"Day-O" (The Banana Boat Song)

"Day-O" (The Banana Boat Song) is a traditional Jamaican folk song that depicts dock workers' nighttime routine of loading bananas onto ships. Sung from their perspective, it highlights their labor and anticipation of the end of their shift. The song’s catchy call-and-response style, lively rhythm, and repetitive lyrics capture the workers' camaraderie and the island’s musical culture. Popularized globally by Harry Belafonte in the 1950s, it celebrates Caribbean heritage and work ethic, resonating as a lively, upbeat tune that symbolizes joyful resilience amid manual labor.