Rough Rider
Prince Buster Lyrics
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A cool stroker
A strong whiner
I had a hard night
I had a hard night
I had a hard night
Last night
Last night
Last night
I feel so broke up today
I feel so broke up today
Lord, I feel so mash up today
She was a strong whiner
A rough rider
She whiney, whiney
Last night
I don't know what you'd, say if you saw me yesterday
But I know what you'd, say if you see for me today
She was a strong whiner
A rough rider
She whiney, whiney
Last night
She chop de wood
Last night
Me wore me brush
Tonight
I said me wore me brush
Tonight
I'm going to ooh stroke her
The song โRough Riderโ by Prince Buster is a classic example of Jamaican ska, characterized by its upbeat tempo, syncopated rhythm, and the use of trumpets and saxophones. The song essentially talks about the singer's experience of spending a hard night with a rough rider, a reference to a woman who is strong, independent, and sexually alluring. He describes her as a "cool stroker" and a "strong whiner," which is an allusion to her ability to seduce men with her moves on the dance floor.
The singer seems to be affected by the rough rider's energy and feels "broke up" and "mash up" the next day, probably from all the exertion. He is aware that people who saw him last night might not recognize him today, given the wild night he had. The song further indicates that the rough rider is a confident and passionate woman who can chop wood and is desirable enough for the singer to look his best to "stroke her" tonight.
Overall, the lyrics of โRough Riderโ embody the essence of Jamaican popular culture that celebrated strong women who are independent and sexually confident. The song also highlights the unbridled nature of the Jamaican nightlife scene, which was a key part of the country's musical heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
She was a rough rider
She was a tough woman who could handle herself in any situation
A cool stroker
She had a calm and collected demeanor despite the challenges she faced
A strong whiner
She had a powerful voice and could express her desires and frustrations assertively
I had a hard night
I encountered difficulties and struggles throughout the night
Last night
The previous evening
I feel so broke up today
I am emotionally and physically exhausted from the hardships of the previous night
Lord, I feel so mash up today
My body and soul are in a state of complete disarray and exhaustion
She whiney, whiney
She complained and expressed her dissatisfaction frequently and loudly
I don't know what you'd, say if you saw me yesterday
I am unsure how others would react to my appearance or behavior from the previous night
But I know what you'd, say if you see for me today
I anticipate that others would be shocked and concerned by my current appearance and state
She chop de wood
She engaged in physically demanding tasks and was capable of hard labor
Me wore me brush
I dressed up and put effort into my appearance for tonight
Tonight
Later this evening
I'm going to ooh stroke her
I plan to show affection and perhaps engage in physical intimacy with her tonight
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CECIL BUSTAMENTE CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AllanTaipalus
I can try to help you out with differentiating the different styles.
Ska beats has a much faster pace where Rocksteady is slower and has more roundness to the sound.
Reggae is similar to rocksteady except that it has a more "chick-it" sound to it.
So to try and describe the sound differences would problaly be like this
(Reggae: "chick-it chick-it" Rocksteady: "waaang-waaang" Ska: "wang-wang-wang")
If you want to hear the clear difference then i suggest you search up these 3 songs and you can hear the difference right away.
The rulers - Dont want to be a rudeboy (SKA)
Ken boothe & Delroy Wilson - Wont you come home(ROCKSTEADY)
The ethiopians - I need someone(REGGAE)
Some songs can also be a mix between ska, rocksteady or reggae.
@MisterCoolbyLaw
Eddie Grant (he of 1983's hit Electric Avenue) wrote this!
@kidwaryodproduction
Easily imagined the sounds if Eddy doing his own version ๐
@dougsmith7083
Written for Prince Buster by Eddie Grant when Eddie was just beginning to hit the UK Charts with the incredible EQUALS!
@RudeBoyKristTruitt
Thank you for this info!
@brighteyes704
Grew up listening to this
@jpah8944
RIP Buster. Thank you for your music.
@BillyJango
Couldn't have said it better myself.
@paulselkirk2345
The old ones are the best I remember this one good to dance to ๐คฉ๐๐๐ค
@oliviahackshaw5267
It was a โStandardโ at our Saturday night parties !
@samanthapottinger9304
my dad used to play this when I was young. Thankfully I didn't understand the lyrics back then! Makes me blush!!