Banana Boat Song
Jimmy Carroll and His Orchestra Lyrics
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Daylight come and he wan' go home
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and he wan' go home
Work all night on a drink a'rum
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Stack banana till thee morning come
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
A beautiful bunch a'ripe banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Hide thee deadly black tarantula
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
The Banana Boat Song is a classic calypso tune that highlights the hard work and long hours of Jamaican dockworkers. The song is filled with vivid imagery, from the bananas being stacked on the ships to the menacing black tarantulas that lurk among them. The repeated refrain of "day-o" and "daylight come and he wan' go home" emphasizes the workers' desire for rest after a long night of labor, as well as the idea that the daylight is a force that compels them to leave their work and return to their lives outside the docks.
The song also features the character of Mr. Tally Mon, who counts the bananas and ensures that the workers are paid fairly for their labor. His presence in the song highlights the importance of fair labor practices and the role of supervisors in protecting workers' rights. The seemingly carefree melody and upbeat tempo of the song mask the reality of the workers' difficult lives and the injustices they may face.
Line by Line Meaning
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
The day has just begun, but already the singer is feeling tired and ready to go home.
Daylight come and he wan' go home
The sun is rising and the singer is eager to head back home.
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
The singer is repeatedly proclaiming that it is time to go home now that the sun has risen.
Work all night on a drink a'rum
The artist has been laboring all night and fueling themselves with rum.
Stack banana till thee morning come
The artist has been working all night, stacking bananas for shipment or sale.
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
The singer is requesting the tally man to keep count of the number of bananas that have been stacked.
It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH!
The bananas have been stacked several feet high in a large bunch.
A beautiful bunch a'ripe banana
The bananas are ripe and ready for sale or shipment.
Hide thee deadly black tarantula
The artist warns others to watch out for the dangerous tarantula that might be hiding among the bananas.
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
Once again, the artist is reminding the tally man to keep count of the number of bananas.
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day
The singer reiterates once again that it's time to finish the work and head back home at sunrise.
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
As the sun rises, the artist still feels tired and ready to go home.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Alan Arkin, Bob Carey, Erik Darling
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind