Civilization
Danny Kaye The Andrews Sisters Lyrics

Each morning, a missionary advertises neon sign
Every day, a missionary tries to sell the idea of civilization to the locals.

He tells the native population that civilization is fine
The missionary tells the locals that civilization is good.

And three educated savages holler from a bamboo tree
Three knowledgeable individuals express their support for civilization.

That civilization is a thing for me to see
They believe that civilization is something worth experiencing.

So bongo, bongo, bongo, I don't want to leave the Congo, oh no no no no no
Their love for their home in the Congo is so strong that they refuse to leave it for civilization.

Bingo, bangle, bungle, I'm so happy in the jungle, I refuse to go
They are content with their way of life in the jungle and will not leave for civilization.

Don't want no bright lights, false teeth, doorbells, landlords, I make it clear
They are uninterested in the trappings of civilization such as electric lighting, dentistry, and societal rules.

I looked through a magazine the missionary's wife concealed (Magazine? What happens?)
They found a magazine that the missionary's wife had hidden from them.

I see how people who are civilized bung you with automobile (You know you can get hurt that way Daniel?)
They observe that the apparently civilized people cause harm with their technology such as automobiles.

At the movies they have got to pay many coconuts to see (What do they see, Darling?)
They point out that even the entertainment provided by civilization requires payment, often in the form of resources they don't have.

Uncivilized pictures that the newsreel takes of me
They object to being portrayed as uncivilized in media produced by civilization.

They hurry like savages to get aboard an iron train
They comment on the irony of so-called civilized people rushing to get on a crowded train.

And though it's smokey and it's crowded, they're too civilized to complain
They contrast the supposed civility of these train riders with their own contentment despite living in far less comfortable conditions.

When they've got two weeks vacation, they hurry to vacation ground (What do they do, Darling?)
They remark on how people in civilization rush to use their limited vacation time by engaging in leisure activities like swimming and fishing - activities they do year-round.

Don't want no jailhouse, shotgun, fish-hooks, golf clubs, I got my spears
They would rather have their own simple tools for hunting and survival than the complicated trappings of civilization such as prisons, guns, and sport clubs.

They have things like the automobile, they have a movie and a radio
Although they understand that civilization has advanced technologies and media, they don't see the appeal of these things compared to their own way of life.

And though we're all impressed with their technology and show
They acknowledge that civilization's advancements are impressive but still prefer their simpler lifestyles.

When they've invented one peace, we'll take a plane to find them there
They say that if civilization ever achieves true peace, they might consider traveling to see it.

Until that day, they'll have to find civilization elsewhere
In the meantime, they will stick to their own way of life in the jungle and not be swayed by the supposed benefits of civilization.