Civilization
The Andrews Sisters Lyrics

Each morning, a missionary advertises neon sign
Every day, a religious preacher promotes the benefits of urbanization and modernity in a flashy manner.

He tells the native population that civilization is fine
He convinces the locals that the western way of living is superior and desirable.

And three educated savages holler from a bamboo tree
Three well-educated aboriginals say that they do not crave western luxuries.

That civilization is a thing for me to see
One of the educated natives is interested in learning about civilization without abandoning his own culture.

So bongo, bongo, bongo, I don't want to leave the congo, oh no no no no no
The educated native asserts his preference for his own land and culture.

Bingo, bangle, bungle, I'm so happy in the jungle, I refuse to go
The native is content with his jungle lifestyle and rejects the idea of adopting a more urban way of life.

Don't want no bright lights, false teeth, doorbells, landlords, I make it clear
The native dislikes the complexities of the urban lifestyle and wants nothing to do with it.

(That no matter how they coax him) I'll stay right here
The native is determined to stay in the jungle and not be swayed by any outside influence.

I looked through a magazine the missionary's wife concealed
One of the natives secretly reads a magazine owned by the missionary's wife.

(Magazine, what happens)
The magazine features the dangers and accidents that come with modern civilization.

I see how people who are civilized bung you with automobile
The magazine informs the native about the risks of being hit by a car in a civilized area.

(You know you can get hurt that way Daniel)
The person speaking warns Daniel of the dangers posed by an automobile.

At the movies they have got to pay many coconuts to see
The natives have to pay a lot to watch films that feature their own uncivilized way of life.

(What do they see, darling)
The singer inquires about the content of the films shown to the natives.

Uncivilized pictures that the newsreel takes of me
The natives are depicted as uncivilized and exotic in the newsreels.

They hurry like savages to get aboard an iron train
The native people are depicted as wild and unrefined as they try to catch a train.

And though it's smokey and it's crowded, they're too civilized to complain
Even though the train is dirty and overcrowded, the people on it are considered civilized because they do not have the same values as the natives.

When they've got two weeks vacation, they hurry to vacation ground
When they have some time off, the civilized people rush to go on vacation.

(What do they do, darling)
The singer asks about the leisure activities that the civilized people engage in during their vacation.

They swim and they fish, but that's what I do all year round
The artist points out that these leisure activities are normal parts of his own year-round lifestyle.

Don't want no penthouse, bathtub, streetcars, taxis, noise in my ear
The native has no interest in the conveniences of urban living.

(So, no matter how they coax him) I'll stay right here
The native is resolute in his decision to remain in the jungle.

Don't want no jailhouse, (shotgun) fish hooks (golf clubs) I got my spears
The singer would prefer to stick with the tools and weapons that are already familiar him.

(So, no matter how they coax him) I'll stay right here
The native remains steadfast in his decision to stay in the jungle.

They have things like the atom bomb (so I think I'll stay where I am)
The native is not enticed by the modern technology and weapons of the west and chooses to remain where he is.

Civilization, I'll stay right here
The singer decides that his own way of life is already civilized and there's no need to join western society.