Roots Archives Forum

Not a patois question I guess. As a non native speaker of english, there are some words you just don't know.

What is Barrington saying in the beginning of When friday come?

"I'm working at a ???? as a ?????" Where is he working and what is his job there?

The track can be heard here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6diKpg5e_wM

working on a site ____ (does he say site side? not that it would make sense but..) as a contractor

Not a native speaker either, but i'll try:

a "site" is the construction place, you can also say "construction site". He's working there as a contractor or sub-contractor which means he's employed there to build something up. He worked there the entire week and on payday (friday) he's not getting his money.

Yeah construction site I know. Thanks guys, so far so good, contractor/sub-contractor is right I guess, I didn't know these words. But the first sentence of his lyrics...

I'm working at/on a ...??? It really sounds like site side, but that makes no sense. He doesn't say "salt mine" does he?

"I'm working at a site, sah
As a contractor"

I'm not the biggest expert on patois but I believe it's just an interjection. For example on "Please Jah Jah" ,which has similar lyrics, Barrington sings "I'm working all day sah, when friday come sah" etc.

The "sah" is "sir" - the "mr. boss man" he's pleading with for his money..."'ave some sympathy."

Thanks, all of you guys' explanations are sounding very good to me. So I'm still not 100% sure.

Would be nice if Mr. Levy would read this thread and answer like Scientist once did.

I don't want this thread to be closed yet. Not giving up. So any more suggestions?

Hey! does any one knows the lyrics of this song??

Playing this now as a day-appropriate song. I thought I knew the words but I can't work out wht he says he does get when friday comes. Plus there are a couple of other parts that aren't too clear either


I'm working on a site sah
as a contractor
i said contractor
but when friday come i only get _____?

I work all day
in the burning sun
but when friday come i don't get no pay
my girl give me the blame
my girl give me the blame

The reason you are working
is to keep my two kids and wife
I said the reason why I am working
is to feed my two kids and wife

I said I working on a site sah
as a contractor
and when friday come i didn't get no pay
I only get a _____?

Working on a site all day
in the burning sun
and when friday come I get an ____?

Please mister bossman
please mister bossman
I working all day
all day

Working on a site sah
as a sub-contractor
and when friday comes I only get the ____?

My girlfriend give me the blame
my girlfriend give me the blame
she said mother __ father___ blessed be the ______

A bossman can take his work from you
but he can't take your dread
he can't take it, no no

What is for you
he is for you
he is for you
so just be____

I work on a site sah
as a contractor
a sub-contractor

I working on a site
as a contractor
but when friday comes i only get a ____

Please mister bossman
have some sympathy
not for me but my kids
my kids, my kids and my wife
I just want to see them alright

I just wanna see them alright
I just want to see them alright

I working on a site as a contrator
but when friday comes I only get ____
so please sir have some sympathy in me sir
not me sir, only the kids

Lester is right SAH is SIR