Bananas For Jesus (with explanation

[robk]

*Group* is an organizaion that produces materials for church youth groups, (hence the name).
Some years ago, Group produced, among other things, a songbook called something like *101 Songs.* While most of the songs were standard Christian fare, for some reason the also included an old folk song called *Deo* which was made famous by none other than Harry Belafonte, again, some years ago. It went, in part, like this:

Deo, Deo, Daylight come and me wanna go home. (repent, oops, I mean repeat)

Come mister tally man, tally me bananas
Daylight come and me wanna go home. (etc.)

If you are familiar with the song, you know that, while it has references to tarantulas, it has no reference to God, Jesus or anything else sacred, unless you happen to worship spiders.
Why Group included this song in a songbook that is otherwise Christian, is a mystery for the ages. Perhaps they mistook the word *Deo* for the word, *Dei,* the Latin for *God.*

At any rate, when our Sunday School class, who was brought up on this songbook, was asked to sing a song for church, they wanted to sing *Deo.* Perhaps it would help to understand why if you knew that the class consisted of nine students, seven of whom are boys. Nineth grade boys, that is.

And so I told them that we could sing it in class, once, but that for church we needed something with more *Christ* and less *Bananas.*

Needless to say, their disappointment was profound, (Actually, it wasn't; they just kind of shrugged it off) but it got me to thinking. If we Christians could rescue Christmas and make it a sacred holiday, why couldn't I also rescue this song. And so we have:


Bananas for Jesus
To the Tune of *Deo* (Day light come and me wanna go home)

Jesus Jesus
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
Jesus Jesus
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords


Praise Mister Jesus man. Sing him loud hosannas
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
Him more important than very much bananas
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords

Faith put Trustin put A big bunch
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
When we follow we don*t go crunch
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords

Our sins are forgiven We sing hosanna
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
Forever we*ll live We sing hosanna
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords

Praise Mister Jesus man. Sing him loud hosannas
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
Him more important than very much bananas
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords

Jesus Jesus
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
Jesus Jesus
King of kings and the Lord of all Lords
©2005 JJANA

You can use this song even if you don't have CCLI but if you do have CCLI please report.

 

[sheshisown]

Fabulous nanas 4 Jesus!

Yep! A real good save!
If I may I would like to teach this one to my grand children~ ya think? Would it be permissible?

And thanks for sharing sweet inspiration.

Hey, I have an oldie remade too! Are you old enuf to remember Jiminy Cricket? Needless to say I am.
He sang a song about Accentuating the Positive that I re-did for my kids long ago, heres my rendition.

Youve got to
Accentuate Christ in life
Eliminate sin and strife
Latch on to the Firmament
And dont mess with Mr In-between
No sir!
Dont mess with Mr. In-Between. :

I love bein a kid of His, He is soooo fun! Ya think? bonnie.