Now I know how Wile E. Coyote feels, especially when one of his Acme products blows up in his face.
Earlier today on this blog, I had posted a reworking on Harry Belafonte’s “The Banana Boat Song,” changing the words to praise the play of Celtic forward Vakoun Issouf Bayo.
However, it was brought to my attention that “banana boat” could have a racial and/or a bigoted subtext in Scotland, the least of which is a saying akin to, “I didn’t just come up the Clyde on a banana boat.”
In addition, as far as bananas are concerned, I was also informed of a significantly shameful incident at Celtic Park during the ’80s where a Rangers player had bananas thrown at him by the home support.
So bananas are kind of out.
My apologies to all for this miscue on my part. Clearly this is a cultural nuance of which I was clearly unaware. Until today, I had no idea that there was racial overtones anywhere on the planet to a Jamaican calypso folk song which, in its most basic element, celebrates workers waiting to go home after a night on the docks. As if this needs saying, it was clearly not my intention to malign anyone or any group of people.
I blame Justin Trudeau, actually.
[70 degrees. Wildfire threat level today in rural Santa Cruz County: Low.]