Tally Hall's Banana Man - Capitalism and Banana Plants

A fun little detour into the world of Tally Hall!
linktr.ee/confusedNarrator
Outro music by Aik3n_
/ endlsss

[@confusedNarrator]

This is about three years old now but still weirdly pulling views- probably bc of how content starved we tally hall fans are- but I wanted to jump in here and give a quick notes: This is my own interpretation, the the intention was never to say this is the 'right' interpretation. If you personally think that the meaning is different from mine, whether you choose to view the song as silly banana song or a drug-stand-in, then that's your own take and I won't try to dissuade you from it.

[@forestfilms472]

Here me out.... Man who loves banana is on island with banana tree for vacation. He sad when he have to leave

[@callmeishmael5742]

Deep

[@toetruck1589]

Better theory Mm,m.,mmmm.., yunby bana

[@carloss.2877]

Exactly

[@mikedoesthings2134]

banana part ii

[@madisonkennicott9576]

i think the worst part is that there’s been a tally hall subreddit this whole time and no one told me >:/

[@comicreliefghost]

Reddit has a subreddit for everything

[@Wetbread127]

@@comicreliefghost exactly

[@Themehsofproduction]

34#Rule of the internet If it exists theres a subreddit for it

[@Damond_Warrior]

​@@comicreliefghost mechanical hands are the ruler of everything

[@thatguythatdrawzz749]

​@@Damond_Warriordo you understand fat, greasy hand are the ruler of everything? The ruler of everything, I'm the ruler of everything cause I'm the mod

[@lochnessmobster9026]

now tell me what hawaii part 2 means lol

[@confusedNarrator]

I will when I find hawaii part one

[@MichaelTurner856]

@Hikari _ Aka who says

[@happythedog11]

@@confusedNarrator have you tried google maps? I heard it’s in the middle of the ocean

[@callmeishmael5742]

They made a Hawaii 2?

[@jureigeeksoutoccasionally]

9/11

[@yourdemiseishere]

Actually taking a banana is like, taking break and letting loose as he first wants to as he's just taking out the trash at work. The warning of if you eat the banana too much you'll never wanna go back to things you need to. The rest is crazy funny shit of doing so.

[@greaterdanemark2397]

Yeah

[@crayonpepper]

I agree

[@homergriffin2211]

Sounds like procrastination

[@Birdsbestbud2]

@@homergriffin2211sounds like drugs

[@Gekker42]

some music group - "hey let's make a silly song with a small take on how ppl care too much about everything and should take it easy" listeners and critics - "it's a song about DRUGS"

[@Nugcon]

this works if said music group anyone other than Tally Hall

[@sanddr.]

nah tally hall is the exact type of band to do a song about drugs capitalism and religion with bananas as a metaphor (especially since joe hawley was the creator of the lyrics and the music video)

[@grapejuicesoda4429]

I always saw this song as metaphor for drugs

[@caecilliusinhorto2773]

Yeah... "Tommorow morning on the plane, no banana make you go insane"

[@paper4732]

Everything is a metaphor for drugs

[@nightmarefuelfanita9343]

tbis guy:*INDEPHT ANALYSIS OF THIS MUSIC VIDEO* me listening to the song and looking at the music video: *ehehe funee bananan manb say banana*

[@confusedNarrator]

hehe funnee

[@raezad]

In the video, the piechart is titled 1987, year on wich the Banana industry act was passed in australia. it sets some regulations for standardizing banana exports, and says in the end "A regional member is to be elected, in accordance with the regulations, by banana growers who are entitled to vote in the election for the region concerned."

[@hellszhells]

I think they just looked up significant years for bananas

[@joshkorte9020]

Ever since his vacation to Hawai'i as a kid, Joe Hawley has wanted to return. This is very evident in his album Hawaii Part: ii. I believe the song to be about his desire to go to Hawaii symbolized by the banana and his kitch tourist attitude towards the local culture there vs. the locals trying to tell him that they're more than just a tourist oddity. The song ends with him having to leave his fantasy of going to Hawai'i and back to the city life. Joe has expressed in several interviews that he really wants to go back to Hawai'i and that all of his songs end up being autobiographical in some way.

