10cc - Dreadlock Holiday

"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, about a white man lost in Jamaica, and being confronted by an unpleasant dreadlocked man looking for money, were based on a true event that happened to Moody Blues vocalist Justin Hayward and Eric Stewart in Barbados. The reference to cricket in the first chorus, reggae in the second, and Jamaica in the third, reflects finding common ground with the antagonist.

It became the act's third and final number one single in the UK, and final top 10 hit, spending a single week at the top in September 1978. The single peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA. The song was later covered by Boney M on their 1985 album, Eye Dance, by Top Deck (in 1987) and by Polish singer Reni Jusis (in 1999).

10cc - Dreadlock Holiday Lyrics

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 no 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 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 colada

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 through 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 oh no

I love it (Dreadlock holiday)

I don't like reggae oh no

I love it (Dreadlock holiday)

I don't like Jamaica oh no

I love her (Dreadlock holiday)