In 1956, Harry Belafonte released his version of this traditional West Indian song, called simply "Day-O", on his best-selling LP "Calypso". The following year it became a massive hit single in it's own right, reaching #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop charts and #2 in the UK, and it is probably thanks to him the song is now well known the world over. Shirley Bassey, however, had started performing the song in December 1955, when she joined the cast of Jack Hylton's "Such Is Life", a revue show in London's West End at the Adelphi Theatre.

In late 1956, a chart race ensued amongst the different versions of "Banana Boat Song". In the UK and America, it was Belafonte who did best. Shirley did well, though, to also reach the top 10 with her version of the song, making it her first top 10 hit in Britain. The only thing in common with Shirley and Harry's versions seems to be the "day-o" chorus. Her version is closer, lyrically, to the version by US band the Tarriers and it is theirs which hers was clearly based on. Their version peaked at #15 in the UK and #6 in the US. Other charting versions in the US on the pop charts were by Sarah Vaughan, Fontane Sisters and Steve Lawrence.
 

Erik Darling, Bob Carey and Alan Arkin formed the Tarriers, who wrote Shirley's version of Banana Boat Song. Darling arrived in New York in 1950 as a teenager and began playing folk every Sunday in lower Manhattan's Washington Square with other musicians. It was here that he met Bob Carey in 1953; but before long Carey was drafted into the US army for service in Germany. In 1955, Darling began auditioning other musicians from Washington Square to form a new folk group. The line-up changed several times and Alan Arkin, who had already made a solo album for Elektra Records was added. They were signed to Glory Records and asked to back up balladeer Vince Martin on a song called "Cindy, Oh Cindy". They re-arranged the song and with their input it made #9 on the Billboard pop chart. When they were allowed to record on their own, "Banana Boat Song" was a highlight of their first recording session. It was a mix of two Jamaican folk songs that Darling had heard performed in Washington Square. After a few more singles from the group that failed to have any success, their contract lapsed and Arkin left to pursue an acting career. Carey developed personal problems and in the late 1970s his body was found on a Central Park bench in New York. Arkin became a successful TV and film actor, while Darling worked as a therapist in the 1980s, releasing two albums in the late 1990s on the Folk Era label.

Link: Tarriers Biography
 

Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

He says loading the banana boats all night long (all night long)
Day de light and I wanna go home
Hey all the workmen sing this song (sing this song)
Day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully

Sleep by sun and I work by moon (work by moon)
Day de light and I wanna go home
When I get some money gonna quit so soon (quit so soon)
Day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

Hill and gully rider, hill and gully
Hill and gully rider, hill and gully

Pack up all my things and I'll go to sea (go to sea)
Day de light and I wanna go home
Then bananas'll see the last of me (last of me)
Day de light and I wanna go home

Oh oh oh oh
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home
Day-o, day-o, day de light and I wanna go home

Day-o, day-o, (Hill and gully rider, hill and gully)
Day de light and I wanna go home

(Repeat x2)

(Repeat to fade)

Information kindly researched and provided by Theo Morgan