Daylight Come and Me Wanna Go Home
Few people talk about why Caribbean folks were loading bananas on boats until dawn in the first place, or why they had a quota to meet. Those few tend to see Day-O as a song about exploitation and slavery, much like traditional songs and spirituals from the American south. I prefer to think of songs with such roots, especially those that have become wildly popular, as proof that music knows no boundaries.
My Favorite Cover Version of The Banana Boat Song
Taj Mahal can really wail that Day-O!
Banana Boat Song
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 12/25/2009)
While Harry Belafonte does the best-known version, Taj Mahal's is a little smoother and and the vocals share attention with the music, which is bluesy (of course) but with steel drums and a more "island" beat than much of his music. It's an excellent representation of both the song and Taj Mahal's work.
Lyrics and Guitar Tabs for The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
The Harry Belafonte Version
I suspect that most of you already know the lyrics to this song. It's been a favorite of children for decades. I often sing it with my own kids as we dance around the living room. The song may have languished for a few years, but the movie Beetlejuice brought it (and Harry Belafonte in general) roaring back into popularity in the 1980s. Suddenly, I wasn't the only one who knew the words to The Banana Boat Song and Jump in the Line, two of my all-time favorite songs.
I took out the repetitive "Day-o, day-ay-ay-o" parts and kept the verses and bridge. The chords are above, and they simply go back and forth throughout the song. Some versions include "heave" instead of "lift" or "hand" rather than "foot", but the concept remains the same.
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning 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
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Beautiful bunch of ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
In there hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Music Videos for The Banana Boat Song
Day-O! Harry Belafante, Beetlejuice, and The Muppets
Sample Version of The Banana Boat Song
Hear Day-O in Many Different Styles
Which Cover Version of The Banana Boat Song Is Your Favorite?
Do You Love Day-O, Too?
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- LizMac60 LizMac60 Jul 17, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
- They are all just great. This lens brings back so many memories from my youth. what a wonderful song with it's poignant atmosphere of people in slavery or near slavery. 5 stars
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- Sojourn Sojourn Jul 14, 2009 @ 2:42 am
- OMG, my husband and I just laughed ourselves silly at the Beetlejuice clip. I've always liked this song but that clip is one of my all time favorites. The older I get, the more I appreciate how difficult it must have been for the actors to dance around and yet look as if they were being controlled by the ghosts. Can you imagine how many takes they must have had to go through?
Loved your intro about why we don't question why the song has them picking bananas until the wee hours of the morning. Hadn't quite thought of that but you make a point! Regardless, this is a wonderful song and I enjoyed reading about the background information.
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- Emma Emma May 17, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
- I love the song. know all the words!! :)
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- dannystaple dannystaple May 8, 2009 @ 10:32 am
- I love this song - always brings a smile to my face. For me it is either the muppets version or the Beetlejuice one - two of my great childhood faves.
What a fun lens! Love my captcha word today - "gigagag".
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- Cari_Kay Cari_Kay Jan 30, 2009 @ 2:08 pm
- We had banana trees at our last home in Trinidad. I always thought of this song when I was outdoors near them. Couldn't seem to help humming the tune :)
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