Category: Lyrics

Words and music by Robbie Smith

Ah she works to a reggae rhythm
Yes, she works to a reggae rhythm,
Cooking, cleaning, sewing and sweeping,
To that reggae rhythm;

Oh she’s movin’ to a reggae rhythm
Yes, she’s movin’ to a reggae rhythm
Mama, sweet mama, you’ve been working too hard
You need to get out of the kitchen

And come dancing to that reggae rhythm
Let’s go dancing to that reggae rhythm,
Follow me down to the palm-lined shore,
Where there’s a party just beginning

And when she hears that down beat
It takes complete control –
It fills her up with a sound so sweet
She can feel it in her soul

Steel drum player from a steel drum band
Well it’s a cool, cool sound in the hot, hot sand,
She let’s out a yell as she takes my hand
And we start dancing…

And we’re dancing to that reggae rhythm
Yes we are dancing to that reggae rhythm
We don’t care about the world and its rules
‘Cause when we’re dancing, hey we’re living

And when she hears that down beat
As the conga drum moans and groans,
That double dare ya down beat
She can feel it in her bones…

Liimbo dancer – dancing low to the ground
He says: “I’m the best limbo dancer around”;
He nearly makes it but his nose knocks it down
So she starts laughing…

And she’s laughing to a reggae rhythm,
Yes she’s laughing to that reggae rhythm
She jiggles and she shakes, she wiggles and she quakes,
To that reggae rhythm

Now this song – it doesn’t have an ending,
Cause this song – it goes on forever,
You can hear the instruments blending
See the people – dancing all together…
So, let the rhythm lift ya – let the rhythm take ya
It’s for the people – the people of this island
The island of Jamaica…

And we’re dancing to that reggae rhythm
‘Cause it’s the rhythm of their island
O-o-oh reggae
No problem, mon – when I hear that reggae band
O-o-oh reggae
It’s the rhythm of their island
O-o-oh reggae
No problem, mon, no problem, mon

Written by Robbie Smith

I want to give you my medals
My soldiering days are done
The troops are marching away, to find their freedom

I want to give you my trophies
All the ribbons that I’ve won
They’re taking up space in my past, now I don’t need them

And in return just give me all your teardrops
Give your fears up, my love
You don’t need them any more

Yes, in return just give me all your sadness
Take the gladness from my eyes,
And make it yours

I want to give you my love songs
They were written just for you
Even the ones that I wrote before I knew you

I want to give you my future
All that’s mine I give to you
Whatever you can find that might be of value

And in return just give me all your teardrops
Come on and cheer up, my love
Find the joy that love restores

Yes, in return just give me all your sadness
Take the gladness that is mine,
And make it yours

And you can give me your hardships
The weakness that you feel
The wounds that you’ve been hiding maybe love can heal

And the weight on your shoulders
Give that weight to me
I’ll carry it with new strength and carry it gladly

Instrumental

I’ll carry it with new strength…
I’ll carry it with new strength…
And carry it gladly
I want to give you my medals, trophies and lovesongs

Written by Robbie Smith

I used to be a drifter, as restless as the tide
Searching for some laughter and trying to hitch a ride
To a place that held more promises than the place I’d left behind
With miles and miles of carefree smiles and dreams to fill my mind

I welcomed every season just like a long lost friend
I had my freedom, I didn’t want that road to end
But then someone tried to hold me once tried to mend my ways
But something told me that she knew I wouldn’t stay

And she said:
Hey stranger whom no one seems to know
Well don’t be in such a hurry to pack your dreams and go
You must learn to take your comfort where comfort can be found
Some men never find it, though they might search the whole world round

Looking back it wasn’t easy, but I chose the open road
The world was there to please me and its sadness seldom showed,
Until I grew a little older and things began to change
The wind seemed so much colder as it filled my heart with rage

And I recalled her saying:
Hey stranger whom no one seems to know
Well don’t be in such a hurry to pack your dreams and go
You must learn to take your comfort where comfort can be found
For some men never find it, though they might search the whole world round

And if only she were near me now, she’d cheer me with her smile
And I’d be more than willing to give up one dream for awhile

But then, you see I’m still a drifter, as restless as the tide
Still searching for some answers and trying to hitch a ride
But the life that I am leading now isn’t what I had in mind
Though as miles and miles of carefree smiles have all been left behind

Written by Robbie Smith

You were patient with me, when others turned away
You stood by faithfully, yes you chose to stay
To keep my spirits alive with songs and poetry
You taught my heart to strive to see a future I never thought could be

You always did what you could so unselfishly
You let me know where I stood through life’s uncertainty
You painted sweet skies of blue through times of winter grey
I owe so very much to you, more than I ever can repay

