Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe

Subject: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST,david duffy in Kitchener
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:03 PM

My name is David Duffy, and I live in Kitchener, Canada. For many years, I have been entertaining Day-care-aged children with my songs. I have been searching for the words to a particular song called "The Giraffe is Laughing", the instrumental version of which was always played at the end of the earliest episodes of the SCTV television show.

I have searched libraries and lyric sites all over the Internet trying to find the lyrics to this song. I heard it on an old 45 record when I was about 3 or 4 (roughly 36 years ago), but I've long since lost the record and I don't recall the name of the band who played the song, but it was played in polka style.

The first lines of the song are "Do do do do do you know what happened at the zoo? What happened at the zoo? What happened at the zoo?"

I hope that someone out there knows the rest of the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Gypsy
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 12:19 AM

Have you tried going directly to SCTV, and asking if it is in their archives? Sometimes it is easier to go that route, than to look in lyric archives. If it works, wouldja post it? Would love to read it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 01:44 AM

I looked and looked for this the last time around and couldn't find it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 03:58 PM

I would like to thank both Gypsy and Sorcha for your helpful advice.

I went to SCTV's website, and I got a phone number (not an Internet address) of someone who may be able to help me.

I'll inform you of how it turns out.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Gypsy
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 04:03 PM

Yay!!! Good luck!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 04:06 PM

Mr. D! If you get the lyrics, please post them?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 01:42 AM

weefresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Crowhugger
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 08:14 AM

The quickest way to info about a song that bugs ya cause ya can't remember it properly:

The Humline, a segment of Basic Black, Saturdays on CBC Radio 1. If they don't know it, they'll find out either from listeners or from digging around themselves. (Uh-oh, a blue clicky memory test...) Hop to the Humline web page...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 09:36 AM

Cool!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Áine
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 10:14 AM

Crowhugger -- Thanks for the great link and info!

David -- Do you have a CD of your songs for kids? I homeschool two of mine (9 and 5 years) and I'm always looking for new songs to teach them in 'music class'.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 03:55 PM

This is in reply to Aine.

No, I haven't recorded any of my songs on CD, but if you leave me your mailing address, I could send you a cassette tape of my songs by snail-mail, er, I mean the postal service. It would depend on how far away you are (I live in Canada).

Mister Dressup

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 08 Mar 00 - 04:06 PM

Hello again.

I also forgot to thank Crowhugger for the Humline tip. It sounds like a really neat avenue for me to pursue.

Thanx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 09 Mar 00 - 04:36 PM

This is just a message to keep my thread current.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 06:22 PM

Here is another message to keep my thread current.

I honestly wish I knew a better way to keep my thread listed within the one-day category without having to continue entering these empty messages. Any ideas from anyone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 03:54 PM

This is Dave again. I've made a request to CBC radio's "Humline". It's a really neat show. I haven't received a reply yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Mister Dressup
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 04:27 PM

Still no response at CBC's Humline. I wonder if they received my request, or if there is simply a back-log of calls they have to respond to.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: MMario
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 04:41 PM

to answer your question, no, senseless posts or empty onea are about the only way to bring a thread back to the top of the list. I usually wait 2 or three days before refreshing when I ask a question....you usually get a different crowd. Or try refreshing at different times of the day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 03:23 PM

I just found this thread because I wondered what the words to the song were. I'm glad I'm not the only person in the world who remembers this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Melissa
Date: 20 Dec 08 - 03:26 PM

It's on the Stanley Holloway 'What Happened at the Zoo' album

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 07:26 PM

Allmusic.com lists a song called THE LAUGHING GIRAFFE POLKA, attributed to "Israel/Krasnow". It was sung by Shirley Temple and appeared on the album "Bambi" (Camden LP 1012, 1965). Their review calls it "forgettable drivel."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST,PJ
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 07:53 PM

You can download this for free at
http://www.artsreformation.com/records/
under stanley Holloway

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 03:17 PM

Do Do Do Do Do you know what's happened at the zoo
It reall has come true
It's happened at the zoo
Do Do Do Do Do you know what's happened at the zoo
Now we're laughing too

the giraffe is laughing ha ha ha
Can't you hear him laughing, ha ha ha
yesterday he started laughing ha ha ha
now he's laughing more and more

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 04:42 PM

I have this song on casette. My parents played it for me when I was young in the 90's.

