# Environmentalist witch-doctor song--anyone know this one? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068 "2006-10-03T02:37:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/1 "2006-10-03T02:37:31Z")
When I was about 10–about 1984–I learned this song, which seems like it was probably written in the late 70’s. I tried googling it today, and got nothing at all. Does anyone remember this song, a take-off on the old witch doctor song? My friend the alligator he told me what to say (boom boom boom boom) My friend the alligator he told me what to do (boom boom boom boom) He said “I do not want to wind up as your shoe!” and he said Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang Oo ee oo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang My friend the California condor he told me what to say (boom boom boom boom) My friend the California condor he told me what to do (boom boom boom boom) He said “We once were many but now we’re just a few” and he said (chorus) My friend the bicycle he told me what to say (boom boom boom boom) My friend the bicycle he told me what to do (boom boom boom boom) He said “If you ride me the skies they will stay blue!” and he said (chorus) Well, it’s a weird little song, but does anyone know where it came from or if there are more verses? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/2 "2006-10-03T05:03:20Z")
I was thinking late 1950’s or early 1960’s. [The Witchdoctor](http://www.lyricsbox.com/dr-demento-lyrics-witchdoctor-87b4hwq.html) by Dr. Demento. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/3 "2006-10-03T05:05:48Z")
That doesn’t seem to have your environmental take on it though. The version that I linked to was on the pop charts. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/4 "2006-10-03T05:41:28Z")
No, this one was the same tune, with new words; I’ve never heard it in a recorded version. It was a camp song when I learned it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/5 "2006-10-03T12:14:03Z")
**The Witchdoctor** was by Ross “David Seville” Bagdasarian, who gave us Alvin and the Chipmunks ()the song actually appeared on the original 1960s TV show once). It was written in the late 1950s. All together now: **OO-ee-oo-ah-ah Ting tang Walla alla bing bang OO ee oo ah ah Ting tang Walla Walla bing bang!** ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/6 "2006-10-03T12:15:12Z")
Upon re=reading the OP more carefully, I realize I got it wrong – mine’s the original version. Never heard the one with the new lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/environmentalist-witch-doctor-song-anyone-know-this-one/375068/7 "2006-10-03T15:39:01Z")
My guess it was a parody written and performed by a local DJ, and probably never was released on a 45 or album.