For our street, every morning na the same old style
My neighbor lock him gate, wave goodbye with smile
But before noon reach small, the compound don change face
One motor park outside, another take its place
Curtain dey shake gently, whole close dey look
No be me talk am first, but the gist don hook
When secret start to boil, e no fit stay hush
A cooking pot with a cracked lid cannot hide its steam.
Fire on the mountain, na wa o
Trouble for the village, see as e dey go
Chai, chai, wahala don start
Everybody watching as it burst outside
One small matter don turn to big something
Fire on the mountain, na so the matter go
Friday night he enter fresh, perfume full the air
Gold chain catch the light, confidence everywhere
“Put one more for that table, make everybody drink”
Even strangers start to rate am in a blink
Waiter bring the machine, smiling face and all
One tap, two taps — ah-ah — silence for the hall
Body don tell am quick when payment no go through
The drum that called the village should not fear the hand that answered it.
Fire on the mountain, na wa o
Trouble for the village, see as e dey go
Chai, chai, wahala don start
Everybody watching as it burst outside
One small matter don turn to big something
Fire on the mountain, na so the matter go
Saturday groove dey hot, lights low, music loud
He enter with him side babe, smiling to the crowd
She dey laugh at him joke, hand resting on him knee
Then the front door open wide — chai, wetin him eyes see
Main madam don appear there, judgment in her face
Every lie wey him build wan collapse in place
Two storms meet one man’s pride, nowhere left to hide
The goat that ventures into the lion’s den should not be surprised when it becomes the next meal.
Fire on the mountain, na wa o
Trouble for the village, see as e dey go
Chai, chai, wahala don start
Everybody watching as it burst outside
One small matter don turn to big something
Fire on the mountain, na so the matter go
Sunday face on Monday night, I see am moving low
Cap pulled down, looking round, like he no want make man know
No be chapel, no be vigil, no be place for prayer
Neon light for signboard shine red-red for the air
I say, “Omo, wetin be this?” but I stand and stare
One woman across the road pause and catch my eye there
That kind gist go reach the town before the next sunrise
The preacher’s shadow still follows him into the night.
Fire on the mountain, na wa o
Trouble for the village, see as e dey go
Chai, chai, wahala don start
Everybody watching as it burst outside
One small matter don turn to big something
Fire on the mountain, na so the matter go
