Uncle John From Jamaica – English Lyrics

• By: Vengaboys

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

8 o'clock get up, get outta bed

I feel like a truck ran over my head

Another day of stress and sorrow

Skip breakfast 'cause I gotta go

Ain't got no time to take it slow

And I will do my hair tomorrow

I can't take it no more

Oh, no, no, no

Is this what I'm living for?

But my Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

My Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

...

6 o'clock my job is still not done

The life I'm living ain't no fun

Too many days of stress and sorrow

My boss just won't give me a break

And this is more than I can take

Think I will quit this job tomorrow

I can't take it no more

Oh, no, no, no

Is this what I'm living for?

But my Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

My Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

...

I need a holi holiday

You need a holi holiday

We need a holi holiday

Everybody needs a holi holiday

...

But my Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

My Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

But my Uncle John from Jamaica

Keeps on calling every day

Just buy a ticket and take a

Summer holi holiday

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
uncle /ˈʌŋkəl/ A1	noun - the brother of one's parent
Jamaica /dʒəˈmeɪkə/ A1	noun - an island country in the Caribbean Sea
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to speak to someone on the telephone
ticket /ˈtɪkɪt/ A1	noun - a piece of paper that allows you to enter a place or travel
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year
holiday /ˈhɒlɪdeɪ/ A1	noun - a day of celebration or a period of time when one does not work
stress /strɛs/ A2	noun - pressure or tension experienced in life
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ A2	noun - a feeling of sadness or distress
breakfast /ˈbrekfəst/ A1	noun - the first meal of the day
boss /bɒs/ A1	noun - a person who is in charge of workers
quit /kwɪt/ A2	verb - to leave a job or activity
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A1	noun - the way of life verb - to have life; to exist
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment or amusement
skip /skɪp/ A2	verb - to not do something
everyday /ˈɛvriˌdeɪ/ A2	adjective - occurring or used every day
tomorrow /təˈmɒrəʊ/ A1	noun - the day after today

Key Grammar Structures

• I feel like a truck ran over my head

  ➔ Simile with "like" + past simple clause

  ➔ The word "like" introduces a comparison: "I feel "like" a truck ran over my head".

• Skip breakfast 'cause I gotta go

  ➔ Imperative verb + informal contraction "'cause" (because) + colloquial "gotta" (have to)

  ➔ "Skip" is a command. "'cause" stands for "because" and "gotta" is a colloquial form of "have to".

• I can't take it no more

  ➔ Modal verb "can't" + negative polarity; informal double negative "no more"

  ➔ "can't" expresses inability. The phrase "no more" functions as an informal negative meaning "anymore".

• But my Uncle John from Jamaica keeps on calling every day

  ➔ Present continuous with phrasal verb "keeps on" + gerund

  ➔ "keeps on" means "continues" and is followed by the gerund "calling".

• Just buy a ticket and take a summer holi holiday

  ➔ Imperative mood with coordinated verbs linked by "and"

  ➔ "Just" intensifies the command. Two actions are ordered: "buy" and "take".

• 6 o'clock my job is still not done

  ➔ Present simple passive construction "is ... not done"

  ➔ "is ... not done" shows that the job has not been completed yet.

• My boss just won't give me a break

  ➔ Modal verb "won't" (will not) for refusal in present/future

  ➔ "won't" is the contraction of "will not" and shows a firm refusal: "won't give".

• Think I will quit this job tomorrow

  ➔ Future simple with "will" after a verb of intention "think"

  ➔ "will" marks a decision made now about the future: "I will quit".

• We need a holi holiday

  ➔ Present simple with modal‑like verb "need" expressing necessity

  ➔ "need" functions like a modal here, showing that a "holi holiday" is required.