“Yes! We Have No Bananas” is the title of a novelty song by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn from the 1922 Broadway stage revue Make It Snappy. Sung by Eddie Cantor in the revue, the song became a major hit in 1923 (being the equivalent of number 1 for five weeks) when it was recorded by Billy Jones, Arthur Hall and Irving Kaufman among others. It was later covered by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, Spike Jones & His City Slickers, and many more. It is one of the most popular and best selling songs of the 20th century. The song was popular throughout the English-speaking world and was notable for being one of the few non-sectarian songs that both Protestant and Catholic in Northern Ireland knew and could sing during the 1932 protests. The title later became even more famous in Britain when shop-keepers hung signs in their windows saying ”Yes, We Have No Bananas” during World War II.
But, what does a 1922 Broadway show-tune have to do with Panama? While a lot of different places in the USA lay claim to creating the phrase that became the song’s title, the actual song was almost certainly inspired by a banana blight in Brazil that resulted in a shortage of bananas in the USA.
The Brazilian banana blight was caused by Panama disease. This fungal disease attacks the roots of the banana plant, is resistant to fungicide and cannot be controlled chemically. The disease first appeared in Suriname, then made its way to the Caribbean, and, by the 1920s, to Honduras, the world’s largest producer of bananas at the time. The US only imported, purchased and ate the Gros Michel (Big Mike) species of Banana from the late nineteenth century until after World War II. Gros Michel bananas are large and can be transported easily, making them the idea export crop. However, they were also particularly vulnerable to Panama Disease. Panama Disease began to devastate banana crops not long after the first banana trees were planted in Central America, was identified by plantation owners in Panama and named after the country. Nowadays, mot banana’s are hybrids and less susceptible to Panama Disease, but the disease has not stood still either, and new strains are once again threatening to decimate crops.
It is quite possible that the 1922 show tune will make another come-back if there are future banana shortages. However, even if it is never heard again, the title, “Yes, We Have No Bananas” and it’s links to Panama will always be part of history.
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