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Beetlejuice Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Lyrics
The "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" is a traditional Jamaican folk song that has become a pop culture staple, particularly for its use in the 1988 movie Beetlejuice. This catchy song, often attributed to Harry Belafonte, is known for its simple, repetitive lyrics and upbeat melody, making it a fun and engaging musical piece. Here are the lyrics:
Day-O, Day-O, Daylight come and I wanna go home
Day-O, Day-O, Daylight come and I wanna go home
Me say Day-O, Day-O, Daylight come and I wanna go home
The song is about a group of workers who are tired of working all night and want to go home. They sing about their work, their desire to go home, and the dangers of the jungle. The song's lyrics are full of imagery and cultural references, making it a rich and engaging piece of music.
Here are some of the key lyrics and their meanings:
- Day-O, Day-O, Daylight come and I wanna go home: This is the main refrain of the song, repeated throughout. It expresses the workers' desire to go home after a long night of work.
- Me say Day-O, Day-O, Daylight come and I wanna go home: This line is a call and response, with the lead singer repeating the refrain and the workers responding with the same line.
- Work all night, work all day, work till the break of dawn: This line describes the workers' grueling schedule, working both day and night.
- When the moon shine, I wanna go home: This line emphasizes the workers' desire to go home, even when the moon is shining brightly.
- The jungle too full of monkeys, the jungle too full of snakes: This line refers to the dangers of the jungle, where the workers have to be careful of wild animals.
- Oh, me mama don't like me, me mama don't like me, don't like me, don't like me: This line expresses the worker's frustration with his mother, who doesn't seem to appreciate his hard work.
The song's popularity
The "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" has been covered by many artists over the years, including Harry Belafonte, who popularized the song in the 1950s. The song is also featured in several movies and TV shows, including Beetlejuice, which helped to introduce the song to a new generation of listeners.
The song's catchy melody and simple lyrics make it a fun and engaging piece of music that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a testament to the power of music to transcend cultures and generations.