此曲為有一半Barbodos ( 台譯 : 巴貝多 )血統的美國黑人詞曲作家Irving Burgie所寫。而據信，Burgie只是將一些早先流傳的民謠，擷取其中的片段，再重新組合而成。1965，美國黑人歌手Harry Belafonteg首錄發行，單曲獲得告示牌流行榜的第14名。

Irving Burgie

歌曲是在讚揚西印度群島的美麗，歌詞中「 ackee, rice, saltfish are nice，( ackee又稱西非荔枝，與鹹魚搭配烹煮是牙買加的國民美食。)」「 I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town ( Kingston是牙買加的首都和最大的城市 )」。翻唱此曲的歌手眾多 ( 台長已記不清當年是聽何版本，感覺The Brothers 4的版本較為熟悉。)，有趣的是The Kingston Trio ( 京士頓三重唱 )因歌詞中有提到Kingston，也要來湊個熱鬧，雖然在50年代晚期就已錄製完成，但直到1997才將該版本釋出。

ackee

ackee & saltfish ( Wiki的圖片，內容物分不太清)

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此曲收錄在Harry Belafonteg 1965的專輯《Calypso》中， 專輯共有11首歌曲，而Irving Burgie則寫或參與了8首，其中由民謠改編的《Day-O ( The Banana Boat Song )》，更是勇奪告示牌的第5名，也成為了Belafonte的招牌歌，後被改編成國語歌曲《香蕉船》，像金燕、葉璦菱等經常在電視上演唱，也成為大家熟悉的歌曲，就一併貼上了。

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Down the way where the nights are gay
And the sun shines daily on the mountain top
I took a trip on a sailing ship
And when I reach Jamaica I made a stop

But I'm sad to say, I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
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
Tho' I've been from Maine to Mexico

But I'm sad to say, I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

--- Instrumental ---

Down at the market you can hear
Ladies cry out while on their heads they bare
Ackey rice, salt fish are nice
And the rum is fine any time of year

But, I'm sad to say, I'm on my way
Won't be back for many a day
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
My heart is down, my head is turning around
I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town

"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)"

Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Work all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home

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

A beautiful bunch o' ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan' go home

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

Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Day-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan' go home