Linstead Market
Lord Messam And His Calypsonians Lyrics
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not a quatty will sell
I carry me ackee, go a Linstead Market
not a quatty will sell
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Lord what a night, not a bite
Everybody come feel up, feel up,
not a quatty will sell
Everybody come feel up, feel up,
not a quatty will sell
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
It was a fight, a fight, a big big fight
on that Saturday night
It was a fight, a fight, a big big fight
on that Saturday night
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Do my mommy no feed me, kill me
take a merry-go-round
Do my mommy don't feed me, kill me
take a merry-go-round
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
All those pickney come run come run
to see what mommy did bring
All those pickney come run come run
to see what mommy did bring
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
Lord what a night, not a bite
what a Saturday night!
The song "Linstead Market" by Lord Messam and His Calypsonians tells the story of a trip to the Linstead Market, where the singer is disappointed to find that no vendors are willing to sell ackee, a popular fruit in Jamaica. The disappointment of the singer is emphasized throughout the song, as he repeats the refrain "Lord what a night, not a bite, what a Saturday night!" The lyrics also describe the chaos of the market, with fights and crowds of children running around to see what their mothers have brought.
The song is a commentary on the difficulties faced by Jamaicans during this time period, particularly the struggles of the poor to put food on the table. The familiar refrain of "Lord what a night, not a bite" highlights the frustrations and harsh realities of poverty, while the chaos of the market serves as a metaphor for the larger societal issues faced by the Jamaican people.
Overall, "Linstead Market" is a vivid and poignant portrayal of life in Jamaica in the mid-20th century, and speaks to the enduring themes of struggle and perseverance that continue to define the country's culture today.
Line by Line Meaning
I carry me ackee, go a Linstead Market
I brought my ackee fruit to sell at the Linstead Market
not a quatty will sell
but no one else will sell anything
Lord what a night, not a bite
It was a terrible night, we didn't get anything to eat
what a Saturday night!
specifically, it was a terrible Saturday night
Everybody come feel up, feel up,
Everyone come and consume, eat up what little food was brought
It was a fight, a fight, a big big fight
There was a big fight on that Saturday night
Do my mommy don't feed me, kill me
If my mother doesn't feed me, I will surely die
take a merry-go-round
Unless I am fed, I will go on a dangerous path
All those pickney come run come run
All the children ran to see what food their mother brought
to see what mommy did bring
to see what their mother brought back from the market
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TRAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@-Midnight_Roze-
i have to listen to this for music in my school
@Andrew-up9ij
Big ups! Thanks for posting.
@Gunnercv
I like this version
@wireless6
I like this!!!
@ShortieLeeroy
@Brancaleone..Thank you for this boss upload.
@johnnyb8825
I can hear the similarity between mento guitar and reggae guitar. Mento contributed a lot to reggae, and to a lesser extent to ska and rocksteady. Early reggae (1968-72) was basically rocksteady back-crossed with ska and mento. Or as a Jamaican pamphlet from 1969 put it, "One part rocksteady, one part mento, a hint of ska tempo, bring to the boil with an increasing social consciousness, and you have reggae!"
@jayjones6339
And Motown music, which definitely lended a spiritual, cultural, and, musical influence to reggae.
@-Midnight_Roze-
johnny b (goode)
@caminosb.1283
thanks for posting this --- it's news for me, never knew reggae's history. this is great, love the music and the rhythm
@johnnyb8825
It was the fusion of mento influences with rhythm'n'blues that gave birth to ska, which in turn evolved into rocksteady and eventually reggae.