This release became their biggest hit, reaching number four on the pop charts, where it outperformed Belafonte's version. They recorded a version of that song that incorporated the chorus of 'Hill and Gully Rider', another Jamaican folk song. During recording, when asked for its title, Harry spells, 'Day Done Light'.Īlso in 1956, folk singer Bob Gibson, who had traveled to Jamaica and heard the song, taught his version to the folk band the Tarriers. Side two of Belafonte's 1956 Calypso album opens with 'Star O', a song referring to the day shift ending when the first star is seen in the sky.

Belafonte recorded the song for RCA Victor and this is the version that is best known to listeners today, as it reached number five on the Billboard charts in 1957 and later became Belafonte's signature song. In 1955, American singer-songwriters Lord Burgess and William Attaway wrote a version of the lyrics for The Colgate Comedy Hour, in which the song was performed by Harry Belafonte. Belafonte based his version on Connor's 1952 and Louise Bennett's 1954 recordings. The song was first recorded by Trinidadian singer Edric Connor and his band Edric Connor and the Caribbeans on the 1952 album Songs From Jamaica the song was called 'Day Dah Light'. When daylight arrived, they knew that their boss would arrive to tally the bananas so they could go home. It was sung by Jamaican dockworkers, who typically worked at night to avoid the heat of the daytime sun. 'The Banana Boat Song' likely originated around the beginning of the 20th century when the banana trade in Jamaica was growing. The Tarriers version was covered multiple times in 19, including by the Fontane Sisters, Sarah Vaughan, Steve Lawrence, and Shirley Bassey, all of whom charted in the top 40 in their respective countries. Both versions became simultaneously popular the following year, placing 5th and 6th on the 20 February, 1957, US Top 40 Singles chart. That same year the Tarriers released an alternative version that incorporated the chorus of another Jamaican call and response folk song, 'Hill and Gully Rider'. The best-known version was released by Jamaican-American singer Harry Belafonte in 1956 (originally titled 'Banana Boat (Day-O)') and later became one of his signature songs. 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. It is a call and response work song, from the point of view of dock workers working the night shift loading bananas onto ships.

The song has mento influences, but it is commonly classified as an example of the better known calypso music. 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' is a traditional Jamaican folk song. Harry Belafonte, Almanac, 18 February 1954 'Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)' on YouTube Traditional, arranged: Harry Belafonte, William Attaway, Lord Burgess Grand Ballroom, Webster Hall, New York City

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