Subject: Lyr Add: GIRAFFE IS LAUGHING / LAUGHING GIRAFFE...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 02:31 PM

See the web page Children's Vinyl Record Series.

The album is Stanley Holloway, "The Elephant Alphabet: and Other Songs and Rhymes for Children" (Riverside Wonderland RLP 1415).

The album's front cover is viewable if you click "cover" on that page.

If you click on "mp3s" you can download a zipped folder which contains 2 mp3 files: one, I presume, for each side of the LP. There is no track list, so I can't confirm the song title, but the song in question begins at 10:35 on the first file (Side 1?).

Here's my transcription:

THE GIRAFFE IS LAUGHING / THE LAUGHING GIRAFFE POLKA (possible titles)

Do, do, do, do, do you know what happened at the zoo?
What happened at the zoo?
What are things coming to?
Do, do, do, do, do you know what happened at the zoo?
It really, really, really has come true.

The giraffe is laughing.
Yes, indeed, he's laughing.
Yesterday he started laughing.
Now he's laughing more and more.

The giraffe is laughing.
Can't you hear him laughing?
Strange indeed he should be laughing!
He never made a sound before.

Said the camel to the bison:
"This is really quite surprisin'."
Said the leopard to the llama:
"He'll stop laughing when he's calmah."
Said the lion to the lynx:
"This is very queer, methinks."
Said the zebra to the rabbit:
"Looks like it's become a habit."

Do, do, do, do, do you know what happened at the zoo?
It happened at the zoo.
It happened at the zoo.
Do, do, do, do, do you know what happened at the zoo?
You laughed at him so now he laughs at you.

The giraffe is laughing.
Can't you hear him laughing?
Strange indeed he should be laughing!
He never made a sound before.

[STARTING OFF RHYTHMICALLY, MUSICALLY:] Ah, ha-ha!
Ah, ha-ha!
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
[DEGENERATING INTO UNCONTROLLED LAUGHTER:] Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha....

[SPOKEN:] Well, what's so funny?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: song 'The giraffe is Laughing'
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 02:56 PM

I had the Bambi album narrated by Shirley Temple. On the reverse side of the narrated story were a selection of songs played by the "Tootle Piper Band" - must have been a Disney studio band. The same group was featured on the flip side of the Dumbo Album also narrated by Shirley Temple. I found the album on Ebay and still have it today. I'm 53 and still get enjoyment form time to time. Funny thing is the song came into my head today and in looking for information on the Tootle Piper Band found this page. "Waa, Waa, Waa!" . . . . .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 03:02 AM

"Do do do do do you know what happened at the zoo? What happened at the zoo? What happened at the zoo?"
"Do do do do do you know what happened at the zoo? It happened here and it can happen to you.
The giraffe is laughing
I can hear him laughing
I've been thinking while he's laughing
He's never laughed like this before,
now he's laughing more and more.

that's what I remember

Doug Elton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 10:29 PM

Now does anyone remember the flipside to the 45 mentioned above - I believe it was a story called "The Flounder" and ended with someone talking in an underwater voice or something like that. The 45 was a promotional item - possibly from Nestle?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 06 May 12 - 11:30 PM

The Giraffe is Laughing

Do do do... you know what happened at the zoo? (repeat)
It really really really has come true
The giraffe is laughing
Yes indeed he's laughing
yes today he started laughing
now he's laughing more and more
The giraffe is laughing
can't you hear him laughing?
Strange indeed he should be laughing
he never made a sound before

Said the camel to the bison
this is really quite suprising
said the leopard to the llama
he'll stop laughing when he's calmer
said they lion to the lynx
this is very strange me thinks
said the zebra to the rabbit
looks like it's become a habit

Do do do you know what happened at the zoo?
It happened at the zoo X2
Do do do
you laughed at him so now he laughs at you.

