Rise Up Jamaica

Intro

Ho-ya, ho-ya, hey-ya (ya, ya)

Come close, come close, come close

Verse

Wind took the roofs and the porch lights went out

Water on the road, the radio sings about doubt

But in the corner store a mother holds her child

Neighbors knock the door — we rally, we stay awhile

The mango tree bent low but the roots hold firm

Old man on the bench says, "We will learn"

From Blue Mountains down to the Pembroke shore

Every hand is needed, every storm we endure

Pre-chorus

So bring the blankets, bring the bread (bring the bread)

Lift the babies, lift the heads (lift the heads)

Send a rumble of engines, bring the boats in sight

We are morning after midnight, we are morning after night (oh-oh)

Chorus

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Lift the ones who can't stand yet (can't stand yet)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

We will carry light — we will not forget

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Hands together, one by one (one by one)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Till the work is done, till the work is done (hey!)

Verse

Small boats out at dawn, bringing bread and juice

Volunteers with flashlights, tarps and roof screws

Text from the cousin over sea, "We sending love now"

Community kitchens hum like a prayer and a vow

Old songs on a cheap radio keep the children calm

We patch the nets and the dreams with open palm

School gym turns shelter, blankets on the floor

When the storm took the ceiling, we opened the door

Pre-chorus

Wrap the elders in a sweater (oh-oh)

Share the story, tell it better (yah)

Stack the water, mend the fence (mend the fence)

Sing the names aloud — we will make sense (make sense)

Chorus

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Lift the ones who can't stand yet (can't stand yet)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

We will carry light — we will not forget

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Hands together, one by one (one by one)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Till the work is done, till the work is done (hey!)

Bridge

When the roof is gone and the nights are long

We hum the old tune, we hum it strong (sha-la-la)

Every stitch, every nail, every little plan

We rebuild the house, we rebuild the land (we rebuild)

Call out the names, pass me the light (pass it here)

I’ll hold the lantern through the long, long night (I’ll hold)

From Port Royal to the St. Mary hills

We pick up the pieces, we mend what the storm spills

Chorus

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Lift the ones who can't stand yet (can't stand yet)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

We will carry light — we will not forget

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Hands together, one by one (one by one)

Rise up, Jamaica, rise up (rise up, rise up)

Till the work is done, till the work is done (oh-oh, hey!)