But those who are strong, may one day weaken
And those who are weak may yet be strong
And if our love carries on, shining like a beacon
We can cope together, whatever comes along

And now that you are the one that needs a guiding hand
Someone to show you the sun, someone to understand
It’s with my thankfulness I give my loyalty
How could I do any less for you, than you always did for me

For those who are strong, may one day weaken
And those who are weak may yet be strong
And if our love carries on, shining like a beacon
We can cope together, whatever comes along

For those who are strong, may one day weaken
And those who are weak may yet be strong
But still our love carries on, shining like a beacon
Keeping us together, whatever comes along
Keeping us together, where both of us belong

Written by Robbie Smith

I can tell you feel like crying
Trying to hold back as tear
But you wouldn’t want it showing
Knowing I’m near

Looking back on all your hurts
It won’t be very long
If you wait until tomorrow,
You’ll find them gone

Just some tender reassuring
During a dark lonely time
With the sadness of November
Remember this rhyme

Looking back on all our hurts
It won’t be very long
If we wait until tomorrow,
We’ll find them gone

Words and music by Robbie Smith

Come with me to the mountains, and I’ll share with you all I know
And I’ll stay with you till the moon cries to the sun rise far below
Walk away from the future, to the past that’s where I’m bound
Where the old ways of our fathers may be lost but still can be found

Rest awhile and lay your burdens down, the road is long
I think it’s time we heard somebody sing – a peaceful song

Long ago on this hillside grew a stand of strong lofty trees
‘Til the wars came and the trees died and the soil was washed to the sea
But from the earth grew a seedling with a yearning thirst for the skies
For the seed of life is eternal and the breath of hope never dies

Rest awhile and lay your burdens down, the road is long
I think it’s time we heard somebody sing – a peaceful song

Now, some will say we are wayward, but our quest has scarcely begun
We will share our dreams with our children, see them build their homes to the sun
Some will try to dissuade us, but they’ll never lead us astray
For the path is worn with our footsteps, and they’re bound to follow some day
And they’ll be singing…

Rest awhile and lay your burdens down, the road is long
I think it’s time we heard somebody sing – a peaceful song
We’ll hear them singing…

Rest awhile and lay your burdens down, the road is long
I think it’s time we heard somebody sing – a peaceful song…
A peaceful song.

Words and music by Robbie Smith

Fill me with the mystery and majesty of Africa
Long ago safaris on forgotten winding trails
Guide me through your jungles, with the gentle songs of Africa
A wildness in your eyes as you tell to me your tales

Bring her inner beauty to the surface near the firelight
Undiscovered sweetness alluring to the eye
Play exotic instruments that fill the mind with inner sight
Half remembered images slowly brought to life

And here in the night I could hear voices calling me
Here in the night, I could hear voices call

Purple shrouded mountains rising to magnificence
Waves of heat embracing a pink and hazy sky
Wildabeasts and zebras posing in their innocence
Unnoticing the grassy lair where the lions lie

And there in the light I could see shadows falling free
Almost in sight I could see shadows fall

Ah-ah-ah-ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah

Hear the distant drumming of the tribesmen on the outer plain
Warding off their enemies – welcoming their friends
We can never truly share in their pleasure or in their pain
We are but intruders, and soon our journey ends

And here in the night I could hear, I could hear voices calling me
Here in the night, I could hear voices call

And here in the night I could hear – I could hear voices calling
Here in the night, I could hear voices call

There in the light I could see – I could see shadows falling
There in the light, I could see shadows fall

Written by Robbie Smith

Lay another plank down boys – sing a shipyard shanty everyone
Lay another plank down boys, we’ll be tastin’ the rum when she’s done
When her seafaring life’s begun

We’ve been bending our backs all through the winter
Cutting the spruce, the oak and the fir
She has to be made of the finest timber
And twice as long as the other ones were
She’s a handsome schooner sound and sturdy
Built to rival the marblehead line
Pick up the pace for the sun sets early
And there’s extra pay if she’s finished on time

So, lay another plank down boys –
She’ll soon be ready for the springtime run
Lay another plank down boys –
For the quarterdeck’s nearly done, nearly done

It’s been nigh on a year since first we started
And many long days since we bolted the keel
It’s hard to believe we’ll soon be parted
When the captain comes to take hold of the wheel
But we’ll stand and watch her outline fading
Into the mists at the mouth of the bay
Roundin’ the cape and ridin’ the tradewinds
Gathering speed as she sails away-ay-hay-ay
Oh, lay another plank down boys –
As a merchant vessel she’ll be second to none
Lay another plank down boys –
It’s time for the last inspection
Lay another plank down boys –
She’ll be launched tomorrow with the rising sun
We’ll turn the capstan crank round boys
And we’ll give her soul to the ocean

