Blessing In Traffic

Go-slow from here all the way to the roundabout (ah-ah)
Two hours stuck in first gear, hot sun on the glass
But listen — you hear that? (pa-pa-pa)
Blessing in traffic — even traffic danced

Danfo to my left just leaning on the horn all day
Okada weaving through where the lane gets worn
Hawker with the plantain chips, tapping on my door
Gala and cold Fanta passing window to window
Somebody's speaker start to give the street a score
Bus mirror catching sun like a little disco ball
Frustration was rising like the noon-day heat
Then a horn hit a rhythm and somehow it found the beat
Pa-pa — pa-pa-pa — the whole road caught the sound
Gridlock turned to groove and the jam came around

If you're stuck but you're breathing, lay on the horn — (pa-pa!)
If the road won't move, let the road be reborn —
Turn the jam to a jam, let the gridlock swarm:

Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
Even traffic danced! (it danced!)
Horn go pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa!)
Everybody take chance! (take chance!)
Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
We no go miss our way (no way!)
Slow road, bright soul —
No bad day today! (today!)

Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Even the traffic dancing — hey! (hey!)

Bus conductor hanging out the door, calling the stop
Turned it to a hook and he would not stop
Auntie in the taxi wind her window down
Selling groundnuts, singing, wearing a paper crown
Tapping the coin tray like a shaker on beat
The traffic warden gave up trying to be stern
Started swinging both his arms like the lights would turn
Whistle round his neck now blowing on the two-four
And a whole city's patience became a dancing floor
'Cause a car horn is just a drum you never used before

If you're stuck but you're breathing, lay on the horn — (pa-pa!)
If the road won't move, let the road be reborn —
Turn the jam to a jam, let the gridlock swarm:

Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
Even traffic danced! (it danced!)
Horn go pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa!)
Everybody take chance! (take chance!)
Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
We no miss our way (no way!)
Slow road, bright soul —
No bad day today! (today!)

Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Even the traffic dancing — hey! (hey!)

Danfo drivers! (beep!)
Okada riders! (beep!)
Everybody late for work! (BEEP-BEEP!)
Traffic wardens! (beep!) Hawkers! (beep!)
Then lay it on the horn and dance — go! (pa-pa-pa!)
One more time — who found a party in a parking lot? (we found it!)
Blow it for the two-hour crawl! (beep-beep!)

Who's been in this go-slow since noon? (beep!)
Who turned their horn into a hook? (beep!)
Who's dancing in a parked-up car right now? (BEEP-BEEP!)
Then take your chance and move — traffic can't stop joy! (pa-pa-pa!)

I was cursing this road like it stole my day
Then I looked around and the road was at play
Same jam, same heat, same two-hour crawl —
But a mind that dances doesn't mind at all
Windscreen full of sun, dashboard keeping time —
Turn a wasted hour into a reason to rhyme
So I'm not late — I'm early to the party (early!)
The horns are the band, the lane lines the stage
Every stuck-up car a seat in the traffic parade
The traffic is the venue and the horns are hearty
(horns take it from here — everybody, drive the beat!)

Blessing in traffic!
Even traffic danced!
Horn go pa-pa-pa
Everybody take chance!

Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
Even traffic danced! (it danced!)
Horn go pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa!)
Everybody take chance! (take chance!)
Blessing in traffic! (pa-pa-pa!)
We no miss our way (no way!)
Slow road, bright soul —
No bad day for us today! (today, today!)
Pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa!) — even the traffic danced! (danced!)

Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Pa-pa-pa — beep! (beep!)
Even the whole traffic dancing — hey! (hey, hey!)

Beep… blessing in traffic
Beep… even traffic danced
Beep… take your chance (take chance)
Beep… no bad day today (today)

Light turn green at last — but nobody vex now (all good, o)
We danced the whole go-slow, and we made it out somehow (somehow, o)
Blessing in traffic (mm… even traffic danced)
Same crazy road tomorrow — but we'll dance it again (again!)
Drive safe out there, keep the rhythm — beep! (beep!)
Blessing in traffic (mm… even the traffic danced, o)