[@lordlammi1562]

I thought it was about a guy who was inducted into a cult who drugged him, fed him their doctrines, and introduced him to their Messiah entity who gives them food, but left when they tried to do some crazy ritual (blood sacrifice, mass suicide dunno), after returning to normal life, he took his new perspectives with him, realizing the monotony of materialistic society and then going mad because he had to return to it.

[@xlmtap1192]

that's a cool theory too

[@intheinthe9667]

I think it's interesting you interpreted it as a literal banana plant as I always thought that bananas in this instance were a symbol for money. Cool vid!!

[@fihsl]

6:08 that was flawless!

[@TheRealSuperRabbid]

Or the reason why they made the song is because they were bored and decided to make a song about bananas with a guy having a mental breakdown.

[@tomcatacaphe7814]

I never knew there was so much meaning in this one song! I always just thought it was a nonsense song with maybe a little bit of capitalist or drugs in the meaning somewhere.

[@AwesomeJediE]

capitalist communist you did the hokey pokey & it went like this

[@PoshBeard]

This video is a complete joke. The song has meaning but this ain’t it.

[@rancholotl3384]

@@AwesomeJediE they hate eachother and love themselves

[@mikedoesthings2134]

@@PoshBeard I mean it sounded fine to me

[@LemonPartII]

@@rancholotl3384 it might be heaven & it might be hell

[@burgerboy8460]

it means nothing but bannana

[@celiodettmerfilho5708]

Indeed banana

[@killerkirby366]

Yellow probably means banana Which in of itself it a repwersenitive of money The beckoning man is the banana man or himself who's trying to convince them to make banana

[@dominosranmeover7842]

what if... it's just a song about bananas

[@figmentypigmentycrossertos1744]

I noticed that the beginning bass sounds a bit similar to the beginning bass from the song "Banana Republic" by the Boomtown Rats. I wonder if they are referencing that song or if it is just a coincidence.

[@trixabellian]

banana type beat

[@paperfishstudios3144]

the song also sounds a lot like Day-O, which is that one song about a guy asking the tally man to come tally his bananas, which is neat since this is tally hall

[@앤젤]

Damn this is a really interesting theory/take on the song, makes a whole lotta sense too

[@vomerconch9795]

i think it’s just some business dude that went on a vacation and some lines that say “banana” just means “fun.”

[@cosmomoon7419]

this is such good quality, i can't believe this isn't a bigger channel

[@Good_girl_april]

I thought this was a commentary on drugs and how addictive they are to the point where the addictiveness of them even effects the visions

[@insert_disease]

Ok the lore is in the music video the main character goes insane that's it also this dude looks like the human version of Twitter

[@leonardocassielreyesloera8390]

i think it's about bananas and the banana man who gives bananas freshly taken from his banana tree

[@masongott6642]

Ever think that they just wanted a song about bananas

[@Shadowonwater]

Personally I've always seen it as a metaphor for drugs but nice video though, interesting interpretation

[@tom-on]

My personal interpretation of this song is: Haha funny banana song

[@terramarc]

Truly the best part of this song is just that tally hall never explained what it means, so as long as there’s no inconsistencies in the theory it does fit and everyone you talk to can have a different interpretation on what bananas are, who the “banana man” is, and what the lyrics themselves are explaining

[@drewvarner8001]

I think it’s about a cult summoning spirits

[@LucyWest370]

And the bananas?

[@drewvarner8001]

@@LucyWest370 used for the cult to mind control

[@LucyWest370]

@@drewvarner8001 and the birds?

[@drewvarner8001]

@@LucyWest370 cult members

[@LucyWest370]

@@drewvarner8001 how?

[@hkayakh]

My theory is that some guy got drugged on bananas.

