Come Mister Tally Man Tally Me Banana Lyrics
If you have heard the popular song "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" by Harry Belafonte, then you must be familiar with the song's catchy chorus line, "Come Mister Tally Man Tally Me Banana." This line has become so famous that it is often referred to as "the banana song."
The lyrics of the song describe the life of Jamaican dock workers who are loading bananas onto ships bound for the United States. The "tally man" mentioned in the song is a supervisor who keeps track of how many bunches of bananas each worker has loaded onto the ship. The workers sing this song to ease the tedium of their work and to keep their spirits up.
The Lyrics
The complete lyrics of the song are as follows:
Day light come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home
A beautiful bunch, a ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan' go home (x2)
The Meaning Behind the Lyrics
The lyrics of the song talk about the hard work of Jamaican dock workers who load bananas onto ships. They work all night, stacking bananas until morning comes. The chorus, "Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana," is a plea for the supervisor to come and tally up the number of bananas each worker has loaded. The workers hope to finish their work soon so that they can go home.
The song also mentions the black tarantula, which is a common sight in Jamaica. Although the tarantula is not deadly, it can be quite scary to encounter one. The workers sing about hiding the tarantula to avoid getting bitten.
The Popularity of the Song
"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" was first recorded by Harry Belafonte in 1956. It became an instant success and went on to become one of the most famous songs of the 20th century. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Shaggy, Sting, and even Sesame Street's Cookie Monster.
The song's catchy chorus, "Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana," has become a popular phrase that is often used in various contexts. In Jamaica, the phrase is sometimes used as a slang expression to mean "let's get to work" or "let's get busy."
Conclusion
The lyrics of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" are simple yet catchy, and they paint a vivid picture of the hard work and daily struggles of Jamaican dock workers. The song's popularity has lasted for decades, and its catchy chorus has become a well-known phrase in popular culture. So, the next time you hear someone say "Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana," you know where it comes from!