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Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo) Lyrics by The Andrews Sisters

50th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1

1947

[Verse 1: The Andrews Sisters & Danny Kaye]
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 (Eep! Eloki-pahee-sahana)
That civilization is a thing for me to see
[Chorus 1: Danny Kaye & The Andrews Sisters]
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 (Yep!)
I'll stay right here
[Verse 2: Danny Kaye & The Andrews Sisters]
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, Danny?)
Uncivilized pictures that the newsreel takes of me
[Chorus: Danny Kaye & The Andrews Sisters]
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 (Yep!)
I'll stay right here
[Verse 3: Danny Kaye & The Andrews Sisters]
They hurry like savages to get aboard an iron train (The Tringle-lingle-hoola-humbaloo Express!)
And though it's smokey and it's crowded, they're too civilized to complain (Alokoko-hosahima-hana)
When they've got two weeks vacation, they hurry to vacation ground (What do they do, Danny?)
They swim and they fish, but that's what I do all year round
[Chorus: Danny Kaye, The Andrews Sisters, & Both]
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 (Yep!)
I'll stay right here
[Outro: Danny Kaye, The Andrews Sisters, & Both]
They have things like the atom bomb
So I think I'll stay where I am
Civilization, I'll stay right here
Credits
The Andrews Sisters

The Andrews Sisters

About “Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)” by The Andrews Sisters

Read the complete lyrics to "Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" by The Andrews Sisters from the album "50th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1" in 1947. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" is performed by The Andrews Sisters. from the album "50th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1" in 1947 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)", explore more songs by The Andrews Sisters using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" is credited to The Andrews Sisters. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Civilization (Bongo, Bongo, Bongo)" appears on "50th Anniversary Collection, Vol. 1" in 1947.

Visit the The Andrews Sisters artist page at /artist/the-andrews-sisters for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.