Jo Jo Gunne

(album: Chuck Berry Is On Top - 1959)

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 telling 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 roaring 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
Trying 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 three 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 wailing 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 running everywhere, spreading 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 singing the blues
Laughing, meddling, jumping 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 screaming 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