Jo Jo Gunne
Chuck Berry
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
It was in ancient history, four thousand B.C. Back up in the jungle in a coconut tree Hanging on a branch up under the sun Was a meddlesome monkey named Jo Jo Gunne Old Leo the lion came down from the mountain To get a drink of water from the jungle fountain Jo Jo the monkey started tellin' him jive About the elephant who was gonna skin him alive Leo tried to reach and grab Jo Jo's tail Got mad and went roarin' through the jungle trail He ran upon an elephant beneath a tree And said, put up your dukes you gotta tussle with me An ol' eagle from Asia made a non stop flight Tryin' to make it in time, just to see them fight A crocodile phoned and reversed the charge Coming all the way from India on a local barge Ol' gorilla heard 'em talking in the lion's den But Jo Jo bet him ten bucks the elephant wins Jo Jo yelled at Leo, Go on, knock him down He don't outweigh you but a thousand pounds Leo left wailin' with a left upper cut The elephant took his snoot and grabbed a coconut Leo fired a beautiful short back cross That's when the coconut landed up against his jaw Leo grew tired, but he wouldn't give in The elephant all loose, beat his jawbone in The buzzard said, they fought furious all day He couldn't understand how Leo got away Jo Jo runnin' everywhere, spreadin' the news To the zebras and the leopards and the kangaroos A hoot owl reported everything he saw Had his eyes wide open, they called it a draw Leo limping back with his jawbone bruised Jo Jo in the trees started singin' the blues Laughin', meddling, jumpin' up and down Till his foot missed a limb and he fell to the ground Just like a bolt of thunder and a streak of heat Leo covered Jo Jo with all four feet Jo Jo was screamin' with tears in his eyes Said, please mister Leo, I apologize Said, if you let my feet upon solid ground I'll fight you close range, fifteen rounds Leo got back to the square of the fight Jo Jo took a leap and jumped out of sight
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
1 fan
10 facts about this song
Genre"Jo Jo Gunne" is a song by Chuck Berry, one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. The song is categorized under the rock and roll genre, which was primarily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music.
|
Release"Jo Jo Gunne" was released in 1958, which emphasizes Berry's consistent ability to produce hit songs throughout the 1950s.
|
AlbumThe song is a part of the third studio album "Chuck Berry Is on Top" which is often considered one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time.
|
Song ThemeThe song tells the story of a monkey named Jo Jo Gunne, who leaves his wife to experience life in the city, showcasing Berry's ability to intertwine humor and storytelling in his lyrics.
|
Music Style"Jo Jo Gunne" features Chuck Berry's signature guitar style, heavily influenced by blues and noted for its infectious rhythm and ability to make people dance.
|
InspirationThe song was likely inspired and influenced by the African-American folk tales called Signifying monkey, emphasizing Berry's contribution to preserving and translating African American culture into rock and roll music.
|
Notable PerformanceOn the 1972 release 'Chuck Berry: The London Chuck Berry Sessions,' "Jo Jo Gunne" was notably performed with rock duo T. Rex.
|
Chart RankingWhile "Jo Jo Gunne" didn't make it to top charts unlike Berry's other hits, it still holds a solid place in his discography due to its unique narrative and musical style.
|
Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by numerous artists, demonstrating its timeless appeal and the broad influence of Chuck Berry on rock and roll.
|
Era InfluenceThe song is representative of the music of the time in which it was released, as it encapsulates the spirit of the rock and roll era in the late 1950s.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Jo Jo Gunne Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 15 Jan. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29255121/Chuck+Berry/Jo+Jo+Gunne>.
Powered by CITE.ME
Discuss the Jo Jo Gunne Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In