In the mid 1970s, Chapin focused on social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States and co-founding the organization World Hunger Year, before returning to music with On the Road to Kingdom Come. He also released a book of poetry, Looking...Seeing, in 1977.
His fellow Long Islanders loved him for his support of local artists, as well. He and his wife Sandy raised funds for the Performing Arts Foundation, a now-defunct local theatre group. They also supported the Long Island Ballet. The band shell at Huntington's Hecksher Park is named for Harry Chapin.
Chapin died on July 16, 1981 in an automobile accident on the Long Island Expressway at the age of 38. He was headed west from Huntington Bay, where he lived with his wife and three children, to perform a concert in Eisenhower Park in Nassau County when his car was struck by a truck. An autopsy showed that he had suffered a heart attack, but it could not be determined whether that occurred before or after the collision. Supermarkets General, the owner of the truck, paid $12 million in the ensuing litigation.
30000 Pounds of Bananas
Harry Chapin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds (hit it Big John) of bananas.
He was a young driver,
Just out on his second job.
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
Where children play without despair
In backyard slag-piles and folks manage to eat each day
Just about thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds (scream it again, John) .
He passed a sign that he should have seen,
Saying "shift to low gear, a fifty dollar fine my friend."
He was thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman
Who was waiting at the journey's end.
He started down the two mile drop,
The curving road that wound from the top of the hill.
He was pushing on through the shortening miles that ran down to the depot.
Just a few more miles to go,
Then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away.
And the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him.
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the nights
Delights went through him.
His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down.
But the pedal floored easy without a sound.
He said "Christ!"
It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now.
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide,
Riding on his fear-hunched back
Was every one of those yellow green
I'm telling you thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
He barely made the sweeping curve that led into the steepest grade.
And he missed the thankful passing bus at ninety miles an hour.
And he said "God, make it a dream!"
As he rode his last ride down.
And he said "God, make it a dream!"
As he rode his last ride down.
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars,
Clipped off thirteen telephone poles,
Hit two houses, bruised eight trees,
And Blue-Crossed seven people.
It was then he lost his head,
Not to mention an arm or two before he stopped.
And he slid for four hundred yards
Along the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania.
All those thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
You know the man who told me about it on the bus,
As it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania,
He shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head,
And he said (and this is exactly what he said)
"Boy that sure must've been something.
Just imagine thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas.
Of bananas. Just bananas. Thirty thousand pounds.
Of Bananas. not no driver now. Just bananas!"
From Greatest Stories Live: Ending number one
Yes, we have no bananas,
We have no bananas today
(Spoken: And if that wasn't enough)
Yes, we have no bananas,
Bananas in Scranton, P A
From Greatest Stories Live: Ending #2:
A woman walks into her room where her child lies sleeping,
And when she sees his eyes are closed,
She sits there, silently weeping,
And though she lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania
She never ever eats ... Bananas
Not one of thirty thousand pounds .... of bananas
"30000 Pounds of Bananas" is a tragic ballad written and performed by Harry Chapin in 1974. The song was inspired by an actual event that happened to Eugene Biscardi, a truck driver who drove off a hill in Scranton, Pennsylvania carrying 30,000 pounds of bananas. The song is trying to shed light on how a trivial mistake can lead to terrible misfortune, and how a person's aspirations and dreams can be shattered on their journey to achieve them. The song utilizes irony and humor to convey its message.
The singer in the song is an inexperienced truck driver who is carrying 30,000 pounds of bananas, as he descends from the hill into Scranton, he misses a warning sign that tells him to shift to lower gear, and although he tries to slow down, the truck's brakes fail. In his last moments, he sideswipes 19 parked cars, collides with 13 telephone poles, crashes into two homes, bumps into eight trees, and hits seven people, all while carrying thousands of pounds of bananas. The song's lyrics convey a sense of sorrow and regret as death and destruction are brought about by a simple mistake.
Line by Line Meaning
It was just after dark when the truck started down
The truck driver started his journey from the top of the hill leading to Scranton, Pennsylvania after sunset.
The hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania.
The hill is the road leading to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
The truck was carrying 30,000 pounds of bananas.
Carrying thirty thousand pounds (hit it Big John) of bananas.
