Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean
“Banana Boat (Day-O)”
Artist: Harry Belafonte
Music / Lyrics: Traditional Jamaican
Label: RCA Victor, 1956
In the 1950s, the American pop charts contained a number of songs with a Caribbean calypso influence. Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat (Day-Oo)” is possibly the best known, along with Belafonte’s version of “Jamaica Farewell.” “Day-O” was a Jamaican folksong that would have been sung by night-workers loading bananas onto boats; in its original context, it would have possibly had additional improvised verses. Unlike their Jamaican and Trinidadian originals, American “pop” calypso tunes generally avoided political or controversial content.
Harry Belafonte himself was of Jamaican ancestry, and though born in New York, he spent part of his childhood in Jamaica. Famous as both an actor and a singer, he played a crucial role in the popularization of calypso music in the US. Ironically, while his hit songs from this era were not particularly political, Belafonte himself has been politically outspoken, known for his progressive views and his humanitarian work.
Musical style notes
Calypso has its origins in Trinidad, and has its origins in West African kaiso. Elements of Spanish, French, and English music also influenced its development. There are many variations on a calypso rhythm, but here is one common variant. The basic two-2 beat pattern is subdivided, so that each one of the main beats is divided into four4 shorter beats. Then, you can apply the rhythmic accent as follows:
|Main beat |1 | |
|0:00-0:30 |Introduction |Daaaay-o |
| | |Daaay-o |
| |Drums, vocals. |Daylight come and we wan’ go home --– |
| | | |
| |Begins with Belafonte’s famous “Daaaay-O” line, leading |Day – is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, |
| |to the refrain, with the repeating “Daylight come” line. |is a daaay – o |
| | | |
| | |Daylight come and we wan’ go home. |
|0:30-1:17 |Verse |Work all night on a drink o’ rum |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| |Note the “call- and- response” style between Belafonte |Stock banana til the morning come… |
| |and the men’s chorus. |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
| | |Come, mister tally man, |
| | |Tally me banana |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Come mister tally man, tally me banana |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
| | |Lift - Six foot seven foot eight foot bunch |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Six foot seven foot eight foot bunch |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
| | | |
|1:01 | | |
|1:17-1:33 |Refrain |Day - |
| | |Is a daay-o |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Day – -- is a day, is a day, is a day… |
|1:33-2:05 |Verse, with call-and response chorus |A beautiful bunch-a ripe banana… |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home)… |
| | |Hide the deadly black tarantula |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
| | |Lift - Six foot seven foot eight foot bunch |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Six foot seven foot eight foot bunch |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
|2:05-2:20 |Refrain |Day - |
| | |Is a day-o |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Day –-- is a day, is a day, is a day… |
|2:20-2:37 |Verse, with call-and-response chorus |Come mister tally man, tally me banana |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | |Come mister tally man, tally me banana |
| | |(daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
|2:37-3:04 |Chorus, slowed down considerably |Day- o, Day - o |
| | | |
| | |(Daylight come and we wan’ go home) |
| | | |
| | |Day – |
| | |Is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o |
| | | |
| | |(Daylight come and we wanna go home.) |
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