The giraffe is laughing
Yes indeed he's laughing
yes today he started laughing
now he's laughing more and more
The giraffe is laughing
can't you hear him laughing?
Strange indeed he should be laughing
he never made a sound before

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:25 PM

I too am looking for this. Any luck?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:36 PM

On second thought, it may have been through Nestle Quik. I think that is where we got ours. I was nine maybe and we played it over and over and over again and laughed every time. It was a 45 and we may have sent box tops/facsimili to get it. Would I ever l love to find it again or at least hear the song. It was THE BEST!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:45 PM

i loved the flounder song on the other side. I think it was called The Old Man and the Sea. OMG, I am having trouble remembering the lyrics but I remember the ocean sounds and it was awesome too. I am 52 years old but can remember that 45. We must have played it a thousand times. Love this reminiscing ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 01:47 PM

"Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 13 - 12:25 PM

I too am looking for this. Any luck?"

Read the post one away from yours. The lyrics are there.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 10:04 AM

I also had the Bambi album and loved that song. The tootle piper band was fantastic. I wish there was some kind of memory of them on the internet. Gentleman Bear, Kolokolo bird were other good songs, and especially - "It rained rained rained forty days and forty nights". How I wish I could get the lyrics for that one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 11:46 AM

Holloway version on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrlUECrf_c

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 17 - 08:05 AM

Too funny. I'm 60 and I remember this song and every once in awhile over the years I'd sing a couple of lines to my daughters, and then now to my grandkids. However, of course I was singing the wrong words. I had this song on a 45 record too like some of the others commenting here.
I was singing:
Do do do do do you know what's happening at the zoo?
What's happening at the zoo? I swear that it is true!
Do do do do do you know what's happening at the zoo?
(then I was kind of blah, blah, blah as I couldn't even make up words haha)
THEN I'd sing
"The giraffe is laughing. YUCK YUCK YUCK (high pitched),
Can't you hear him laughing? YUCK YUCK YUCK
It's not at me that he is laughing YUCK YUCK YUCK
So he must be laughing at YOU!

Obviously now I know those are NOT the right words (although they do make sense haha)

Found this online tho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FrlUECrf_c

Hope that link helps as I believe it's the original singer of it.

Kathryn Mattatall, Nova Scotia, Canada

PS - My mom used to sing The Wedding of Jack and Jill song to us when we were little, and I had NEVER met anybody who knew it, and I couldn't find it online until last year.....when I discovered that not only did somebody outside our family know the song (probably from the 1930's when my mom was little) but that there were other verses I didn't even know about! I'm sending the link to that one for you too....great song and I always sang it to my kids and grandkids even now. I even sang it to school kids years ago when my daughters were in elementary school, and had those old Red Rose Tea nursery rhyme figurines and told them the nursery rhymes of the characters in the song before singing it so it would have meaning to them. haha   I guess Laverne and Shirley also did a bit of this song...nice to know I'm not crazy and the song does exist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNpmsvjPLr0

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 23 - 05:03 PM

I too am looking for this song. When I was a child in the 1960's we had a children's album that I believe was called something to the effect of the Total pipers zoo? Remember I was 4 or 5. It had the laughing Giraffe song, along with some others that I remember. One of the had the lyrics to the effect of "Mother may I go out to play?" "Yes my darling daughter, hang your clothes on the ____ limb and don't go near the water.\

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Giraffe is Laughing / Laughing Giraffe
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 23 - 05:05 PM

OMG I just found it! It was on the other side of a Bambi Album!

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=song+my+giraffe+is+laughing#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:84cc14c8,vid:wabjcDb8XhA