The Boneshaker's Ballad

INTRO - SPOKEN, OVER GUITAR "If your name is not on the agenda, don't venture the tsolɔle." That was Sports Master Akrong. I remember. I remember it all. VERSE 1 I'm a Bedford truck from the U.K. shore, African Automobile brought me to your door, Ministry bought me, sent me up the hill, To Presec on Legon, and I'm rolling still. They said thirty students, that's my rightful load, But forty-five would hide when Akrong walked the road, Dodging and ducking, climbing up my side, Every boy in Legon wanted one more ride. PRE-CHORUS Rattle on, rattle on, Through the dust and the morning sun... CHORUS I'm the Boneshaker, the old green Bedford, Shook your bones on every road you travelled, No petrol gauge, and the brakes were tired, But I never broke down, and I never expired, (Awuradi Tease Ampa!) God was steering when the brakes were gone, I'm the Boneshaker, and the story rolls on. VERSE 2 Every morning, Matron's list in hand, Down to Madina market, the busiest land, Fresh bread from Jehovah Jireh, warm for the hall, Breakfast for the boys, I carried it all. When the Neoplan was down and a boy fell ill, I was the ambulance that came up the hill. Scripture Union Fridays, Achimota, Labone, Accra Academy rallies, the boys sang on and on, Songs of Jesus rising from my rattling bed, "He is my everything," that's what the music said. VERSE 3 Took them up to Aburi Girls and to St. Mary's too, Not one boy was listening, the programme just went through, Eyes on the young ladies, ears on nothing at all, I laughed in my engine, parked outside the hall. Nsawam Cannery, Tema Food Complex, Coca-Cola plant, Engineers explaining, but the boys just can't, They were waiting on the minerals, the snacks at the end, Technical explanations? Not one did they attend! CHORUS I'm the Boneshaker, the old green Bedford, Shook your bones on every road you travelled, No petrol gauge, and the brakes were tired, But I never broke down, and I never expired, (Awuradi Tease Ampa!) God was steering when the brakes were gone, I'm the Boneshaker, and the story rolls on. VERSE 4 - THE JAMA Sports days were my glory, the Jama on my bed, Ray Mulleys and Sachey, Lord, rest the ones now dead, Blewusi Tsortsor, Sowah, Akro House strong, And Maputo of Riis House, he made the sweetest song. (Crowd:) Afutse eeee, Afutse! (Crowd:) Kwemor nyaa-yi-eee! I've seen Okpooray and Kpatolonkpa cry, Sobbing on my benches when the Stadium passed us by. BRIDGE - WASUGAR SPOT, 1982 Nineteen eighty-two, hockey boys on board, Out of Achimota, onto Legon road, There stood Gyasi waiting, hitching to the hill, He leapt up like a bat, hanging on me still! Hanging like an aplanke on my rusty door, And the boys didn't scold him, they began to roar: (Crowd:) Wasuuugar! Wasuuugar! And to this very day, that corner has a name, Wasugar Spot, the legend of his fame! VERSE 5 Some tutors used me for their errands on the side, Office allowance, I just let it ride, Everyone dey chop for hin work side, they say, I carried their parcels and I went my way. Papa Addo and Papa Kwesi fought for my key, Who would hold the wheel, who would master me? Then the years rolled over and they parked me in the grass, Everybody forgot me, as the seasons pass. VERSE 6 But Eddiefico remembered, Akro House of old, The senior who stole Camay and Palmolive, I'm told! He wrote my story down so the Odadee would know, The Boneshaker carried them, a long time ago. FINAL CHORUS I'm the Boneshaker, the old green Bedford, A relic now, but I'm Presec's record, I paid my dues on every Legon mile, Carried your youth, and your songs, and your smile, (Awuradi Tease Ampa!) God was steering when the brakes were gone, I'm the Boneshaker, and the story rolls on. OUTRO - SOFT, HYMN-LIKE For Herbert Allotei Cofie, Riis House brother true, The Boneshaker's horn sounds once more for you, Rest in peace, my passenger, the long road is done, Ride on, Herbert, ride on home. (Horn sounds twice, engine fades)