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Tallyman Nursery Rhyme
"Banana Boat Song," also known as "Day-O," is a traditional Jamaican folk song that was popularized by Harry Belafonte in the 1950s. Here are the opening lines of the song:
"Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home"The song's catchy melody and rhythmic chanting have made it an iconic tune associated with Caribbean culture. It's often used to evoke a festive and tropical atmosphere.
The lyrics tell the story of dock workers loading bananas onto boats during the night, with the refrain "Daylight come and me wan' go home" suggesting that the work should be done by daybreak. The song's rhythm was inspired by the actual rhythmic movements of workers loading bananas onto ships.
Harry Belafonte's version of the song played a significant role in introducing Caribbean music and culture to a wider audience in the United States and beyond. It remains a classic and recognizable tune to this day.
