PrintThe Banana Brain Song
Our Poet Laureate Russ Vaughn remembers, and has been inspired by Harry Belafonte's one and only certifiable hit recording, the Banana Boat Song. Here is his satirical modernized version:
The Banana Brain Song
Yo—yo, yo—oh—yo—yo,
No lights on an' nobody home,
Yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo—oh—yo—yo,
Me wits gone dim an' I oughta stay home...
Sing all me life fo' de white man's fun,
Now no lights on an' nobody home,
Stack dem records an' de money come,
Now no lights on an' nobody home...
Yo—yo, yo—oh—yo—yo,
No lights on an' nobody home,
Yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo, I'm a yo—oh—yo—yo,
No lights on an' nobody home.
I talk at de rally man dumb as de banana,
No lights on an' nobody home,
Chavez be my pally man, he de top banana
No lights on an' nobody home
I put big foot where go my lunch
No lights on an' nobody home,
Yeah put big foot where go my lunch
No lights on an' nobody home...
Yo—yo, yo—oh—yo—yo,
No lights on an' nobody home,
Yo—yo, yo—oh—yo—yo,
No lights on an' nobody home.
Me brain fulla mush like a ripe banana,
No lights on an' nobody home,
Calypso King now poison like tarantula,
Me wits gone dim an' I oughta stay home...
Yo, I'm a yo—oh—yo—yo...
Russ Vaughn
