Dreadlock Holiday - 10cc

"Dreadlock Holiday" is a reggae song by 10cc. It was written by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman and was the lead single from the band's 1978 album, Bloody Tourists.Lead vocals were performed by Graham Gouldman.

The lyrics relate the experiences of a white man lost in Jamaica. His first encounter with the locals is of being confronted in the street by an unpleasant dreadlocked man who wants the white man's silver bracelet. The next encounter is when he is beside the pool of his hotel sipping a piña colada; a dark-voiced woman offers him drugs. These experiences were based on real events that happened to Moody Blues vocalist Justin Hayward and Eric Stewart in Barbados which Stewart changed to Jamaica.

The reference to cricket in the first chorus, reggae in the second, and Jamaica in the third, reflects the victim trying to avoid conflict by convincing the antagonist that they share common interests.

"Dreadlock Holiday"

I was walkin' down the street

Concentratin' on truckin' right

I heard a dark voice beside of me

And I looked round in a state of fright

I saw four faces one mad

A brother from the gutter

They looked me up and down a bit

And turned to each other

I say

I don't like cricket oh no

I love it

I don't like cricket oh no

I love it

Don't you walk thru my words

You got to show some respect

Don't you walk thru my words

'Cause you ain't heard me out yet

Well he looked down at my silver chain

He said I'll give you one dollar

I said you've got to be jokin' man

It was a present from me Mother

He said I like it I want it

I'll take it off your hands

And you'll be sorry you crossed me

You'd better understand that you're alone

A long way from home

And I say

I don't like reggae no no

I love it

I don't like reggae oh no

I love it

Don't you cramp me style

Don't you queer on me pitch

Don't you walk thru my words

'Cause you ain't heard me out yet

I hurried back to the swimming pool

Sinkin' pina coladas

I heard a dark voice beside me say

Would you like something harder

She said I've got it you want it

My harvest is the best

And if you try it you'll like it

And wallow in a Dreadlock Holiday

And I say

Don't like Jamaica oh no

I love her

Don't like Jamaica oh no

I love her oh yea

Don't you walk thru her words

You got to show some respect

Don't you walk thru her words

'Cause you ain't heard her out yet

I don't like cricket

I love it (Dreadlock Holiday)

I don't like reggae

I love it (Dreadlock Holiday)

Don't like Jamaica

I love her (Dreadlock Holiday)

I hurried back to the swimming pool