Banana Boat Song – Harry Belafonte  Lyrics

December 10, 2008

Album: N/A
Genre: Jamaican Folk
Released: 1957

 

The entire title of this song is Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) which was released in 1957. The single talks about dock workers working the night shift loading bananas into ships. Although the song is not original from him, he was who made the one so popular. It had a debut television performance on the series The Muppet Show. Edric Conner was the first artist who included the single on the album Songs From Jamaica in 1952. During that time, the song title was Day De Light. Harry Belafonte is a Jamaican American musician who has dedicated his last years on supporting humanitarian causes. His last compilation album was The Essential Harry Belafonte in 2005 which included classics like: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Abraham, Martin & John, Zombie Jamboree and Jamaica Farewell.



Banana Boat Song - Harry Belafonte

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

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

It’s six foot, seven foot, eight foot Bunch!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot Bunch!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home

Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan’ go home

A beautiful bunch a’ ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan’ go home

It’s six foot, seven foot, eight foot Bunch!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot Bunch!
Daylight come and me wan’ go home

Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day…
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.








Disclaimer - Category: Folk, Harry Belafonte, Songs of 60s - Top 70s songs - Oldies