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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
ddw Origins: Straighten Up and Fly Right (18) Lyr Req: JO JO GUNNE (Chuck Berry) 27 Sep 04


Mag,

Look up Chuck Berry's "Jo Jo Gunne" — it's almost the same story, just without a lot of the language.

JO JO GUNNE
(Chuck Berry)
CHUCK BERRY (CHESS 1709, 1958)

It was in ancient history, four thousand B.C.
Way back in the jungle in a coconut trees
Hanging on a branch up under the sun
Was a meddlesome monkey named Jo Jo Gunne

Oh, Leo the lion came down from the mountain
To get a drink of water from the jungle fountain
Jo Jo the monkey started tellin' the jackal
About the elephant who was gonna skin the lion

Leo tried to reach and grab Jo Jo's tail
Got mad and went runnin' through the jungle trail
He ran upon an elephant beneath a tree
And said, put up your dukes you gotta tussle with me

An ol' eagle from Asia made a non stop flight
Tryin' to make a new time, just to see that fight
A crocodile phoned and reversed the charge
Coming all the way from India upon a local barge

Ol' gorilla heard 'em talking in the lion's den
But Jo Jo bettin' a she-fox, the elephant wins
Jo Jo yelled at Leo, go on, knock him down
He don't outweigh you but a thousand pounds

Leo left wailin' with a left upper cut
The elephant took a snoop, grabbed a coconut
Leo fired a beautiful short back cross
That's when the coconut landed up against his jaw

Leo grew tired, but he wouldn't give in
The elephant all loose, beat his jawbone in
The buzzard said, they fought furious all day
He couldn't understand how Leo got away

Jo Jo runnin' everywhere, spreadin' the news
To the zebras and the leopards and the kangaroos
A hoot owl reported everything he saw
Had his eyes wide open, they called it a draw

Leo limping back with his jawbone bruised
Jo Jo in the trees started singin' the blues
Laughin', meddling, jumpin' up and down
Till his foot missed a limb and he fell to the ground

Just like a bolt of thunder and a streak of heat
Leo covered Jo Jo with all four feet
Jo Jo was screamin' with tears in his eyes
Said, please mister Leo, I apologize

Said, if you let my feet upon solid ground
I'll fight you close range, fifteen rounds
Leo got back to the square of the fight
Jo Jo took a leap and jumped... out of sight

cheers,

david


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