Stranded in the Jungle

Album: The Cadets Meet The Jacks (1956)
Charted: 15
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  • (Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)

    I crashed in the jungle while tryin' to keep a date
    With my little girl who was back in the States
    I was stranded in the jungle, afraid, and alone
    Tryin' to figure a way to get a message back home
    But how was I to know the wreckage of my plane
    Had been picked up and spotted and my girl in Lover's Lane?

    And meanwhile, back in the States

    Baby, baby, let's make romance
    You know your old-time lover hasn't got a chance
    He's stranded in the jungle, as mad as he can be
    So come on, pretty baby, just you and me

    Meanwhile back in the jungle
    (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

    The boys in the jungle had me on the run
    When something heavy hit me like an atomic bomb
    When I woke up and my head started to clear
    I had a strange feeling I was with cooking gear
    I smelled something cookin' and I looked to see
    That's when I found out they was a-cookin' me
    Great googa mooga, lemme outta here

    An' meanwhile back in the States

    Baby, baby, let's make romance
    You know your old-time lover hasn't got a chance
    He's stranded in the jungle, as mad as he can be
    So come on, pretty baby, just you and me

    Meanwhile back in the jungle
    (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

    I jumped out the pot and I finally got away
    Frantic and worried about what my baby would say
    So I jumped in the ocean and started to swim
    But my chance of survival was gettin' mighty slim
    So I thumbed down a whale who was headin' my way
    And I reached the States in about a half a day
    And when I got to Lover's Lane I was almost dead
    When my soul was gone and here's what I said

    Baby, baby, the man is no good
    Oh, baby, baby, you should've understood
    You can trust me as long as you please
    So come back, pretty baby, where you used to be
    'Cause I love you
    'Cause I love you
    'Cause I love you Writer/s: Ernestine Smith, James Escar Johnson
    Publisher: Peermusic Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Jessica from Maine, UsaThe 5th line in the lyrics section, "But how was I to know there was a record jump my plane" is wrong. They actually sing, "but how was I to know the wreckage of my plane".
  • Lonnie from Hollywood, CaThere was never a name change, The Jacks recorded on RPM and The Cadets on Modern, both owned by the Bihari bros. The groups were the same one and existed simultaneously because the owners wanted to be able to have 2 records on the charts at the same time by the same group. Get your facts at:
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollywood-CA/Doo-Wop-Hall-of-Fame/318267995256#!
  • Russ from Providence, RiAn all-time favorite; a classic novelty that competed with the Coasters and Buchanan & Goodman.
    However, if you lived in the northeast and didn't have tne "big" album, Jacks Meet the Cadets, "Stranded in the Jungle" was all you heard by the Cadets.
    There were some noticeable similarities in the background tones when "Why Don't You Write Me" was released under the Jacks. At the time, most folks didn't know the difference and thought there were 2 separate groups. Why Don't You Write Me is still one of my favorite R&B "blue lights in the basement" type of song.
  • Isaac from San Francisco, CaIs it just me or is this song based loosely yet obviously on "The Odyssey" by Homer?
  • Don from NewmarketThis song was also covered by The New York Dolls.
  • Spoink from Mookalai, OrThis song is a stroke of genius, in my humble. The "stateside" sections really swing, but if you ask me, the "jungle" bits are where it's at. It gives that very campy 50's post-jazz feeling, like the jungles of Africa are something mythical and terrifying, but also caricatured to the point of being laughable. Supa' cool.
  • Henry from Kingston, NyHaven't heard it in a while, but I think it's a really good song. The "back in the states" moments are the highlights.
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