Henri ROUSSEAU - la recolte des bananes
Henri Rousseau, aussi appelé « Le Douanier Rousseau », né le 21 mai 1844 à Laval (Mayenne) et mort le 2 septembre 1910 à Paris, est considéré comme un représentant majeur de l'art naïf. L’exotisme abonde dans son œuvre, même si Rousseau n'a pratiquement jamais quitté Paris. Son exotisme est imaginaire et stylisé, issu du Jardin des Plantes, du jardin d'Acclimatation, des revues illustrées et des revues de botanique de l’époque.

Illustration musicale: Harry BELAFONTE - Day O (banana boat song)
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) est un mento populaire jamaïcain. C'est un chant de travail évoquant 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.

Day-o, day-o Daylight come and we want go home
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o
Daylight come and we want go home

Work all night on a drink of rum (Daylight come and we want go home)
Stack banana 'til the morning come (Daylight come and we want go home)
Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)

Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

A beautiful bunch of ripe banana (Daylight come and we want go home)
Hide the deadly black tarantula (Daylight come and we want go home)
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)

Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home)
Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home)

Day-o, day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

Burgie Irving / Attaway William A