Born in Harlem in 1927, Harry Belafonte’s voice carried around the world.
You can read about his meteoric rise and his importance in the American civil rights movement here. He died in New York on Tuesday.
My first memory of Belafonte was the song “Day-O,” also known as “The Banana Boat Song.” As a small child, I loved that song. My mother had an album of his music, and I listened to “Day-O” over and over and over and over and over.
Later, I was delighted to see him perform it on TV. The rhythm and melody seemed playful and joyous, and Belafonte’s megawatt smile multiplied the effect. A happy man belting out a happy song.
At some older age, I began to finally listen to and absorb the lyrics.
Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and we want go home
Stack banana 'til the morning come
Daylight come and we want go home
Come Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and we want go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and we want go home
A beautiful bunch of ripe banana
Daylight come and we want go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and we want go home
Harry Belafonte was a man with an overflow of charisma, grace, beauty, and God-given talent. He was a warrior for justice. Not just for his people, but for all people.
And his was a voice and expression so clear that small children listened to and loved him.
– Willis Sparks