[@mikethegoo]

This is the second best explanation I heard. The first I kinda prefer is that it's actually about someone STUCK in capitalism and his toxic work life, as well as religion making stuff hard. The bananas being a religion/cult driving him mad and his work doing so as well. "you can laugh and kick it back and go weee" and "but without a rhythm or a rhyme, you do not banana all the time" is about him being ABLE to actually let go and live life, but without a (perceived) reason to do anything, you just don't have fun or meaning. AKA, not bananaing all the time

[@weegeeetime843]

i thought it was about going bananas

[@reneholly7994]

You should do more videos on Tally Hall songs.

[@LucyWest370]

Most of them are pretty straightforward

[@mikedoesthings2134]

@@LucyWest370 yeah like ruler of everything, taken for a ride, &, good day, or never meant to know

[@mikedoesthings2134]

(sarcasm if you were unable to tell)

[@LucyWest370]

@@mikedoesthings2134 ruler of everything is about the passage of time, taken for a ride is about overcoming depression, Good day (in my opinion) is about the rise of the internet and the end of television, and Never Meant to Know is about the simplicity of life.

[@mikedoesthings2134]

@@LucyWest370 I mean, It would be fun talking about the song’s lyrics though

[@lmao1660]

Im still wondering if the song is about the Banana republics and capitalism, substance abuse, taking a break from life, a dude having a mental breakdown and going bananas, or just a funi bananana song

[@sleeves2604]

Didn't know this song was up for interpretation until I song this video. Interesting analysis, and I think the strongest case for it is the part when he says "make a mock of your plan". However, I think it is a bit of a stretch, especially with so many perspective changes. I personally think it's simply referring to drug abuse; the banana man is either his drug dealer or a representation of his addiction. The main part of the song that makes me think this is where the banana man is talking about whether or not he's done anything meaningful and that he should just forget it with bananas. He also seems to suffer withdrawal towards the end when no banana makes him go insane and return to busy town (I think this refers to his frantic mental state when not on the drug). Regardless, your interpretation is without doubt the most creative way of looking at the song :]

[@LucyWest370]

I picture this as a trash boy with no power in a banana company. After doing nothing but selling bananas he gets inspired by the painting by the trash can and the birds for a possible oursource of bananas. He goes to the board of directors but they make a mockery of him and tell him to go back to taking out the trash and he just goes insane and starts seeing banana man. He goes home at 9:00 and tomorrow morning he gets up once again to sell more bananas, stuck in the capitalism banana life.

[@taqiyelmaadi8152]

lets say hypothetically you wanted a banana

[@ghostsurfer23]

Wait, so which lyrics are 'Red' and which are the locals?

[@LucyWest370]

Presumably the locals are the birds

[@OutbackCatgirl]

With the whole beckoning man / colourful man thing, i've found a few places online that mention that "colourful man" may have been the original lyrics, and got edited for the album release, without a specific reason given as to why, though at least a couple of possibilities spring to mind as to why this line was changed. However, I'm not sure I could tell whether the sources I found that on were reliable, and you'd probably have to compare the timing between the music video and the studio release and find primary sources to actually confirm or deny it. Still interesting.

[@crocodilerock4662]

Tbh the line “colorful man” probably just sounded racist out of context

[@loolinonilool]

you can hear "colorful man" sung on the demo version of the song (complete demos ep, available on bandcamp). it's changed to "beckoning man" in every version after

[@RainyFoxUwU]

um cuz the man birds who are colored

[@owen5026]

i think it took place in Zimbabwe because in start it said 'Zimbabwe songbirds' as a kind of hint

[@sourlab]

For me its some one having a mental breakdown so out of the world fvcking around every where and just going manicly insane

[@habratss]

I thought this said cannibalism instead of capitalism

[@korokigaming8604]

everybody: this song is about capitalism and big corporations! telling you to wake up! The song: hehe funny banana

[@user-oy7sn6fr9i]

Not me watching this for a assessment (we can pick a song to do a analysis, like the social meaning, so I chose something I have a obsession on, so if I can't do banana man I'm doing the Fiona and cake intro song because they lyrics are ok, and banana man social meaning is cool)

[@dogwithahat0383]

dude he is literally going bananas

[@noragreen109]

I swore the thumbnail read "cannibalism and banana man" Feels like something banana man would do if you displeased him ngl.

