What ‘Soon Come’ Really Means When You’re in Jamaica
Mi tell yuh, when yuh come to Jamaica, yuh better be ready for a thing we call Island Time, – a whole vibe where time moves at its own pace, and patience is a must. If yuh new to di island, let mi break it down fi yuh using one of our most classic Jamaican proverbs: “Time longa dan rope.” Sounds simple, right? But trust mi, it’s deep.
Now, if yuh ever try to plan something in Jamaica, yuh might hear someone say, “Mi soon come”. But mi guarantee yuh, it don’t mean di same thing it would mean anywhere else! In Jamaica, when we say “soon come,” it ain’t no set time at all – it could mean 5 minutes, it could mean 30, or, mi’m tell yuh, maybe di whole day! Yuh could be sitting there thinking di person is coming right away, but guess what? “Soon come” is Jamaican for ‘whenever di spirit moves me’ – and dat could be anytime!
So what’s di deal with this whole “time longa dan rope” business? Well, if yuh take it literally, it’s telling yuh dat time is long – like, really long. Rope can stretch far, but time can stretch even farther. In di Jamaican way of thinking, time don’t always run on a schedule. We go by di rhythm of di day – sometimes things take longer than expected, and that’s just di way it is. But don’t fret! If yuh in Negril, yuh in di best place to embrace this relaxed pace of life.
And let’s talk about that “island time” for a sec. Now, for di tourists coming to Jamaica, yuh might be used to a more fast-paced lifestyle back home – yuh know, everything’s gotta happen right away, and if someone’s 10 minutes late, yuh start wondering what’s going on. But in Jamaica, di idea is simple: no rush, no stress, just live in di moment. Take a deep breath, enjoy di breeze, and remember, if yuh wait for someone or something, just think of it as a chance to kick back and soak up di vibes.
Di Maroons, fi example, have lived with this concept for centuries. In Accompong, time ain’t about di clock, it’s about what’s happening now, around yuh, and di feel of di earth beneath yuh feet. Just like di Maroons, who fought for their freedom and lived according to di rhythm of di land, we take life slow and steady. And yes, it’s a beautiful thing!
But now, mi have to tell yuh somethin’ – di people at Jah Livity , we ain’t all about di “soon come” business. We’re fast like a lizard pon di hot rock! Even in a world of “island time,” we still make sure yuh ganja gets to yuh quick and easy, no matter di time of day. We’re delivering like di breeze, ensuring yuh get di best of Jamaican culture and cannabis, straight to yuh door, faster than yuh can say “soon come.”
So when yuh come to Jamaica, just remember: time might be longa dan rope, and “soon come” might not mean what yuh think it does. But don’t worry, yuh in good hands with Jah Livity – we move fast, like a lizard pon di rock. And as we always say: “Wi likkle but wi tallawah!” So, relax, take it slow, and let di island pace soak in, while we keep things rolling fast fi yuh!
For more Jamaican proverbs and their meanings, check out the National Library of Jamaica’s guide to proverbs.
