Released on XL, Zongamin featured a number of previously vinyl-only tracks, in addition to a handful of new productions. Makai has also churned out a handful of strong remixes for the likes of Playgroup (who featured his "Tunnel Music" on a DJ Kicks mix), Grafiti, and Seelenluft.
www.zongamin.net
Bongo Song
Zongamin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lets go
Come on
3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the straight car line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
Clap pat! Clap your hand
Pat it on your partners hand, right hand
Clap pat! Clap your hand
Cross it with your left arm
Pat your partners left palm
Clap pat! Clap your hand
Pat your partners right palm
Clap slap! Clap your hand
Slap your thigh and sing a little song
Go
My mama told me if I was lucky
That she would treat me
If I was goody
My aunty told her, I should act older
No I'm not kidding
That's what she told her
3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
Clap clap
Clap your hands and prepare to pat
Clap
Take your right arm
Pat your partners palm with your right palm
Clap
Take your hand back and clap
Clap
Take your right arm
Cross your right arm with your left arm
Pat your partners left palm with your left palm
Clap
Now back with a clap
Take your hand to your palm and slap your thigh
And watch the fun materialize
As you sing this little song
My mama told me if I was lucky
That she would treat me
If I was goody
My aunty told her, I should act older
No I'm not kidding
That's what she told her
3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
My mama told me if I was lucky
That she would treat me
If I was goody
My aunty told her, I should act older
No I'm not kidding
That's what she told her
(That's what she told her)
My mama told me if I was lucky
That she would treat me
If I was goody
(I don't believe it)
My aunty told her, I should act older
(Yeah right)
No I'm not kidding
That's what she told her
(Can you believe it?)
3, 6, 9
The goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
The lyrics to Zongamin's "Bongo Song" are a mishmash of various children's rhymes and clapping games, with an added layer of absurdist humor. The opening lines of the song encourage the listener to join in, as if leading them into a playful game. The next few lines reference a well-known nursery rhyme about a goose who drank wine and a monkey who chews tobacco on a streetcar line. The lyrics take a dark turn as the line breaks and the monkey gets choked, causing everyone to go to heaven in a little rowboat.
After this, the song returns to the clapping game, with instructions on how to clap hands and pat palms, alternating between left and right hands. The final verse repeats the previous verses with a slight variation, as if the singer is incredulously repeating what their mother and aunt have told them. The song ends on the same note of absurdity and playfulness that it began with.
Overall, "Bongo Song" is a lighthearted and nonsensical song that doesn't take itself too seriously. It brings together classic nursery rhymes with fun clapping games and more modern lyrics to create a unique and enjoyable experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Lets go
Encouragement to start, to initiate action
Come on
Further encouragement or invitation to start, to initiate action
3, 6, 9
Counting game, possibly associated with clapping game
The goose drank wine
Imaginary scenario, a nonsensical but fun story
The monkey chew tobacco on the straight car line
Continuation of the nonsensical story
The line broke, the monkey got choked / And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
Unexpected outcome, adding to absurdity of story
Clap pat, clap pat, clap pat, clap slap / Clap pat! Clap your hand / Pat it on your partners hand, right hand / Clap pat! Clap your hand / Cross it with your left arm / Pat your partners left palm / Clap pat! Clap your hand / Pat your partners right palm / Clap slap! Clap your hand / Slap your thigh and sing a little song
Instructions for a clapping game, likely meant to be fun and engaging
Go
Encouragement to start, to initiate the clapping game
My mama told me if I was lucky / That she would treat me / If I was goody / My aunty told her, I should act older / No I'm not kidding / That's what she told her
Sharing of personal experience, possibly meant to connect with listeners
Clap clap / Clap your hands and prepare to pat / Clap / Take your right arm / Pat your partners palm with your right palm / Clap / Take your hand back and clap / Clap / Take your right arm / Cross your right arm with your left arm / Pat your partners left palm with your left palm / Clap / Now back with a clap / Take your hand to your palm and slap your thigh / And watch the fun materialize / As you sing this little song
More instructions for the clapping game, emphasizing the fun and engagement for participants
My mama told me if I was lucky / That she would treat me / If I was goody / My aunty told her, I should act older / No I'm not kidding / That's what she told her / (That's what she told her)
Reiteration of personal experience, perhaps to emphasize its significance
My mama told me if I was lucky / That she would treat me / If I was goody / (I don't believe it) / My aunty told her, I should act older / (Yeah right) / No I'm not kidding / That's what she told her / (Can you believe it?)
Possible skepticism or disbelief of the personal experience shared earlier
3, 6, 9 / The goose drank wine / The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line / The line broke, the monkey got choked / And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
Repetition of the nonsensical but fun story, perhaps meant to bring back the lighthearted and carefree mood of the clapping game
Writer(s): Susumu Mukai Copyright: Hero Music Ltd.
Contributed by Amelia T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
B2De
I bought this on vinyl a few years ago at Play de Record in Toronto. It was the only copy they had and it was still sealed! i'm grateful. SO-ME's artwork is crazy.
Melissa Duffy
Heard this song on Canadian radio 88.9 FM tonight. The only thing the announcer said in English was "Bongo Song" so I rushed to the Internet to locate this piece. It grabbed me bigtime. Love the hypnotic and crisp bong rhythms so tight...then the eerie sound effects near the end which are quite disturbing and fascinating. Reminds me of so many things...bombs being dropped, rockets and planes revving up and taking off...tension building....Technology proceeding...nuclear warheads being launched
romex7 romex7
what?
Cutercills 9x9 Productions
And I though most of us were here from TF2
Thomp YT
I just like the song! And the riffs playing behind the bongos are really good!
Kevin Alexander
I just tracked this song down from hearing it on a set JUSTICE did. It hooked me the first time i heard it and now it won't get out of my head.
Jakub Szlaga
I'll never forget when this was playing on "The Blue Room" on BBC Radio 1. Chris Coco and Rob da Bank. Good times. Times when electronic music was finally getting good again.
Xerxes' Xylophone
Spy is a helluva drummer
kameleoniaczek1671
Co to za dźwięki...tak schizowy song,że aż bardzo polubiłam :DD
romex7 romex7
ja też!