4659. Calypso Medley (Belafonte cover) with Tony and Bob at Fawkner Park

More songs from our concert, "Songs of African America" at South Yarra Senior Centre in Fawkner Park.
Calypso music originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early 19th century and spread to the rest of the Caribbean by the mid-20th century. Its rhythms can be traced back to the arrival of French planters and their West African slaves from the Antilles in the 18th century. A watered-down version became very popular when Harry Belafonte released his 1956 album, Calypso, which sold over a million copies. In particular, "Banana Boat Song", was a huge hit. We sang a medley of three of Belafonte’s calypso songs.
Lyrics and chords:
C ….... G7. C
Day-o Day-o
…...................................... G7 …..... C
Daylight come and me want go home.
…....... G7. C
Day-o Day-o
…..................................... G7 …..... C
Daylight come and me want go home.
…..................................... G7
Come Mister Tally man, tally me banana.
C .................................... G7 …...... C
Daylight come and me want go home.
…...................................... G7
Come Mister Tally man, tally me banana.
C .................................... G7 …..... C
Daylight come and me want go home.
A beautiful bunch of ripe banana
Daylight come and me want go home.
Me see great big black tarantula.
Daylight come and me want go home.
C …...................... F …...... C
This is my island in the sun
…................ G7 …............................... C
Where my people have toiled since time begun
…..................... Dm
Though I may sail on many a sea
…........ C ….......................... G7 …........ C
Her shores will always be home to me.
….............. F
Oh, island in the sun
G7 …......................... C
Willed to me by my father’s hand
…........................... F
All my days I will sing in praise
…........... G7 …............................ C
Of your forests, waters, your shining sand.
As morning breaks the heaven on high
I lift my heavy load to the sky.
Sun comes down with a burning glow,
Mingles my sweat with the earth below.
I hope the day will never come
That I can’t awake to the sound of drum.
Never let me miss carnival
With calypso songs philosophical.
C …..................................... F
Down the way where the nights are gay
…........... Em ….......... Dm …............ C
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
…........................... F
I took a trip on a sailing ship
…................. Em …........... Dm ...… G7 ....…. C
And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop.
…........... C …................ Dm
But I’m sad to say, I’m on my way,
G7 …........................ C
Won’t be back for many a day.
….............................................. Dm
My heart is down, my head is turning around,
…........... C ….............. G7 ….. C
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town.
Sounds of laughter everywhere
And the dancing girls swaying to and fro.
I must declare my heart is there
Though I’ve been from Maine to Mexico.
Down at the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear
Ackey rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time of year.