The Going Is Rough

Now the race is not for the swift
Only who can endure it
Only the fittest of the fittest shall survive
And when you start to survive
Just keep on keep yourself alive
Selassie I know

Sometimes the road gets too rough
And you can't stand the pace
Can't keep up with the leaders
So get out of the race

Though you try and try so hard
Failure is your just reward
There is a lesson you must learn
Play with fire you must get burned

The going is rough
It's gonna get rougher
The going is tough
It's gonna get tougher
So if you are in doubt, it's time to get out
And stop running your mouth

Mi say donkey no business inna champion race
Three di hard way come fi mash up di place
When we set it, nuff bwoy can't take it
Say, who can't take it better gwan and lef' it
Tell di whole of dem say we control dem ticket
Tell di rest of dem gwan go empty di bucket
Wah bend up yuh face, no bother try chuck it
If you try chuck it, you must kick di bucket

Everyday another imposter waan come take away we place
And everywhere we go there's another one waan come point inna we face

Though they try to get us out
We've got no fear and we've got no doubt
We've got the talent and we've got the skill
We know the way and we've got the will

The going is rough
It's gonna get rougher
The going is tough
It's gonna get tougher

And if a bwoy try a thing, him melt like butter
No judge me by mi looks and no judge me by mi color
Here's cutty rank pon di microphone center
Come a dancehall, a just roots and culture
Di-be-di-be DJ gwan get turn over
Listen raggamuffin jam up every corner

You check say we simple, check say we simple
'Cause we no stay pon corner and idle
You check say we simple, check say we simple
You waan come take away we title

The going is rough
It's gonna get rougher
The going is tough
It's gonna get tougher
So if you are in doubt, it's time to get out
And stop running your mouth

Mi say donkey no business inna champion race
Three di hard way come fi mash up di place
When we set it, nuff bwoy can't take it
Say, who can't take it better gwan and lef' it
Tell di whole of dem say we control dem ticket
Tell di rest of dem gwan go empty di bucket
Wah bend up yuh face, no bother try chuck it
If you try chuck it, you must kick di bucket

Sometimes the road gets too rough
And you can't stand the pace
Can't keep up with the leaders
So get out of the race

Though you try and try so hard
Failure is your just reward
There is a lesson you must learn
Play with fire you will get burned

If a bwoy waan take it, him haffi come harder
Only Cutty Kukutty run di border
You declare war but we nah take no prisoner
You start di fight so we goin' carry further
You too bright and you too outta order
If you waan talk so we must turn you over
Listen Cutty Rank pon di microphone center
When mi come a dance, mi come fi dance it inna culture
Go down pon mi knee and mi start pray to Jah Jah

Jah Jah give mi strength and make mi live longer
All di weak heart dem go down and shiver
Listen Cutty Rank pon di microphone center
Go catch two crayfish down at di river
Put on mi pot fi full of hot water
Fling in some yam and some Irish potato

Some carrot, turnip, and even guava