Talk Up Yout!  Empowering Voices of Jamaica's Youth
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Youth Community

Picture

Speak out​

JAMAICAN MANNAZ
By J. Bent; W. Mitchell; R. Bent
April 9, 2014

Picture
Children from every ethnicity country and class  
are locked up in cages of silence
Trapped by fear The fear of disbelief
Africans, Americans, Europeans, Asians and
West Indians are being infected
by this unbearable and demoralising disease called  Child Abuse.
​
It is passed down from generation to generation
Guilty parents adopting from their predators
then try to pass it down to their successors
Creepy hands running into the future of their sons and daughters

Clandestinely taking away their innocence
Turning bright glassy crystal eyes
Into streams of obscurity ignominy and resentment
Children are being exploited from border to border without limitation

Children are sold into the arms of gangs  for sexual exploitation
Children are locked up in basements  alienated from the rays of each day
they are buffeted with wipes and iron
in the dungeon of hell, they whisper to themselves

'Someone help me'
This is the time to stifle silence and speak out
Don't be terrified anymore, just speak out
Run to a radio station

Blare it out in the middle of a church service
Shout it out at your graduation
Just to get the right person's attention
Don't conceal it any longer, whatever you have been promised

Your freedom from this enslavement is priceless
If you have to sound or look crazy to be heard
Just face it and speak out
Staying in silence will deteriorate your future
Quench the fire of suicide with the water called 'speak out'

Even if you are an adult, be free
Like Oprah Winfrey
blare it out, shout it out, just do it
be the first and speak out

- Daron Chosen Smith
CHORUS
“Please and tanks!,"  “Please and tanks!”
Jamaicans say, “Please and Tanks”
From we young we grow wid mannaz,
So we have to tell you, “Please and tanks”.
“Good morning!” and “Good evening!”
“Good afternoon” is a good greeting,
What you put out is what you receiving,
So we haffi tell you “Please and tanks”.

1st VS:
Jamaican Mannaz, that means different things
Cause if you’re under mannaz, means you’re disciplined
Jamaican Mannaz, that means self-control
And it applies fi di young, yes and even di old
Jamaican mannaz is the basic step 
We use mannaz when we wan’ show self-respect 
Mannaz no matter who, what, where or why
Mannaz for granny, puppa, mumma, girl or boy

Pre-cho (call and answer):
Me have MANNAZ!
Whe you fi show? MANNAZ!
Whe you fi teach? MANNAZ!
Everybody needs – MANNAZ!

Chorus

2nd VS. 
When me step inna di room, me first a say, “Greetings!”
Mi have you up if you nuh tell me back someting
And if me bounce you when me pass you, me tell you, “Hush! Sorry!”
The Englishman would say, “Pardon me!”
Get a ‘bligh’ inna di traffic, touch my horn (pa-pa-pamp)
Dinnertime at the table, me say “Please pass di salt”
Nuh interrupt the conversation, “Beg you excuse me”
Inna Jamaica dat a common courtesy
Pre-cho (call and answer):
MANNAZ
Whe you fi have? MANNAZ
Whe you fi show? MANNAZ 
Whe you fi teach? MANNAZ

CHORUS

BRIDGE
If I want you to show me respect, I show it to you myself
If I want you to give kindness, I give it to you myself
Mannaz in Jamaica is a special brand you know
With a twinkle in the eye only we can show

Pre-cho (call and answer):
MANNAZ!
Whe you fi show? MANNAZ!
Whe you fi teach? MANNAZ!
Everybody need - MANNAZ!


Feature: WHY? Poem by Kevaughn Ellis

  Talk Up Yout (C) 2020

  

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