Instrumental

Well, we’ve watched her grow from a stack of lumber
We’ve given her strength and we’ve given her form
I pray she’ll not be torn asunder
Out on a reef in the teeth of a storm
No, she’ll do us proud taking the breakers
Skirting the shoals through the billowing spray
Paying respect to her shore-bound makers
Long after we’ve all passed away-ay-hay-ay

So lay another plank down boys – sing a shipyard shanty everyone
Lay another plank down boys – we’ll be tastin’ the rum when she’s done
When her seafaring life’s begun – oh, when her seafaring life’s begun
Lay-ay-ay another plank down boys
Lay-ay-ay another plank down boys
(’Til her seafaring life’s begun)
Lay-ay-ay another plank down boys
(’Til her seafaring life’s begun)
Lay-ay-ay another plank down boys

Words and music by Robbie Smith

Let’s have some music, there’s a lot of sweet music in my soul
Let’s have some music, gonna reach out and touch you that’s my goal
Let’s have some music, sing out high, sing out strong
Gotta have a lot of that lovin’ music, it’s been too long

Bring a message of love, bring a message of peace to the people near and far
Make them see that in time we’ll be much better off than we are
Gather round, hear the sound of the laughter that it brings
Pick up your voices, one by one, until the rafters ring

Let’s have some music, there’s a lot of sweet music in my soul
Let’s have some music, gonna reach out and touch you that’s my goal
Let’s have some music, sing out high, sing out strong
Gotta have a lot of that lovin’ music, it’s been too long

You see I’m your brother and I wanna befriend you
I’ve got so much love to lend you
Just rise up from your chairs and sing
It’s come the time of the harvest and we’re gathered here to offer our best
Music to the world, every boy and girl, you gotta sing now

It can give us hope to help us cope with the burdens of this life
Try again to put an end to the suffering and the strife
It can give us the strength to forge ahead, it can teach us so many things
So set the stage, turn the page, let’s all begin to sing

Let’s have some music, Let’s have some music,
Let’s have some music, Let’s have some music

Written by Robbie Smith

See them on the water –
Out there in the harbour –
The colours of their feathers softly gleam;
See their lifelike features –
Crafted by the carver
With some wood and some paint and a dream…

And though the carver’s hands are sore and rough with aging,
Oh, the shavings curl so smoothly from the blade,
And will his skills be passed along or will they be forgotten –
When that last fine carving is made?

See them on the water –
See the floating sculptures –
The eiders and the bluebills and the teal;
See their lifelike features –
Crafted by the carver –
You could almost swear that they were real…

And when his works are done and placed beside the others,
Oh, the price is marked, but who’s to know his name?
Maybe they’ll be swept away – drifting to an unfamiliar shore
For someone else to claim.

See them on the water –
See the foating sculptures –
You could almost swear that they were real…
Yes, you could almost swear that they were real.

Written by Robbie Smith

We pledged to meet where banyons grow
Beneath the southern cross’ glow
Far, far from fears that we have shed
Beyond the reach of lives we’ve led

No fonder love has ever grown
From two sad hearts too long alone
No surer hope could ‘ere survive these tests
And yet emerge to thrive

The Southern Cross is guiding us
The Southern Cross is offering us it’s treasure
Though we be lost, and tempest tossed
The Southern Cross will glow in our hearts ‘til we are together

So keep the Southern Cross in view
Don’t let it’s comfort fade from you
When searching ends, then living starts
For its then we’ll quench our thirsting hearts

The Southern Cross is guiding us
The Southern Cross is offering us it’s treasure
Though we be lost, and tempest tossed
The Southern Cross will glow in our hearts ‘til we are together
(instrumental line)

The Southern Cross
The Southern Cross is offering us it’s splendour
Though we be lost, and tempest tossed
The Southern Cross will glow in our hearts ‘til we are together
‘Til we are together

Written by Robbie Smith

Hear me ancient river
Close your weary eyes
You have traveled far this day

By the golden marshes
Warmed by the sun along your way

The wind will stop and listen
To my simple song
With the coming of the night

And you will sleep ’til morning,
Bathed in the quiet harbour lights

Notes of love I could never write
Far far away
Scarcely heard in the quiet night
And lost, lost in the day

Instrumental

Now soon the tide will be changing (changing)
With a gentle flow
The stars are melting with the sky

And when the storms are breaking
You will remember with a sigh
The night I sang – your lullaby