“DAY DAH LIGHT
Banana Loaders' Song

Day oh! Day— oh! Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
1. Come Missa Tallyman Come tally me banana.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Six han', seven han', eight han', Bunch!
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.

Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Me come yah fe wuk Me no come yah fe idle.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.

Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
De checker dem a check But dem check wid caution.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.

Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Me back dis – a bruck Wid bare exhaustion.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.

Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
No gimme so – soh bunch Me no horse wid bridle.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.
Day dah light an' me wan' go home.



Day dah light… Day is breaking
Yah… Here
Disa bruck… Is just breaking
Noh… Don't
So—soh bunch… All bunches
Me noh horse wid bridle… I'm not a horse with a bridle


Copyright, 1952, by the Oxford University Press, London.
NOTE. This is a banana-wharf song, sung by the carriers who sometimes work through the night loading the ships with bananas. What is known as 'bunch fruit' is a bunch larger than average, with nine or more hands of bananas.”
[Murray, Tom, ed., Folk Songs of Jamaica, (Oxford U. Press: London, New York, Toronto, 1951]

Note: “In 1945, (Louise) Bennett was the first black student to study at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) after being awarded a scholarship from the British Council.” [Bennett-Coverly wiki]