Re: Gin Gan Gooly Gooly (Long)

In a message dated 95-11-20 00:30:56 EST, you write:

> Does anyone know the origin to the campfire Song " Gin
>Gan Gooly " <-------not sure on the spelling.

Hi Kevin.

I don't know the origin of the song, but the way it was puported to me was
that it is nonsense words, in no discernable language, but that it can be
easily learned by everyone in every land. Great for International camporees
and Jamborees.

I did come across this version, again author unknown. It wraps a great story
around the Ging Gang Goolie song and gives some meaning to the words. I
tell/lead this song at Webelos Leader Overnight Training campfires. I even
did this once at a Cub Day Camp campfire. It is always well received. What I
do is have one side be the warriors and the other be the medicine men, and
either the staff or parents (or both) be the elephant. At the end they do the
oompah's in the background for the finale.

Take care,

Jerry
Cub Roundtable Commissioner, Cub Training Chairman
Nutmeg District - Connecticut Rivers Council

and a good ol' Bear, too!

The Legend of the Great Grey Ghost Elephant

In deepest darkest Africa there is a legend concerning the Great Grey Gh
ost
Elephant. Every year after the rains the great grey ghost elephant arose from
the mists by the river and wandered throughout the land at dawn. When he
came to a village he would stop and sniff the air, then he would either go
around the village or through it. If he went around the village the village
would have a prosperous year, if he went through it there would be hunger and
drought.

The village of Watcha had been visited three years in a row by the eleph
ant
and things were very bad indeed, and the village leader Ging Ganga, was very
worried, as was the village medicine man Hay la shay. Together they decided
to do something about the problem.

Now Ging Ganga and his warriors were huge men with big shields and spear
s
and they decided to stand in the path of the elephant and shake their shields
and swords at it to frighten it off. Hay La Shay and his followers were going
to cast magic spells to deter the elephant by shaking their medicine bags as
the elephant approached which made the sound shallawally shallawally
shallawally.

Very early in the morning of the day the Great Grey Elephant came the
villagers gathered at the edge of the village on one side were Ging Ganga and
his warriors (indicate right side of camp fire circle). On the other was Hay
La Shay and his followers (indicate left side of camp fire). As they waited
the warriors sang softly about their leader:

Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo
Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo

As they waited the medicine men sang of their leader:

Hayla, Hayla Shayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho o o!
Hayla, Hayla Shayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho!

And shook their medicine bags:

shallawally shallawally shallawally shallawally.

And from the river came the mighty great grey elephant's reply (Have all
the
adults do this):

Oompah Oompah Oompah Oompah!

The elephant was coming closer so the warriors beat their shields and sa
ng
louder (signal warriors to stand and beat thighs in time)

Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo
Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha
Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo

Then the medicine men rose and sang loudly:

Hayla, Hayla Shayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho o o!
Hayla, Hayla Shayla, Hayla Shayla Hayla Ho!

And shook their medicine bags:

shallawally shallawally shallawally shallawally.

And mighty great grey elephant turn aside and went around the village
saying:

Oompah Oompah Oompah Oompah!

There was great rejoicing in the village and all the villagers joined
together to sing:

Ging Gang Gooli ........

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