[@Axos_Abode]

6:26 The album and music video are different because the music video is for the demo

[@jesusgamer4347]

I interpreted the video as a critique to capitalism. The entire video for me is a way to make fun of it comparing workers and bosses obsessing over bananas just how we all obsess over money, the accent could be even a way to talk down at us like we are foolish like monkeys. Reforcing my thought is the fact that the main character goes off in a cartoonish way to the office to talk about bananas, and when he´s sad un-eating the banana because its like how we get money just to unget it later to pay off rent or taxes instead of enjoying it. I have no idea how the jamaicans/africans thing fits here. I think its either the main character leaving for a vacation abandoning his obsession, or kind of a crazy work trip for bananas just like how CEOs and rich people usualy party hard after meetings.

[@penumbraphantasm]

it’s about a guy going bananas

[@Thatkidwiththecreeperhoo-or1oz]

I miss read the title as cannibalism and banana plants

[@LemonPartII]

Huh. I take it to really just be a song about bananas.

[@someperson8641]

Oh yeah

[@GibbonFan]

Personally I think it's about banana

[@rancholotl3384]

the music video is nightmare fuel

[@333shrine]

bana man (:

[@rozlan8273]

I want to like but there's already 69 likes what do I do

[@Krabbypattystealer]

i thought this was drug addiction because bananas are literally everywhere and pretty much every line has banana in it

[@chrisweathers7876]

He has a banana plan Ali en

[@lolerisdum]

i thought it was only about bananas 😭

[@GiffysChannel]

The true meaning of this song only makes sense after you've done mushrooms. True Story

[@Anorak__]

Joe Hawley

[@GibbonFan]

I thought it was more of a vacation to a tropical island to escape modern life or something

[@29485webp]

This guy: Its about capitalism guys!! Me: It bouta Funni bana man

[@leanman2]

It's about banana.

[@bryanmoyna9715]

Pretty interesting.

[@siggymilfordjigutzpilgrid]

I think Banana Man's about a drug overdose

[@coolcatkid7627]

Banana man is about banana wdym

[@thatoneguyUknow]

I thought it was just a goofy song about people liking bananas but I guess I wasn’t really paying too much attention to the lyrics.

[@RandomGuy-bi4nx]

I always thought that it was about a drug addiction.

[@BearsChannel69]

Not gonna lie i thought the song was about bananas like wth

[@definitelynotcole4842]

The term "blue pill" should henceforth be referred to as "banana pill"

[@CreeperDude-cm1wv]

Thats bannanas bro

[@TheGrassManissaviour]

Bana

[@bradleydeathbear5623]

oh fuck yeah, bless up that upload

[@StoryTeller796]

Okay, nevermind. This comment seems to be the interpretation this video is going for. Cool, disregard my comment. I kind of interpreted the song being this capitalistic rich 1% American (it's probable that it's a white man) that at first introduces the entire song. Then the singer sings about this new paradise resort where people can pay to live and eat a whole bunch of healthy bananas from native servers of Hawaii (spoiler alert, they're probably not real natives and were just whatever people the guy who came up with this tourist trap could hire). The singer tries to advertise this resort as the best getaway from busy life but you slowly start to realize the faults of this tourist attraction and can kind of feel like "yeah, this is sketchy as all get out."

[@locho41]

The song is not about that lol

[@orion.cw.oss8587]

i find it interesting how you say the main character of the video is racist -- seperating the members of tally hall from the supposed personas -- instead of suggesting the song's "imitation simian (Chonny Jash)" is just... flat out rascist. i suggest folks check out the cover by Chonny Jash.

[@isamekailmahmud9302]

or maybe it's just a silly song about bananas

[@f0nt_]

I thought it was about drugs.

[@zonkwasntavailable]

Banan👍🍌

[@lunchspeedruns462]

I'm confused, so is confused Narrator saying that the birds are the locals? or are the birds the banana sellers? it's very unclear as well and in my opinion doesn't make sense. because all three normal joe, the "Banana Man" and the birds all sing about giving people bananas.

