Hi,
here is the lyrics.
Source: http://www.netheaven.com/~jimligon/music/
Quoting from album cover of "Calypso" -- "Day-o is based on the
traditional work songs of the gangs who load the banana boats in the
harbor at Trinidad. The men come to work with the evening star and
continue through the night. They long for daybreak when they will be
able to return to their homes. All their wishful thinking is
expressed in the lead singers plaintive cry, " Day-o." The lonely men
and the cry in the night spill overtones of symbolism which are
universal."
Banana Boat Song
traditional
D A7 D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
D A7 D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
D
Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
D A7 D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home
Six han' seven han' eight han' bunch
A7
Daylight come an' I wanna go home
D
Come mister tally man tally me banana
A7 D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home
Come mister tally man tally me banana
A7 D
Daylight come an' I wanna go home
D A7 D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
D A7 D
Day-oh Day-oh Daylight come an' I wanna go home
source: jonas reitz
___________________________________
THE BANANA BOAT SONG
Day-O! Day...O!
Daylight come and I wanna go
Day! Misehday......O!
Daylight come and I wanna go home
***
Work all night and drink-a rum
Stuff banana till the man him come
Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
Hey! 6-ft, 7-ft, 8-ft bunch!
Hey! 6-ft, 7-ft, 8-ft bunch!
Day! Misehday...O!
Day! Misehday, misehday, misehday...
A beautiful bunch o' ripe banana
Hightly deadly black tarantula
Hey! 6-ft, 7-ft, 8-ft bunch!
Hey! 6-ft, 7-ft, 8-ft bunch!
Day! Misehday...O!
Day! Misehday, misehday, misehday...
Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
Come Mister Tally Man, tally me banana
[each line is followed by chorus:
Daylight come and I wanna go home]
***
Day-O! Day...O!
Daylight come and I wanna go
Day! Misehday......O!
Daylight come and I wanna go home
END