This line repeats that the truck is carrying 30,000 pounds of bananas.
He was a young driver,
The truck driver was inexperienced and young.
Just out on his second job.
It was only the driver's second job.
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
The bananas were intended for the next day's sale.
For everyone in that coal-scarred city
The bananas were for everyone in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Where children play without despair
The environment in Scranton, Pennsylvania is such that children are not hopeless.
In backyard slag-piles and folks manage to eat each day
Despite not having the best living conditions, the people still manage to get by every day.
Just about thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Repetition that the truck contained about 30,000 pounds of bananas.
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds (scream it again, John) .
Reiteration of the fact that the truck was carrying about 30,000 pounds of bananas.
He passed a sign that he should have seen,
The driver saw the sign but ignored it.
Saying "shift to low gear, a fifty dollar fine my friend."
The sign warned drivers to shift their vehicles into low gear or face a $50 fine.
He was thinking perhaps about the warm-breathed woman
The driver was possibly thinking about his loved one waiting for him at his destination.
Who was waiting at the journey's end.
The driver had someone waiting for him at his destination.
He started down the two mile drop,
The truck started its descent down the two-mile hill.
The curving road that wound from the top of the hill.
The road was winding and led from the top of the hill.
He was pushing on through the shortening miles that ran down to the depot.
The driver was getting closer to his destination, the depot.
Just a few more miles to go,
The driver was close to reaching the depot.
Then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away.
The driver would finally relax and unwind with his loved one after a long day.
And the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
The truck still smelt strongly of bananas.
Yes the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Reiteration that the truck still had a powerful smell of bananas.
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him.
The driver was picking up speed as the bright lights of the city loomed in the distance.
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the nights
The driver ignored the cautionary thoughts that began creeping in his mind.
Delights went through him.
The driver was euphoric and excited about meeting his loved one waiting for him at the end of his journey.
His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down.
The driver attempted to slow down the truck by applying the brakes.
But the pedal floored easy without a sound.
The brake pedal hit the ground without resistance, making it ineffective in slowing the truck.
He said "Christ!"
The driver took the Lord's name in vain while realizing his situation.
It was funny how he had named the only man who could save him now.
The driver called on God for help, after having mocked his name just moments before.
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide,
The driver was caught in an uncontrollable, life-threatening situation.
Riding on his fear-hunched back
The driver was overcome with fear and anxiety.
Was every one of those yellow green
The driver realized that the truck was carrying an overwhelming amount of bananas.
I'm telling you thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
The driver was reiterating the sheer amount of bananas that the truck was carrying.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
Reiteration that the truck carried 30,000 pounds of bananas.
He barely made the sweeping curve that led into the steepest grade.
The driver barely managed to negotiate the curve that led to the steepest grade of the hill.
And he missed the thankful passing bus at ninety miles an hour.
The driver missed a bus that was passing, barely avoiding a collision.
And he said "God, make it a dream!"
The driver wished the situation he was in was just a nightmare.
As he rode his last ride down.
The driver knew that his final moments had arrived.
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars,
The driver hit 19 parked cars side by side.
Clipped off thirteen telephone poles,
The truck knocked down 13 telephone poles.
Hit two houses, bruised eight trees,
The truck collided with two houses and injured 8 trees.
And Blue-Crossed seven people.
Seven people ended up being hospitalized after the accident.
It was then he lost his head,
The driver lost his head (lost control) of the truck.
Not to mention an arm or two before he stopped.
The driver lost his arm or arms before the truck finally came to a stop.
And he slid for four hundred yards
The truck continued to slide for 400 yards.
Along the hill that leads into Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The truck stopped sliding along the hill leading to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
You know the man who told me about it on the bus,
The artist was told about the accident by another individual on the bus.
As it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania,
The singer was on a bus leaving out of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
He shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head,
The singer was unable to comprehend the gravity of the accident.
And he said (and this is exactly what he said)
The singer relayed exactly what the person had said.
"Boy that sure must've been something.
The artist acknowledged that the accident was terrible.
Just imagine thirty thousand pounds of bananas.
The sheer quantity of bananas that the truck was carrying was difficult to imagine.
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas.
The bananas turned to mush after the accident.
Of bananas. Just bananas. Thirty thousand pounds.
