Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 March 1927; died 25 April 2023) was an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Caribbean-American pop star, he popularized Jamaican mento folk songs which was marketed as Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso, released in 1956, was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.

Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.

Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.

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Hurry Sundown
Harry Belafonte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hurry sundown, let the weary day be over
I'm so tired of hurt, I've been taken
My heart has been aching so
Don't mind struggling, don't mind livin' a little

If someday my kids are laughing together
And have things I never own
I can feel many changes are coming

Beat them drums in a distance, a drumming
Telling the world a new future has begun
Yes, you got to hurry sundown
I can't wait to see the morning

There's a lot of work I must lend a hand to
So bring on that brand new day

Afraid tomorrow is on it's way
So hurry down, hurry down sweet sun

Overall Meaning

The song "Hurry Sundown" by Harry Belafonte is a reflection of the struggles of life and the hope for a new day. Within the lyrics, Belafonte expresses the exhaustion and burden of hurt that he's faced throughout his life. He yearns for the day to be over, so he can find peace and rest from his troubled thoughts. He acknowledges that life is full of struggles, but he's willing to endure and live a little despite the difficulties.

Belafonte also shares his hopes for the future, particularly for his children. He desires for them to have a better life that he could not achieve. He recognizes that change is happening and that the beat of the drums in the distance symbolizes the start of a new future. The feeling of hope and excitement is palpable in the lyrics as the song approaches its end. Belafonte eagerly awaits the arrival of the morning, which represents a new day and new opportunities.

Overall, "Hurry Sundown" is a beautifully written song that conveys the emotions of weariness, hope, and excitement. It reminds us that despite the hardships of life, there is always a new day to look forward to and possibilities for a better life.

Line by Line Meaning

Hurry sundown, let the weary day be over
I'm exhausted by the struggles of the day and I'm ready for rest and renewal.

I'm so tired of hurt, I've been taken
I'm weary of the pain and suffering that I've endured and the injustices that I've experienced.

My heart has been aching so
I've been carrying a heavy emotional burden for too long and it's taking its toll on me.

Don't mind struggling, don't mind livin' a little
Even though life is hard and there are challenges, I'm willing to persevere and find joy in the small moments.

If someday my kids are laughing together
I hope that one day my children will find happiness and joy in each other's company.

And have things I never own
I may not have been able to provide my children with material possessions, but I hope that they will have a better life than I did.

I can feel many changes are coming
I have a sense that there are significant shifts and transformations on the horizon.

Beat them drums in a distance, a drumming
The rhythmic beating of the drums in the distance is a symbol of change and transformation.

Telling the world a new future has begun
The drums are a powerful metaphor for the emergence of a new era and a new vision for the future.

Yes, you got to hurry sundown
We need to embrace change and move forward into a brighter future.

I can't wait to see the morning
I'm eager to wake up and face the challenges of a new day, because I know that each day brings new opportunities for growth and change.

There's a lot of work I must lend a hand to
I'm committed to doing my part to make the world a better place, and there is much work to be done.

So bring on that brand new day
I'm ready for a fresh start and a new beginning, and I'm excited to see what the future holds.

Afraid tomorrow is on it's way
I'm nervous about what the future holds and the challenges that may arise.

So hurry down, hurry down sweet sun
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new day, where hope, joy, and positivity can shine through.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUDDY KAYE, HUGO MONTENEGRO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@raphkatchdrums

Thank you Hugo Montenegro for this music and Yip Harburg (writer of 'Over The Rainbow') for these poignant lyrics. After reading up on him, this is the first work he did after having been blacklisted by the Senate ethics committee during the red scare. It took twelve years for him work again, although the song with lyrics was not used for the movie of the same name in 1966.