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"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" is a traditional Jamaican folk song. The song has mento influences, but it is commonly classified as an example of the better known calypso music. It is a call and response work song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships. The lyrics describe how daylight has ...
“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” is a single from Harry Belafonte’s 1956 album Calypso is an adaptation of a vernacular Jamaican work song.
This is a traditional Jamaican song that was sung by dock workers who worked throughout the night loading bananas onto ships. It's daylight, and they look forward to the arrival of the Tallyman (who will take inventory) so they can go home.
Sep 16, 2023 · The Banana Boat Song, also known as Day-O, was not written by Harry Belafonte, but rather it is a traditional Jamaican folk song. Its exact origins and authorship are uncertain, as folk songs are known for evolving over time through oral tradition.
The lyrics of "Day-O" are simple yet powerful, reflecting the daily lives of Jamaican banana workers. The song is a call-and-response work song, with the chorus being a rousing cry for the sun to rise and signal the start of their workday.
Jul 3, 2024 · “Day-O” is a repeated phrase throughout the song, which derives from the Jamaican term “daylight come and me wan’ go home.” This phrase represents the desire for daylight to come, signaling the end of a long night shift and the workers’ yearning to return to their homes.
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Origins. The song was first recorded by Trinidadian singer Edric Connor and his band Edric Connor and the Caribbeans on the 1952 album Songs From Jamaica; the song was called "Day Dah Light". Belafonte based his version on Connor's 1952 and Louise Bennett's 1954 recordings.