The truck was carrying just bananas, and it was 30,000 pounds' worth.
Not no driver now. Just bananas!
The tragedy resulted in the loss of a life, and now the truck was all that remained.
Yes, we have no bananas,
The refrain implies that the supply of bananas has been exhausted.
We have no bananas today
Bananas are not available today.
And if that wasn't enough
The situation is already bad enough.
Yes, we have no bananas,
Continuation of the refrain about the shortage of bananas.
Bananas in Scranton, P A
Even in Scranton, Pennsylvania, bananas were scarce.
A woman walks into her room where her child lies sleeping,
A woman comes into a room where her child is peacefully sleeping.
And when she sees his eyes are closed,
The mother sees that her child's eyes are closed, suggesting that he may be sleeping.
She sits there, silently weeping,
The woman cries silently in the room.
And though she lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania
The woman is a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
She never ever eats ... Bananas
The woman never eats bananas.
Not one of thirty thousand pounds .... of bananas
The tragedy did not affect the woman's aversion to bananas.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY F. CHAPIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Oliviacaptain
It was just after dark when the truck started down
The hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania
Carrying thirty thousand pounds of bananas
Carrying thirty thousand pounds
Hit it big John
Of bananas
He was a young driver
Just out on his second job
And he was carrying the next day's pasty fruits
For everyone in that coal scarred city
Where children play without despair
In backyard slag piles and folks manage to eat each day
About thirty thousand pounds of bananas
Yes, just about thirty thousand pounds
Scream it again, John
Of bananas
He passed a sign that he should have seen
Saying "Shift to low gear, a fifty dollar fine my friend."
He was thinking perhaps about the warm breathed woman
Who was waiting at the journey's end
He started down the two mile drop
The curving road that wound from the top of the hill
He was pushing on through the shortening miles
That ran down to the depot
Just a few more miles to go
Then he'd go home and have her ease his long, cramped day away
And the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas
Yes the smell of thirty thousand pounds of bananas
He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights, below him
But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the night's
Delights went through him
His foot nudged the brakes to slow him down
But the pedal floored easy without a sound
He said, "Christ"
It was funny how he had named the only man
Who could save him now
He was trapped inside a dead-end hellslide
Riding on his fear hunched back
Was everyone of those yellow green
I'm telling you thirty thousand pounds of bananas
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of bananas
He barely made the sweeping curve
That led into the steepest grade
And he missed the thankful passing bus
At ninety miles an hour
And he said, "God, make it a dream"
As he rode his last tread down
He said, "God, make it a dream"
As he rode his last tread down
And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars
Clipped off thirteen telephone poles
Hit two houses, bruised eight trees
And Blue Crossed seven people
It was then he lost his head
Not to mention an arm or two before he stopped
And he slid for four hundred yards
Along the hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania
All those thirty thousand pounds of bananas
You know the man who told me about it on the bus
As it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania
He shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head
And he said
And this is exactly what he said
"Boy that sure must've been something
Just imagine thirty thousand pounds of bananas"
Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas
Of bananas, bananas, just bananas, thirty thousand pounds
Of bananas, not no driver now, just bananas
@garysloan9793
The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota has an even more special place in my heart. Thank you Harry
@jenniferthompson9351
I live about 5 miles from that twine ball. I've known Chapin's song since the early 80's, but didn't know about Yankovic's parody until tonight. Thanks for that!
@EmpresssMandinka
I live in Scranton all my life and remember when this and many more trucks came down that hill with horrible endings. It was so frequent almost a truck a month until they finally banned trucks from using it. God Bless their souls
@bobchessick4282
I know the spot well. They couldn't ban trucks until Interstate 380 was completed to I-81. It used to end at Route 307 which leads to the hill in questions. And few trucks would think to follow PA-435 (old US-611) instead but that too led to a similar hill on Drinker Street in Dunmore.
@thephantomoftheparadise5666
That sounds terrifying. @@bobchessick4282
@Marty933
When I was driving truck when I was about 23, I picked up a load of bananas in Baltimore and went through Scranton PA. This song was all I could think of.
@danholland2736
You were going a different way in he came from city and went 307 before 380 was made .
@iron54eagle
But did you die?
@scoobydoo7535
Lol
@harrisonthecarguy3734
oh man