The Banana Boat Song

Robyn Hitchcock · The Kershaw Sessions [1994]

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day-o, day-ay-ay-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

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

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

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

Daylight come and me wan' go home



Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch

Daylight come and me wan' go home



Beautiful bunch of ripe banana

Daylight come and me wan' go home



Hide the deadly black tarantula

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

The Banana Boat Song

Robyn Hitchcock's 1994 recording of "The Banana Boat Song" appears on The Kershaw Sessions, a collection that showcases his distinctive approach to covering classic material. While the title references a well-known sea shanty, Hitchcock reimagines the melody with his characteristic blend of melancholy and whimsy, characteristic of his work during the mid-1990s. The track exemplifies his ability to infuse familiar tunes with a unique, often surreal atmosphere that defines his discography. Released as part of a series of intimate studio sessions, the recording highlights his versatility as a performer who treats traditional songs as fresh canvases for his personal artistic voice, blending nostalgia with a distinctly modern indie sensibility.