New York Dolls – Stranded In The Jungle (1974)

Stranded in the Jungle is a song originally recorded by The Jay Hawks in 1956. It was covered by the New York Dolls on their 1974 album Too Much Too Soon, and released as a single.

American rock band New York Dolls was formed in New York City in 1971. They were part of the early punk scene of the big city, and considered a cult group at that time. Their high heels, hats, makeup, and crazy dresses were part of their image and live performances, giving shape to punk and glam movements from their deeper heart, inspiring other big names of the music as Sex Pistols, Kiss or Guns N’ Roses.

The original line-up conssited of vocalist David Johansen, Johnny Thunders (guitar), Arthur Kane (bass), Sylvain Sylvain (piano and guitar) and Jerry Nolan (drums).

Listen to the original recording of The JayHawks here:

New York Dolls – Stranded In The Jungle – Lyrics

Well, I’m standing in the jungle while trying to keep a date
With my little girl who was back in the States
I was stranded in the jungle, I’m afraid of it all
Wondering how I could get a message back home
But how was I to know that the wreckage of my plane
Had been picked up and spotted and my girl in Lover’s Lane

Meanwhile, back in the States

Baby, baby, let’s make romance
I said your old-time lover hasn’t got a chance
I said he’s stranded in the jungle, sad as he can be
So come on pretty baby, just you and me

Meanwhile, back in the jungle

The boys in the jungle had me on the run
When something heavy hit me like an atomic bomb
When I woke up kind of slow and my head started to clear
I had a strange feeling I’m with cooking gear
I smelled something cooking and I looked around to see
That’s when I found out they was cookin’ me, I said
Ooga booga, lemme outta here!

Baby, baby, let’s make romance
I said your old-time lover hasn’t got a chance
I said he’s stranded in the jungle sad as he can be
So come on pretty darling just you and me, oh yeah

Meanwhile, back in the jungle

I jumped out of the pot, I’m tryin’ to get away
I was frantic and worried about what my baby might say
So I jumped in the ocean and started to swim
But my chance of survival is mighty slim
So I thumbed down a whale that was passing my way
And I reached the States in about half a day
When I got to Lover’s Lane I was almost dead
My heart was goin’ and here is what I said

Baby, baby, the man’s no good
I said, baby, baby, you should have understood
I said, you can trust me for as long as you please
So come on pretty baby, just you and me
Cause I love you

(Taken from New York Dolls – Stranded In The Jungle Lyrics)