Linstead Market And Day O
The Wigglers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mi carry mi ackee go a Linstead Market
Not a quattie worth sell
Mi Carry me ackee go a Linstead Market
Not a quattie worth sell
Lord what night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Lawd what a night not a bite
What a Saturday night

Everybody come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
Everybody come feel up, feel up
Not a quattie worth sell
Lord what night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
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
Sake a American rum
Lord what night, not a bite
What a Saturday night
Lawd what a night not a bite
What a Saturday night
All di pickney dem a linga linga
Fi weh dem mumma no bring
All di pickney dem a linga linga
Fi weh dem mumma no bring
Lawd, what a night, not a bite
What a Satiday night
Lawd, what a night, not a bite
How di pickney gwine feed?

Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Work all night on a drink a' rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till the mornin' come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, Day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day

Me say day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Overall Meaning

The song "Linstead Market & Day O" by The Wigglers tells the story of a group of people who go to Linstead Market to sell ackee, a Jamaican fruit, but are unable to make a sale. The lyrics describe the disappointment and frustration of the sellers as they try to make ends meet in challenging circumstances. Despite feeling discouraged, they still find ways to enjoy themselves, with the lyrics suggesting they turn to alcohol and dancing to lighten the mood. The song also features the well-known chorus of “Day-o”, sung by the workers loading bananas onto boats or ships.

The first verse establishes the situation of the sellers in Linstead Market, where no buyers seem to be interested in their product, causing them to walk away with nothing. The second verse describes the entertainment as the people try to forget their worries and enjoy the night. The third verse portrays the reality of the children of the poor sellers who, despite their parent's efforts, go to bed hungry.

The chorus, “Day-o”, is believed to have originated from a Jamaican traditional song about the daily routine of dockworkers loading bananas onto boats or ships for export. The song has become widely known due to the popularity of Harry Belafonte's version, reaching number 5 in the US charts in 1957.

Line by Line Meaning

Mi carry mi ackee go a Linstead Market
I took my ackee to Linstead Market

Not a quattie worth sell
But unfortunately, it didn't sell

Lord what night, not a bite
It was a terrible night with no food to eat

What a Saturday night
And it was Saturday night

Everybody come feel up, feel up
Even though no one was buying, everyone was there to socialize

Do mi mommy nuh beat mi kill mi
I hope my mother doesn't beat me to death

Sake a Merry-go-round
Because I spent money on the Merry-go-round

Sake a American rum
Or because I drank American rum

All di pickney dem a linga linga
All the children are hungry

Fi weh dem mumma no bring
Because their mothers didn't bring them any food

How di pickney gwine feed?
How will the children be fed?