys Cockney say Alright? We say Ites! we say pants, Cockney say strides Sweet as a nut...................... just level vibes. Seen? The ultimate cockney television show