The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came … Read Full Bio ↴The Kinks (1963–1996; 2018-present) is an English pop-rock group that came out of the British R&B scene of the early 1960s. Formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies in 1964 and categorised in the United States as a "British Invasion" band, the Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock groups of the era. In 1990, their first year of eligibility, the original four members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Later, in November 2005, they were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. Among numerous other honours, they received the Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Service to British Music" in 2006. The Kinks reunited in June 2018, with the Davies brothers and drummer Mick Avory.

Formed in 1963 in Muswell Hill, North London, they first gained prominence on the heels of the well-received and highly influential single "You Really Got Me" (1964). The group originally consisted of lead singer/guitarist Ray Davies, his brother lead guitarist Dave Davies, drummer Mick Avory, and bassist Pete Quaife. Quaife left (twice) in the late 1960s, and Avory finally left in 1984 as the result of a long-running dispute with Dave Davies, leaving only the Davies brothers as the core of the original group.

With Ray Davies' songwriting skills and unabashedly English voices, Dave Davies' impressive guitar work, and Avory's tight and steady drumming, the band became one of the best and most influential groups of British pop and the "British Invasion" of the U.S.A., lasting longer than any of their competitors, apart from the Rolling Stones, as they broke up in 1996. Their catalogue of songs has been covered by Van Halen, The Pretenders, The Black Keys, The Stranglers, Queens of the Stone Age , and many more.

Members:
Ray Davies – vocals, rhythm guitar (1963–1996)
Dave Davies – lead guitar, vocals (1963–1996)
Pete Quaife – bass guitar (1963–1969)
John Dalton – bass guitar (1969–1976)
Andy Pyle – bass guitar (1976–1978)
Jim Rodford – bass guitar (1978–1996)
Mick Avory – drums (1963–1984)
Bob Henrit – drums (1984–1996)
John Gosling – keyboards, piano (1970–1978)
Gordon Edwards – keyboards, piano (1978–1979)
Ian Gibbons – keyboards, piano (1979–1989, 1993–1996)
Mark Haley – keyboards, piano (1989–1993)

Banana Boat Song
The Kinks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Day-oh, day-oh
Daylight come and i want to go home
Day-oh, day-oh
Daylight come and i want to go home

Workin' on banana boat all day long
Daylight come and i want to go home
Six boat, seven boat, eight boat job

Daylight come and i want to go home

Day-oh, day-oh
Daylight come and i want to go home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Kinks's song "Banana Boat Song" convey the monotony and exhaustion of working on a banana boat all day long. The singer repeats the phrase "Daylight come and I want to go home" to express his longing for escape from the endless labor. The constant repetition of "Day-oh" creates a rhythmic unease that mimics the cyclical nature of the work being done. When the singer mentions the number of boats he has to work on, it shows how overwhelming the workload is, which adds to his desire to leave. These lyrics can also be interpreted metaphorically as a longing for freedom from any oppressive or monotonous job.

The Kinks's rendition of "Banana Boat Song" is a cover of a traditional Jamaican folk song, originally titled "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" and written by Lord Burgess and William Attaway. The song was made famous by Harry Belafonte in 1956, and The Kinks recorded their version in 1964, during the height of the British Invasion. The song was one of the first instances of reggae music being introduced to a wider audience, and it helped popularize the genre outside of Jamaica.

Line by Line Meaning

Day-oh, day-oh
Singing to the rhythm of the banana boats moving in the water.

Daylight come and i want to go home
The workers are tired and want to end their day's work and go home.

Workin' on banana boat all day long
The workers spend their entire day working on the banana boats.

Six boat, seven boat, eight boat job
The workers have to work on multiple boats, moving from one to another.

Day-oh, day-oh
Continuing to keep the rhythm of the banana boats moving.

Daylight come and i want to go home
The workers are still tired and want to end their day's work and go home.

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: A IRVING BURGIE, LORD BURGESS A

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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