IN THE CONGO
(Cobb / Lutzen)

as recorded by George Formby
1929


Well I'm 'ere again everybody,
I'm a conga eel this time!
Let her go baby!

Southern skies, sapphire seas,
Crocodiles, chimpanzees,
Cocoa palms, rubber trees,
That's the Congo!
Where the blazing tropic sun
Bakes you like a hot cross bun,
Where mosquitoes make you run,
That's the Congo!

It's grand getting tanned
When you loll upon the sands
In the Congo, in the Congo.
All that you wear
Is a little 'ere and there
In the Congo, in the Congo.
You take a hut up in a tree,
Then you're in high society!
And all the lovely scenery;
You get a view of the swamp
Where the alligators romp!

Warm summer nights
When they light the harbour lights
In the Congo, in the Congo.
Gay Congorites flock around to see the sights,
Twenty cocoa beans they pay,
To see Miss Wongo wag 'er little bongo,
Sing a little Congolay!
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, in the Congo cabaret!

It's grand getting canned
When you loll upon the sands
In Wigan's Congo, in Wigan's Congo.
You don't wear any togs,
You only wear a pair o' clogs
In Wigan's Congo, in Wigan's Congo.
You take a hut upon the pier,
Where they supply you with free beer;
The colliers shout "by gum, hear hear!"
You get a view of the tripe
As it's getting nice and ripe!

Warm summer nights
When they light the harbour lights
In Wigan's Congo, in Wigan's Congo.
Gay Wiganites flock around to see the sights,
Twenty cow 'eels each they pay,
To see fat Mrs Marlston do the Wigan charleston,
I'm sure she's goin' to bust some day!
Ee, ee, ee-by-gum, in Wigan's Congo cabaret!

Ee, ee, ee-by-gum, in Wigan's Congo cabaret!




(Transcribed by Peter Akers - January 2019)