Lord Composer (1924 -1990) was a Jamaican mento artist.

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!

Medley: Hill & Gully Ride / Mandeville Rd
Lord Composer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)

And if you've broken in you goin hell
(hill and gully)

Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)

Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)
And if you've broken in you goin hell
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
Hill and gully ride
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)
And then you bend down low
(hill and gully)
Then you dance right round
(hill and gully)

Me go down mandeville road

Me go down mandeville road

Drop them one by one
Drop them two by two
Drop them three by three
Drop them four by four

Drop them one by one
Drop them two by two
Drop them three by three
Drop them four by four

Drop them one by one
Drop them two by two
Drop them three by three
Drop them four by four
Drop them one by one
Drop them six by six
Drop them eight by eight

Drop them one by one
Drop them two by two
Drop them three by three

Drop them four by four
Drop them five by five

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lord Composer's song "Hill & Gully Ride; Mandeville Road" are centered around the idea of dancing and having a good time. The phrase "Hill and gully ride" is repeated throughout the song, and seems to refer to the experience of going up and down hills or through valleys in a bumpy ride, which is often associated with Jamaica's countryside. The lyrics then go into describing the act of bending down low and dancing around, with a warning that if you have "broken in," meaning if you've done something wrong, you're going to hell.

Later in the song, the lyrics take on a slightly different meaning, as Lord Composer sings the line "Me go down Mandeville road." This suggests that the song is also about going out and having a good time, perhaps going to a club or dance hall in the town of Mandeville. The lines "Drop them one by one, drop them two by two" seem to be commands given to dancers, encouraging them to move and sway with the beat of the music.

Overall, the lyrics to "Hill & Gully Ride; Mandeville Road" are likely meant to be lighthearted and fun, encouraging people to let loose and enjoy themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Hill and gully ride (hill and gully)
We're going on a bumpy road full of hills and gullies

Hill and gully ride (hill and gully)
We're still on the same bumpy road full of hills and gullies

And then you bend down low (hill and gully)
While on this bumpy road, you need to bend down low to avoid getting hit

Then you dance right round (hill and gully)
Despite the difficult ride, we're enjoying ourselves and dancing around

And if you've broken in you goin hell (hill and gully)
If you're not used to this kind of ride, it's going to be a hellish experience

Me go down mandeville road
Now we're on Mandeville road, a different road from the previous hill and gully ride

Drop them one by one
We're dropping single things, one at a time

Drop them two by two
Now we're dropping things in pairs

Drop them three by three
Now we're dropping things in groups of three

Drop them four by four
Now we're dropping things in groups of four

Drop them six by six
Now we're dropping things in groups of six

Drop them eight by eight
Now we're dropping things in groups of eight

Drop them five by five
And finally, we're dropping things in groups of five

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: UNKNOWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@highestcount

6y↑4

The notes say Hill an Gully is a call and response song which used to be sung by workmen constructing new roads. In its topical way it refers to the uneven and hazardous terrain through which the new road had to be cut.

LYRICS FOR "HILL 'N GULLY RIDE"
(Lord Composer, 1954)

Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)

And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)

And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)

[instrumental]

Oh, ah hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you right see saw oh
And if you broke your neck
you gonna to hell.
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)
Hill an' gully rider
(Hill an' gully)

And then me say you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round now
(Hill an' gully)
Ah then you bend down low now
(Hill an' gully)
And then you dance right round
(Hill an' gully)

Then Mandeville Road start - I can't find/figure out these lyrics...

All comments from YouTube:

@andrewajjones122

41w↑1

Yes!! I have been looking for this riddim

@misslou3624

10y↑5

These are the songs we sang at school. Love my culture

@annmackay4038

8y↑2

I remember my mum and dad playing this in the home when I was a kid and of course, singing at school. Love it. x

@islandgloproduction

10y↑10

Lord Composer is my father

@koont666

It's the punch and Judy show

@righteousniteowl

12y↑1

Awesome! Love this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@karlaiken

11y

Great music from my childhood.

@michaellifetv5696

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

@highestcount

6y↑4

@magatewildhorse2175

Not Hill an' Gully rider but ride oh or o , and I can't spell the patois ohoie. Call and response was also used in rival churches, and general folk singing and activities.