[Intro]
[Scatting] (Yeah)

[Chorus]
Time get so hard that rat tackle-cut bottle
Is a situation that the poor man cyaan tackle (Yeah)
Time get so tough, man cyaan even get one
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan handle (Lord)

[Verse 1]
The cost of living, say, it get so drastic
So, mother cyaan even find penny fi send dem pickney go a market
Nickle get so scarce, you cyaan even get none
So, instead a once a week every day for me a [?] (Lord)

[Chorus]
Time get so hard that even rat tacklе-cut bottle (Lord)
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan tackle
Thе time get so tough, man cyaan even get one
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan handle

[Verse 2]
Whenever you go downtown, just take a look around
And check how much youth you see walkin' up and down (Yeah)
'Cause in yah dis yah time, when no job man cyaan find
If they are in need, say, they must commit a crime (Lord)
[Bridge]
[Scatting]

[Verse 3]
The cost of living, say, it get so drastic
So, mother cyaan even find penny fi send dem pickney go a market
Nickle get so scarce, you cyaan even get none
So, instead a once a week every day for me a [?] (Lord)

[Chorus]
Time get so hard that even rat tackle-cut bottle (Lord)
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan tackle
The time get so tough, man cyaan even get one
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan handle

[Outro]
Never, never handle
No, never handle
A sufferation; yes, a sufferation

[Part 2 - Toast by Unknown Artist]

[Intro]
[Scatting]
Hey now, so mi say
[Chorus]
Time get so hard that rat tackle-cut bottle (True-true)
It's a situation that the poor man cyaan tackle (Bam-biddly-beng)

[Verse 1]
Say, time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
Time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
What a dread situation fi tackle
Man, a what a dread situation fi tackle
Say, mi cyaan get no food deh fi nimble (Pow!)
Mi cyaan get no food deh fi nimble
Rich man check it so simple
Brr, lot a poor man take it ungrateful (You know)
Say dat, mi wake up pon mi bed, I say, mi feel so sick
But a, when mi take a stop, mi said, I cyaan survive dis
It just a twist mi like a gungu-walk stick
Brr, lord, it just a twist mi like a gungu-walk stick

[Chorus]
For mi say, time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
Time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
Said, a sufferation, a sufferation
An' mi say, murderation (You know)

[Verse 2]
For mi say, wicked man, a weh you a go run?
For mi say, wicked man, a weh you a go hide?
Because a Jah Jah a go strike with di lighting an' thunder
Jah Jah a go strike with di lighting an' thunder
Jah a marshal, him no partial (Pow!)
Jah a marshal, him no partial
Because, him higher than a general (Right)
Him higher than a general (Yeah)
For mi say, whether you a woman or a whether you a man
You got to remember, say, you deh 'pon Jah Jah land
Bam-bam, upon di island; Said, a bam-bam, on di island
'Cause, if mi take off mi tam, it a go bring a bam-bam
Mi take off mi tam, it a go bring a bam-bam
But a sufferation upon di land
I tell you, said, a sufferation upon di land
[Bridge]
For, mi no selfish in a your ways, pass it on
(A Lord have mercy, hear me say)
So no-no selfish in a your ways, pass it on
An' let mi tell you 'bout di sound who leads di way
Brr, matter weh you say; cah, each and every day
You got to hear me say (Hey)

[Chorus]
Say, time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
Time so hard that even rat a cut bottle
What a dread situation fi tackle
Man, a what a dread situation fi tackle

[Outro]
Mi say, di dread 'pon di nation (Hey, come on)
Mi say, di dread 'pon di nation (Hey, come on)
A what a dread situation (Lord, come on)
A dis ya murderation, a murderation
A mi say, sufferation (Hey!)