Jo Jo Gunne

Chuck Berry

About Jo Jo Gunne

Jo Jo Gunne is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1971 by Jay Ferguson (keyboards, vocals and guitar) and Mark Andes (bass guitar and vocals) after they had left Spirit. The group's name is derived from "Jo Jo Gunne", a Chuck Berry song that peaked at #83 as a single in November 1958.


Year:
2011
14 
#1

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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

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Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Chuck Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism and utilizing guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on subsequent rock music. more »

1 fan

Written by: CHUCK BERRY

Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


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.
Album
The 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 Theme
The 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.
Inspiration
The 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 Performance
On the 1972 release 'Chuck Berry: The London Chuck Berry Sessions,' "Jo Jo Gunne" was notably performed with rock duo T. Rex.
Chart Ranking
While "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 Versions
The song has been covered by numerous artists, demonstrating its timeless appeal and the broad influence of Chuck Berry on rock and roll.
Era Influence
The 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.

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