Each morning a missionary advertise with neon sign
He tells the native population that civilization is fine
And three educated savages holler from a bamboo tree
(Eeeeep! Ah-loh-kee-tah-he-sah-hah-nah)
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
Bingle, 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 conceals
(A magazine? What happens?)
I see how people who are civilized bang you with automobiles
(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

So, bongo, bongo, bongo, he don't wanna leave the congo, oh no, no, no, no, no
Bingle, bangle, bungle, he's so happy in the jungle; he refuse to go
Don't want no penthouse, bathtubs, street cars, 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
(The Tring-galim-buhoo-laham-bah-le Express)
And though it's smokey and it's crowded they're too civilized to complain
(Ah-lo-ka-doh-ho-saw-he-ma-hai-na)
When they've got two weeks vacation they hurry to vacation grounds
(What do they do, Danny?)
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
Bingle, bangle, bungle, I'm so happy in the jungle; I refuse to go
Don't want no jailhouse, shotgun, fish hooks, golf club; 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 "ahm"
Civilization, I'll stay right here