[@rusky2655]

Why the fuck did this make sense

[@audunkarlsen9185]

I'd rather believe in the drug addiction theory

[@Mr.Carrot]

I like the drug/religion theory better

[@vince2696]

He he bonanas

[@puppypow57]

guys we need to break onto area 51 and steal secret documents to find out what this song is about cuz it could either be about 1) racism, 2) capitalism/this video, 3) drugs/a dude going bananas over bananas or 4) goofy ahh banana song

[@stefanothomp9083]

I just thought he was either on drugs or delusional :/

[@sand3465]

what

[@alyx724]

funny fact: banana man has no meaning

[@shoxy-the-pinecone6113]

i just sorta thought it was racist

[@jknifgijdfui]

I dissagree but fair also chonny jashes cover of banana man is basically entirely about if its racist or not

[@AmErodiah]

mhmrmhrmm baanar

[@claranoelle1111]

i thought this was about drugs or a cult or smth 💀

[@Roll_dude]

It could be

[@thecartboy1]

i think its stupid to try and find a meaning. its just a song. not everything needs a meaning

[@psychosparten049.esquire9]

Joe Hawley fucking Rocks.

[@vivisect_victor]

sadly he’s transphobic:((

[@psychosparten049.esquire9]

@@vivisect_victor Nope, he is not clinically afraid of trans people, we need a new word that doesn't sympathize with DUNDERHEADS!

[@the_pipster]

@@psychosparten049.esquire9 do you even know the definition of transphobic

[@eyedine]

@@vivisect_victor based

[@antr6436]

Bro it’s a song about a banana man who gives people bananas and that they play if the funky spirit game with the big cloud, what on gods green earth are you talking about. I just think it’s about a business man who took a vacation and had a good time with the locals he tells stories about what his business does to the locals and they go “hey dude that’s not that good here, have some drugs” and then he just goes home sadly because he has to go back to work

[@IWearLeatherfaces]

This is a big stretch, like what's with the racism? A lot of tropical kinda songs written by Americans have that accent, AND HOW THE HELL POLITICS? its about durgs and work. The banana man is the drig dealer

[@basederika1620]

This song is a drug metaphor, not colonization. I like your analysis but you need to stretch a little too hard for it tbh

[@TheBeckyboostar]

To me it’s just a monkey tribal song

[@orion.cw.oss8587]

what does "monkey" mean?

[@Kerosberous]

That's such a stretch lol, I think you're just projecting your political ideologies onto the song. It's obviously about a guy who works too much and too long using drugs (bananas) as an escapism from the daily grind of a job. It's equating bananas with vacations and "vacations" really meaning getting high. Banana man is just his drug dealer, I have no idea where the racism accusation came from lmao, you need to relax and take a step away from politics now and again or everything starts to seem political. You could say it's anti-capitalist in the sense that it implies work is too stressful, but I don't think it was criticizing the ideology itself but rather bringing up a point of nihilism.

[@confusedNarrator]

I really like your interpretation, and i agree that i may have projected, however, i believe in the authorial death of the author, and use this to analyze works in unique ways. I totally see where your coming from and i think its a super intriguing way of looking at the song!

[@OutbackCatgirl]

@@confusedNarrator I like both interpretations honestly, even if it's overthinking it a little on a few parts, it's actually quite a clever narrative to have found hiding in plain sight. While the drug analogy intuitively just makes more sense overall based on the music video as a whole and the lyrics, the fact that you can put forward a relatively convincing argument that it also paralells a semi-metaphorical story of a failed capital scheme is rather interesting, even if there's a lot more - mostly subtle - cues in both the visual design and the lyrics leaning it towards being about drugs. I do wonder what the original intent was, and whether perhaps there's a grain of truth in both explanations.

[@crocodilerock4662]

@@confusedNarrator don’t back down so hard, have a spine. This guys a total clown.

[@felinusfeline5559]

This is BS Why is it everyone thinks every song today is about capitalism? Go back to teaching English classes in school