req: Civilization Song - bingo bango bongo

Subject: bingo bango bongo
From:
Date: 26 May 98 - 11:05 AM

I'm trying to locate the name, author, lyrics and music for a song that I can only remember parts of. The line that I remember is "bingo bango bongo, I don't wanna leave the jungle, I refuse to go, oh oh oh oh". I don't know it's origin, but I think it came from an old movie cartoon, one of the black and white ones we (me) used to watch on tv when I was little (early 50's). My guess is it was written in the 30's of 40's. Can anyone help???

Jim K. e-mail: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: bingo bango bongo
From: Allan C.
Date: 26 May 98 - 11:35 AM

Can't say for sure, but I think I heard Tex Beneke(sp?) sing that song for the Glen Miller Orchestra. I no longer have a recording of the song. But if you check the music stores they may be able to locate it. If you ever locate the lyrics, please post them. I always loved the song. It was one of the fun songs Glen Miller's bunch did - like "The Red Silk Stockings and the Green Perfume" and "He Was the Best President We Ever Had" ("Presidente Maxmillian Hernandez" may have been the real title).

Subject: RE: bingo bango bongo
From:
Date: 26 May 98 - 01:47 PM

I've looked all over the internet for songs by Glenn Miller and can't find any with bingo bango bongo in them. Are you sure it was GM that did this song? Does anyone else have any suggestions???

Thanks Jim K.

Subject: RE: bingo bango bongo
From:
Date: 27 May 98 - 01:53 PM

I've looked just about everywhere I can imagine. It appears that this song never got recorded. I followed the Glenn Miller lead with no luck. I got another lead that said Louis Prima may have recorded it. I followed that lead with no luck.

Is there anyone out there that can help??

Does anyone know of any lyric archives that I may look at? HELP!

Jim K.

Subject: RE: bingo bango bongo
From: Bob Schwarer
Date: 27 May 98 - 03:38 PM

The name of the song is "Civilization". The recording I have is by Danny Kaye & The Andrews Sister.

No credit for the writers is given.

Bob Schwarer

Subject: RE: bingo bango bongo
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 02:50 AM

Talk about reviving an old topic, and no pun intended either!

Check out this Wikipedia article, if not accurate at least it has a lot to say about the song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization_%28song%29

Subject: ADDPOP: Civilization (Bongo Bongo Bongo)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Oct 09 - 03:22 PM

And YouTube has a recording by Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters.

CIVILIZATION (BONGO, BONGO, BONGO)
(Bob Hilliard & Carl Sigman)
[as recorded by Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters - also recorded by Louis Prima]

Each morning, a missionary advertises neon sign
He tells the native population that civilization is fine
And three educated savages holler from a bamboo tree
That civilization is a thing for me to see

So bongo, bongo, bongo, I don`t wanna leave the Congo, oh no no no no no
Bingo, bangle, bungle, I`m so happy in the jungle, I refuse to go
Don`t want no bright lights, false teeth, doorbells, landlords, I make it clear
That no matter how they coax him, I`ll stay right here

I looked through a magazine the missionary`s wife concealed (Magazine? What happens?)
I see how people who are civilized bung you with automobile (You know you can get hurt that way Daniel?)
At the movies they have got to pay many coconuts to see (What do they see, Darling?)
Uncivilized pictures that the newsreel takes of me

So bongo, bongo, bongo, he don`t wanna leave the Congo, oh no no no no no
Bingo, bangle, bungle, he`s so happy in the jungle, he refuse to go
Don`t want no penthouse, bathtub, streetcars, taxis, noise in my ear
So, no matter how they coax him, I`ll stay right here

They hurry like savages to get aboard an iron train
And though it`s smokey and it`s crowded, they`re too civilized to complain
When they`ve got two weeks vacation, they hurry to vacation ground (What do they do, Darling?)
They swim and they fish, but that`s what I do all year round

So bongo, bongo, bongo, I don`t wanna leave the Congo, oh no no no no no
Bingo, bangle, bungle, I`m so happy in the jungle, I refuse to go
Don`t want no jailhouse, shotgun, fish-hooks, golf clubs, I got my spears
So, no matter how they coax him, I`ll stay right here

They have things like the atom bomb,
So I think I'll stay where I am.
Civilization, I'll stay right here.

source: http://www.lyricsbay.com/civilization_bongo_bongo_bongo_lyrics-andrews_sisters.html
(I made a few corrections after listening to the recording)

Cute song, isn't it?

Is eleven years after the request a new record? Years ago, Jeri and Sorcha and Pene Azul achieved a one-minute response record, but eleven years is more my speed. I tried to e-mail the requester. Alas, his e-mail address is dead.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: req: Civilization Song - bingo bango bongo
From: GUEST,katie h
Date: 31 Dec 10 - 05:49 PM

Thankyou!

not from the original enquirer, but from me. I'm currently playing a computer game of all things, called Fallout 3. And this is a regular song on the 'radio' in the game.

Subject: RE: req: Civilization Song - bingo bango bongo
From: GUEST,S. Grimes
Date: 19 Jun 12 - 12:08 AM

I have the best version ever in cassette (Big Band Memories) 1945-1969 Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) Louis Prima/Louis Prima and Ensemble, Vocal   with sound effects-very funny

Subject: RE: req: Civilization Song - bingo bango bongo
From: keberoxu
Date: 07 Apr 20 - 09:37 PM

The Louis Prima (and Band) recording of the Civilization song,
referenced in the previous post (from 2012)
can be heard here, and it's a favorite of mine, as well --
the entire band pitches in and makes silly noises.