"Aba daba daba daba daba daba dab, Said the chimpie to the monk; Baba daba daba daba daba daba dab, Said the monkey to the chimp",
the first recording of Aba Daba Honeymoon was made in 1914 by Collins & Harlan
The song was featured in the 1950 movie, Two Weeks with Love.
The hit record of the song was recorded by Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter on August 4, 1950, and released by MGM Records as catalog number 30282. It reached #3 on the Billboard magazine chart in 1951. Richard Hayes and Kitty Kallen and the Freddy Martin Ork with Merv Griffin also succeeded with the song. Aba Daba Honeymoon was featured on the 1959 soundtrack to Have Rocket, Will Travel, the first feature film to star the Three Stooges after their 1959 resurgence in popularity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aba_Daba_Honeymoon
Aba Daba Honeymoon
Debbie Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Means "Monk I love but you," "Baba, daba, dab"
In monkey talk means "Chimp I love you too"
Then the big baboon, one night in June
He married them, and very soon
They went upon their aba, daba honeymoon
Way down in the Congo Land
She loved a monkey with a long tail
(Lordy, how she loved him)
Each night he would find her there
Swinging in the coconut tree
And the monkey gay, at the break of day
Loved to hear his Chimpie say
Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Said the Chimpie to the Monk
Baba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Said the Monkey to the Chimp
All night long they'd chatter away
All day long they were happy and gay
Swinging and singing in their hunky tonkey way
Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Means "Monk I love but you," "Baba, daba, dab"
In monkey talk means "Chimp I love you too"
Then the big baboon, one night in June
He married them, and very soon
They went upon their aba, daba honeymoon
Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Said the Chimpie to the Monk
Baba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Said the Monkey to the Chimp
All night long they'd chatter away
All day long they were happy and gay
Swinging and singing in their hunky tonkey way
Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
Means "Monk I love but you," "Baba, daba, dab"
In monkey talk means "Chimp I love you too"
Then the big baboon, one night in June
He married them, and very soon
They went upon their aba, daba honeymoon
Then the big baboon, one night in June
He married them, and very soon
They went upon their aba, daba honeymoon
The lyrics to Debbie Reynolds and Carlton Carpenter’s “Aba Daba Honeymoon” recount the love story between a monkey and a chimpanzee in playful “monkey talk”. The first verse explains that “aba, daba, daba” means “monk I love but you,” and “baba, daba, dab” means “chimp I love you too.” The second verse sets the scene, describing how the chimpanzee loved the monkey with the long tail, who would find her each night swinging in the coconut tree. The chorus repeats the monkey and chimpanzee’s declarations of love in “monkey talk”. Finally, the third verse reveals that the big baboon in Congo Land, where the monkey and chimpanzee lived, married them one June night, and they went off together on their honeymoon.
While the lyrics are simple and humorous, the song is also notable for the way it blends jazzy, up-tempo music with playful lyrics that capture the imaginary chatter of lovestruck primates. The song was originally featured in the 1950 film “Two Weeks With Love,” and went on to become a classic song of the 1950s, regularly featured on radio and in films set in the era.
Line by Line Meaning
Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab
A phrase in monkey language that translates to 'Monk I love but you,' or 'Baba, daba, dab,' which means 'Chimp I love you too.'
Means 'Monk I love but you,' 'Baba, daba, dab'
Explaining the meaning behind the monkey language used in the song.
In monkey talk means 'Chimp I love you too'
Further explaining the meaning behind the monkey language, that it translates to 'Chimp I love you too.'
Then the big baboon, one night in June
Referring to a big baboon who married the monkey and chimp in June one night.
He married them, and very soon
Continuing to describe the big baboon wedding, noting that it happened very soon after they got married.
They went upon their aba, daba honeymoon
Describing how the monkey and the chimp went on their honeymoon after getting married by the baboon.
Way down in the Congo Land
Referring to the location where the monkey and chimp live, the Congo Land.
Lived a happy chimpanzee
Noting that the chimp was very happy living in the Congo Land.
She loved a monkey with a long tail (Lordy, how she loved him)
Describing the chimp's love for the monkey, emphasizing how much she really loved him.
Each night he would find her there
Explaining how the monkey would find the chimp in the coconut tree every night.
Swinging in the coconut tree
Describing how the chimp would swing in the coconut tree every night when the monkey found her.
And the monkey gay, at the break of day
Referring to how happy the monkey was, specifically at the break of day.
Loved to hear his Chimpie say
Explaining how much the monkey loved to hear the chimp say 'Aba, daba, daba, daba, daba, daba, dab,' which meant 'Chimp I love you too.'
All night long they'd chatter away
Describing how the monkey and chimp would chatter with each other all night long.
All day long they were happy and gay
Noting that the monkey and chimp were happy and carefree all day long.
Swinging and singing in their hunky tonkey way
Describing how the monkey and chimp would swing and sing in a lighthearted and playful way.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Walter Donovan, Arthur Fields
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind