Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) est un mento jamaïcain. La version la plus connue de cette chanson est celle interprétée par le chanteur et acteur américain Harry Belafonte. Elle est souvent citée comme exemple de calypso, même si le mento et la calypso sont deux styles distincts.
La chanson évoque des dockers chargeant de nuit des bananes sur un bateau. Le jour arrive, le travail est terminé et les hommes veulent que les comptes soient faits pour pouvoir rentrer chez eux.
Cette chanson est à l'origine une chanson populaire jamaïcaine.

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and he wan' go home
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
Daylight come and he wan' go home

Work all night on a drink a'rum
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Stack banana till thee morning come
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
A beautiful bunch a'ripe banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Hide thee deadly black tarantula
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, bunch!
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Come, Mr. Tally Mon, tally me banana
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day-o, day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day, he say day-ay-ay-o
(Daylight come and he wan' go home)
Paroliers : Alan Arkin / Bob Carey / Erik Darling