MY LITTLE BIMBO DOWN ON THE BAMBOO ISLE

by Walter Donaldson
as sung by Aileen Stanley and by Frank Crumit


Sailor Bill McCoy was a daring sailor boy
His ship got wrecked a while on a Fiji-Iji isle.
He led a savage life and he hunted with a knife
He said, "I'll tell you about it-- Don't tell my wife!
I've got a Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle.
She's waiting there for me, beneath a bamboo tree.
Believe me.
She's got the other Bimbos beat a mile.
She dances gaily, daily; she'd be a hit with Barnum-Bailey.
I'll build a bungalow on the Bamboo Isle.
'Cause when I go again, I'll stay a while.
I've seen wrecks, plenty of wrecks, out on the stormy sea,
But, by heck, there never was a wreck 
Like the wreck she made of me.
And all she had was a great big Zulu smile,
My little Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle."

William's boss said, "Bill, a captain's job you'll fill
Upon a ship bound north. Today it's sailing forth.
You know, a captain's job is fine." 
But Bill said, "I decline.
I'll take half pay as a sailor on that ship of mine.
Because I've got a Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle.
She's waiting there for me beneath the bamboo tree.
Believe me, 
She's got the other Bimbos beat a mile.
She's a regular, no beggar.
She's the Bimbos' chief bootlegger.
I'll build a bungalow on the Bamboo Isle.
And when I go again, I'll stay a while.
What's that?
What's a 'Bimbo' mean?
Boy, take my advice:
I'm not sure what a 'Bimbo' means, but a Bimbo's awfly nice.
Everybody loves her, even the crocodile,
My little Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle.

I've got a Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle,
She's waiting there for me, beneath the bamboo tree.
She's got the other Bimbos beat a mile.
She dances gaily, daily, Oh! She plays a mean ukulele.
I'll build a bungalow on the Bamboo Isle,
'Cause when I go again, I'll stay a while.
I can't forget the day we met.
Folks, would you believe,
She had on less-- very much less-- 
Than poor old mother Eve.
All she wore was a great big Zulu smile,
My little Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle.

Lots of dancers that I've seen wear a string of beads,
But give this babe a good jazz band
And boy, that's all she needs.
And all she wears is a great big Zulu smile
My little Bimbo down on the Bamboo Isle.


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