Lord Compose… Read Full Bio ↴Lord Composer (1924 -1990) was a Jamaican mento artist.
Lord Composer and His Silver Seas Hotel Orchestra recorded "Gal A Gully"/"Matilda" and "Hill & Gully Ride"/"Mandeville Road". This very popular pair of two-song medleys are early mento classics. Found on either side of a MRS 78 RPM single, they collect four Jamaican folk songs, set to the same music. But Composer's choice of material, strong keening vocal and tight instrumentation featuring virtuoso fife solos make these tracks an inexhaustible source of enjoyment. These tracks appeared on several different 1950s mento compilation albums. But, mysteriously, Composer never recorded anything that sounded like these sides. In fact, no one did, and these tracks stand unique in mento. Incidentally, in lieu of authorship, the label describes these folk songs as "Jamaican digging songs".
There was not a great deal of follow up from Lord Composer. And none if it sounded like the burning, single above. He appeared on a single backed by Chin's Calypso Sextet and another single side on MRS. He also recorded a single on the Kalypso label in the 1960s (probably) and one with Sugar Belly. In 1968, he recorded a single for Studio One. He also recorded an LP worth of material that can be bought today. It's interesting to note that in spite of his chosen name, this artist composed very few of the songs he recorded!
Linstead Market
Lord Composer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a quattie worth sell
Oh, carry mi ackee, go a Linstead Market
Not a quattie worth sell
I say, Lawd what a night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Oh Lawd what a night not a bite
Everybody come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
Everybody come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
I say, Lawd what a night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Oh Lawd what a night not a bite
What a Saturday night
Do mi mommy nuh beat mi kill mi
Sake a Merry-go-round
Do mi mommy don't beat me kill mi
Sake a Merry-go-round
I say, Lawd what a night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Oh Lawd what a night not a bite
What a Saturday night
I say soldier, sailor come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
Soldier, sailor come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
Lawd what a night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Oh Lawd what a night not a bite
What a Saturday night
Oh time too tight we go an tie up somebody
(Time too tight we go an tie up somebody)
Oh time too tight we go an tie up somebody
(Time too tight we go an tie up somebody)
Tie tie tie, tie up somebody...
Lord Composer's "Linstead Market" is a lively and energetic song that tells a story of a Saturday night in the town of Linstead in Jamaica. The singer is requesting someone, presumably a porter or a friend to take him to the Linstead Market to buy ackee. However, when they arrive at the market, there is not a quattie (Jamaican currency) worth selling. The singer expresses his disappointment in the form of a repetitive refrain, "Oh Lord, what a night, not a bite, what a Saturday night."
The singer's repeated refrain signifies his frustration with the lack of food at the market. He understands that everyone around him is also experiencing the same problem, and that nothing is being sold. The phrase "feel up" is used to describe the act of searching for something to buy, but with no luck. The line "Not a quattie worth sell" reveals that not only is there no food to be found, but the vendors haven't even bothered to show up to sell their goods.
The chorus "Oh time too tight, we go an tie up somebody," expresses the singer's frustration with the situation. It's unclear if the singer is encouraging people to protest against the market's inactivity, or if he's merely hoping that someone will get tied up or beaten to help relieve his frustration. Nevertheless, the phrase conveys an agitated and restless sentiment, a feeling of helplessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, carry mi ackee, go a Linstead Market
I am going to Linstead Market to sell my ackee (a fruit commonly grown in Jamaica).
Not a quattie worth sell
Unfortunately, I did not have any successful sales today and nothing is worth selling.
I say, Lawd what a night, not a bite
I am feeling frustrated because I have not had any success at the market and I am hungry.
What a Saturday night
Today is a Saturday and I am disappointed with how the day has gone so far.
Everybody come feel up, feel up
Everyone is invited to come and fill up (buy) the goods that I am selling.
I say, Lawd what a night, not a bite
I am still feeling frustrated and hungry since I have not had any sales at the market.
Do mi mommy nuh beat mi kill mi
I must make successful sales at the market or else my mother will be very upset with me and possibly punish me severely.
Sake a Merry-go-round
This is a metaphor meaning that my mother will punish me without mercy.
I say soldier, sailor come feel up, feel up
Everyone is welcome to purchase my goods, including soldiers and sailors.
Oh Lawd what a night not a bite
Once again, I am expressing my frustration at not having any successful sales at the market and the fact that I am still hungry.
Oh time too tight we go an tie up somebody
If I don't have any successful sales soon, I will have to resort to desperate measures such as tying someone up to make them buy my goods.
(Time too tight we go an tie up somebody)
This line is repeated to emphasize the desperation of the situation.
Tie tie tie, tie up somebody...
This line is repeated to emphasize the fact that the situation is becoming more and more desperate and the singer may indeed resort to tying someone up to make a sale.
Contributed by Matthew C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.