Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)

"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"is a traditionalJamaican folk song. The song hasmentoinfluences, but it is commonly classified as an example of the better knowncalypso music.
It is acall and responsework song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loadingbananasonto ships. The lyrics describe how daylight has come, their shift is over, and they want their work to be counted up so that they can go home.
The best-known version was released by American singerHarry Belafontein 1956 (originally titled"Banana Boat (Day-O)") and later became one of his signature songs. That same yearthe Tarriersreleased an alternative version that incorporated the chorus of another Jamaican call and responsefolksong, "Hill and Gully Rider". This version was played during an interview with Bob Carey (formerly of The Tarriers) on Folk Music Worldwide in January 1964.Both versions became simultaneously popular the following year, placing 5th and 6th on the 20 February 1957,US Top 40 Singleschart.The Tarriers version was covered multiple times in 1956 and 1957, including bythe Fontane Sisters,Sarah Vaughan,Steve Lawrence, andShirley Bassey, all of whom charted in the top 40 in their respective countries.
Belafonte described "Day-O" as "a song about struggle, about black people in a colonized life doing the most grueling work," in a 2011 interview withGwen IfillonPBS News Hour. He said, "I took that song and honed it into an anthem that the world loved."
"The Banana Boat Song" likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century when the banana trade in Jamaica was growing. It was sung by Jamaican dockworkers, who typically worked at night to avoid the heat of the daytime sun. When daylight arrived, they expected their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home.
The song was first recorded byTrinidadiansingerEdric Connorand his band the Caribbeans on the 1952 albumSongs from Jamaica; the song was called "Day Dah Light".Harry Belafontebased his version on Connor's 1952 andLouise Bennett's 1954 recordings.
In 1955, American singer-songwritersLord BurgessandWilliam Attawaywrote a version of the lyrics forThe Colgate Comedy Hour, in which the song was performed by Harry Belafonte.Belafonte recorded the song forRCA Victorand this is the version that is best known to listeners today, as it reached number five on theBillboardcharts in 1957 and later became Belafonte'ssignature song. Side two of Belafonte's 1956Calypsoalbum opens with "Star O", a song referring to the day shift ending when the first star is seen in the sky. During recording, when asked for its title, Harry spells, "Day Done Light".
Also in 1956,folksingerBob Gibson, who had traveled to Jamaica and heard the song, taught his version to the folk bandthe Tarriers. They recorded a version of that song that incorporated the chorus of "Hill and Gully Rider", anotherJamaican folksong. This release became their biggest hit, reaching number four on the pop charts, where it outperformed Belafonte's version. The Tarriers' version was recorded bythe Fontane Sisters,Sarah Vaughan, andSteve Lawrencein 1956, all of whom charted in theUS Top 40, and byShirley Basseyin 1957, whose recording became a hit on theUnited Kingdom singles chart.The Tarriers, or some subset of the three members of the group (Erik Darling, Bob Carey andAlan Arkin, later better known as an actor) are sometimes credited as the writers of the song.