Songs of Jamaica (1912)
King Banana
GREEN mancha[1] mek[2] fe naygur man;
Wha’ sweet so when it roas’?
Some boil it in a big black pan,
It sweeter in a toas’.[3]
A buccra fancy[4] when it ripe,
Dem use it ebery day;
It scarcely give dem belly-gripe,
Dem eat it diffran’ way.[5]
Out yonder see somoke[6] a rise,
An’ see de fire wicket;[7]
Deh go’p to heaben wid de nize[8]
Of hundred t’ousan’ cricket.
De black moul’ lie do’n quite prepare’
Fe feel de hoe an’ rake;
De fire bu’n, and it tek care
Fe mek de wo’m[9] dem wake.
Wha’ lef fe buccra teach again
Dis time about plantation?
Dere’s not’in’ dat can beat de plain
Good ole-time cultibation.
Banana dem fat all de same[10]
From bunches big an’ ‘trong;
Pure nine-han’ bunch a car’ de fame,—[11]
Ole met’od all along.
De cuttin’ done same ole-time way,
We wrap dem in a trash,[12]
An’ pack dem neatly in a dray
So tight dat dem can’t mash.
We re’ch:[13] banana finish sell;[14]
Den we ‘tart back fe home:
Some hab money in t’read-bag[15] well,
Some spen’ all in a rum.
Green mancha mek fe naygur man,
It mek fe him all way;[16]
Our islan’ is banana lan’,
Banana car’ de sway.[17]
- Corruption of 'Martinique," the best variety of banana in Jamaica ↵
- Is (or was) made ↵
- In a toast = toasted ↵
- It is buccra's fancy, i.e., the white man likes it ↵
- In a different way; not so much at a time as we we eat ↵
- This lengthening of a monosyllable into a dissyllable is common ↵
- Wicked ↵
- It goes up to heaven with the noise, etc. This is an excellent simile as those acquainted with tropical crickets will know ↵
- Worms. i.e., grubs ↵
- In spite of the primitve methods of cultivation the bananas are just as plump ↵
- The nine-hand and only (pure ) nine-hand bunches -- none smaller, that is-grown by—this old method have a fine reputation ↵
- In trash. Any refuse is called 'trash.' Here dried banana leaves are meant ↵
- Reach ↵
- The selling of the bananas is over ↵
- Bag secured by a thread (string) round the mouth ↵
- In every way. He can eat it or sell it ↵
- Carries the sway, i.e., is Jamaica's mainstay ↵