Can You Cross It?

By this time, I imagine that you have heard about one of the latest video sensations going viral.  Well, in case you haven't, it's the hilarious refix (and I understand why remix wasn't used) dubbed: "Nobody Canna Cross It" by Kevin-Sean Hamilton (aka DJPowa) - @k_seanDjPowa 

I've decided to provide a translation - primarily for non-Jamaican tweeps who've been bearing with me as I go on about the vid, and make references to select lines.  Truth is, I imagine that when some of them get to the vid, they are not able to understand most of what is being said.  Same goes for non-Jamaicans who've been hitting it on YouTube and other media.  Figured I'd help out.

(Btw, we're going in with the understanding that "nobody cannot" is the dreaded double negative.  But that, really, is the least of your worries re translation.  Hope you catch the nuances that add to the hilarity.  Also, some words will have to be replaced with others to get to the meaning - so, not necessarily word for word translation, per se, in some parts.)

Here goes:

Right now, nobody can cross it
It's only who can understand it cross it
Nobody can cross it
It's only a fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody can cross it
It's only who can manage (handle) the water
It's only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we're around to help them.

Nobody can swim
'Cause if you cannot swim,
You cannot cross it
Nobody can cross it
(Unless) we're around to lift them over
A fisherman can cross it
And a fisherwoman (can) cross it
Cannot swim? Trust me
You gone (you'll be carried out by the current) to St. Thomas pond

Nobody can cross it
It's only who (can) understand it, cross it
Nobody can cross it
It's only a fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody can cross it
It's only who can manage (handle) the water
It's only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we're around to help them.

Not all the vehicles - can cross it
This vehicle - cannot cross it
We're locked away in the wilderness
Nobody crosses it. (Baby pic: CROSS!)

Yesterday, the bus was coming from town
A bus load of people

It was just the mercy of God why the bus didn't go over
The bus can swim
The bus can swim
The bus can swim
Believe it or not
The bus can swim
Yesterday, the bus was just coming from town
The bus can cross it
The last time, (we had a) hurricane 
(And) we had dead to bury up the top
Nobody should walk
The bus can swim
Nobody should walk
The bus can cross it


Nobody can cross it
It's only who can understand it cross it
Nobody can cross it
It's only a fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody can cross it
It's only who can manage (handle) the water
It's only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we're around to help them.

I'm very concerned; very concerned
Because nobody can cross it
Not even the kids can go to school, trust me!
Because nobody can cross it
A fisherman and a fisherwoman can cross it.
Like, they understand it
Cannot swim? Trust me
You gone to dead up (you're going to be dead up there)...

Nobody can cross it
It's only who can understand it cross it
Nobody can cross it
It's only a fisherman and a fisherwoman, trust me!
Nobody can cross it
It's only who can manage (handle) the water
It's only so (that way) they (can) come over
Or if we're around to help them.

Nobody can cross it
Nobody crosses it
It's only who can swim (can) cross it
Cr cr cross it CROSS!
No no no nobody (can) cross it

[Dara Smith, TVJ News]

Hope this has helped you to cross it!  Thinking I might write more on this - the appropriation of the #nobodycancrossit and #dibuscanswim into popular culture - one signifying a general acceptance of a perceived impossibility or improbability; the other, the underlining of the victory when seemingly daunting feats have been accomplished.  (Btw, sometimes all you need is someone there to help you!)  Not to mention, too, the derivatives.  Personalizations to read: I cannot cross it; you can cross it and so on.  We just need the "cross it" and we get the reference.  When positive, we're simply making the link, or transition, from the realm of impossibility to possibility.  OK.  Lemme not get carried away.  After all, I can cross it.

Noted Kevin's tweet a short while ago: "Truth is, #NobodyCannaCrossIt without #ff the ONLY Lord and Saviour #JesusChrist! Him a di ONLY one dat can ensure seh #DiBusCanSwim! BRB..."

True that, Kevin. True that.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro