To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=173983
7 messages

Lyr Req: Gunga Walk

01 Apr 25 - 04:24 AM (#4220115)
Subject: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: GUEST,Peri

Hi, is the search function not working?

I woke up singing Gunga Walk (life long Spinners fan), and thought I'd look up the lyrics. Most results are a Clint Eastwood version, which got me thinking of the song's history - surely he didn't write it?

So can anyone help me with the lyrics, or the history of this classic folk song, or point me at the thread that's already covered it?

Thanks.
Peri

01 Apr 25 - 11:41 AM (#4220130)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: Stilly River Sage

Tips from Joe Offer and others:

Tech: Mudcat SEARCH engine tips-try the Filter

Mudcat Search Tips

Plus the search from the outside tip:
Use Google Advanced Search with keywords in the All Words line, exact word or phrase in that second line, and point it at https://mudcat.org in the site or domain line.

01 Apr 25 - 12:15 PM (#4220132)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: Joe Offer

Discogs.com has a 1980 record label for "Matty Gunga Walk::
https://www.discogs.com/release/1690849-Clint-Eastwood-General-Saint-Matty-Gunga-Walk (click on the image to see it better)

It shows the song was recorded by Clint Eastwood & General Saint, backed by the Inity Rockers. The songwriters are identified as General Saint and Clint Eastwood. The label is Greensleeves, which seems to have produced a number of reggae-style or mento recordings. It is apparently a medley of reggae songs. I picked out Mary Ann and "Here We Go Loop-de-Loop," and a lot of babble.

Here's a recording of "Matty Gunga Walk" by Eastwood and Saint:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NeT5oMUvS8

I couldn't find a recording of "Gunga Walk" by the Spinners, the Detroit Spinners, or the Liverpool Spinners - but that doesn't mean they didn't record the song.

Ah, there's a page that says the (Liverpool?) Spinners recorded "Gungu Walk" on a 1966 album titled The Spinners Live Performance, also on Another LP by The Spinners (1967), "Gunga Walk" on The Spinners Vol. 1 and "Gungu Walk" on The Spinners Collection.
http://www.chanteycabin.co.uk/Spinners%20web/Spinners.htm

And here is a recording of "Gungu Walk" by the Spinners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86mMlkHhpyI
I don't think the song by Clint Eastwood & General Saint is the same as "Gungu Walk" by the Spinners. Apparently, the Spinners recording attributes the song to "Trad, arr. Bosworth."

I don't think I'll try transcribing the song because a lot of it is not understandable and I have no reason to think it's authentic.

01 Apr 25 - 12:20 PM (#4220133)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: GUEST,threelegsoman

The Spinners version is spelled Gungu not Gunga.
The Clint Eastwood is not the famous film star, but a DJ who joined up with and English partner and went by the group name: Clint Eastwood & General Saint.

01 Apr 25 - 12:51 PM (#4220137)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: Stilly River Sage

Clint Eastwood and General Saint at IMDB gives a few links to click on but they tend to loop back to a fairly empty part of the database. It says there was a program called Pop Carnival and there was apparently an episode called "Clint Eastwood and General Saint." Starring Winston Hislop who shows up with a 1982 soundtrack.

01 Apr 25 - 02:05 PM (#4220144)
Subject: Gunga Walk / Gungu Walk
From: Joe Offer

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clint-eastwood-mn0000160428 has this about Clint Eastwood:
    Born Robert Brammer, dancehall deejay Clint Eastwood first made a name for himself performing with deejay General Saint (born Winston Hislop) in Great Britain. Noted for putting on lively, theatrical and humorous performances, Eastwood and Saint came to be known as a novelty act in Jamaica. In the mid '80s the two split up to pursue solo careers. Their biggest selling album was Two Bad D.J. (1981).

Eastwood was born September 18, 1957 in Kingston, Jamaica

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/general-saint-mn0000202329 has this about General Saint, who was born in the 1950s:
    Born Winston Hislop in Jamaica, dancehall deejay General Saint first made a name for himself performing with deejay Clint Eastwood (born Robert Brammer) in Great Britain. First recording with Junjo Lawes, Eastwood & Saint became noted for putting on lively, theatrical and humorous performances in the late '70s through the early '80s. At the height of their popularity they were known as one of Jamaica's better novelty acts. The two split up to pursue solo careers in the mid '80s. Their biggest selling album was Two Bad D.J. (1981).


But like I said above, I don't think they wrote the song recorded by the Spinners, and we still don't have a transcription of the Spinners song.

06 Apr 25 - 05:31 PM (#4220404)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gunga Walk
From: GUEST,Susanne (skw)

I've got the Live Performance LP but it doesn't carry any sleevenotes, and the lyrics don't seem to merit transcribing imho though most of it is fairly easily understood and repetitive. Wouldn't try the chorus, though! And no, I don't have any idea what a "gungu walk" might be.