Ok, this has nothing to do with rpgs, but the lyrics aren’t on the web yet, and since I love the tune, I’m putting them up. I’m pretty sure these are right. The tune was popular but if I got them right, you can see why the lyrics weren’t made public. If you have better guesses, put them in the comments. The tune is obviously a reference to Shambala. Here’s some things that might help you understand the song a bit better:
- Jimmy Jones was most famous for his song Handyman. Also well-known for Good Timin’.
- Fat Man Mambo was a song by Billy May. Fat Man Boogie by Billy May is available on I-tunes.
- Rufus “Hound-Dog” Thomas Jr. had the song, Tiger Man (King of the Jungle). Rufus took a bit of offense to the song Hound Dog (1952) by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, the one the Elvis had a big hit with. Rufus wrote the song Bear Cat to get even, but it never did as well.
- Cab Calloway and his orchestra did Congo, although that may be a reference too far.
Shombalor
Sheriff and the Ravels, 1959
Your left, right, left right
Your left, right, left right
Your left, right, left right
Your left, right, left right
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
Hey if you wanna move out [or “moon dog”?], do it now
Checkin’ on the countdown, please?
Baby, ja’ the fuck do you need, now?
Diggin’ on the catfish knees? ‘n-a
I love swing-ding,
Rickey-bing you’re a healthy one, hubba!
And it’s known to some that-a jigga-wah
I love pick-’em-up and lay-’em-down
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
And it’s your Wine-o Buy-No
Free Jack Frankenstein-oh,
Maybe Jackie came to dine, ‘n-a
Diggin’ on he stole my wine, ‘n-a
Asks George “You bing, you bong, you bong?”
Leaves Jimmy Jones, skipped to one, a-hubba
And it’s known to some that-a jigga-wah
I love pick-’em-up and lay-’em-down
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
Of all the animals in the world,
I’d rather be a bear (Raar!)
Climb the highest mountain,
Just to see you there.
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
I love fat man mambo,
Baby, do the king of the jungle,
You can only get it from the Congo
And you try to get it deftly
I love left foot stomp and-a right foot drag, ‘n-a
Hey it’s fun to march!
And it’s known to some that-a jigga-wah
I love pick-’em-up and lay-’em-down
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
Of all the animals in the world,
I’d rather be a bear (Raar!)
Climb the highest mountain,
Just to see you there.
(Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady) Shombolar, (Oh lady)
Checkin’ it out and then I rooting for it, checkin’ on Shombalor
Go left, right, left right [to fade, in a call-response duet with the lead singer
on your left
Postscript 1: Peter Stampfel has his own version of the lyrics at http://www.furious.com/perfect/stampfelgosongs.html He put these out a year before I struggled to put together the lyrics myself.
Postscript 2: The Cramps released their own version of Shombalor in 1992 on their album Blues Fix. I love the Cramps, so there’s no one I would rather have seen do this song! Enjoy!
lostdelights 