On the Amazon - guitar chords and comments
Lyrics without distraction HERE
This frantic song, stuffed with foreign words and insanity, is from the 1928 musical "Mr. Cinders" and sung by the character Jim Lancaster. Responsibles for this were Vivian Ellis (composer); Clifford Grey and Greatrex Newman (libretto, arrangement). Columbia released a 78rpm cast in '29 with Jack Payne and the B.B.C. Dance Orchestra.
For funny reasons, Don McLean came across this one, and included it with his self-titled album of 1972, as the only song he hadn't written himself. In -76 he performed it live for the double-album "Solo".
Especially live, he performs tricks and chords I can't neighter figure out nor recall. Why should I? This "straight" version is crazy enough.
Am E7 Am E7
there's a danger zone not a stranger zone
Am Dm Am E7
than the little plot I walk on that I call my home
Am E7 Am E7
full of eerie sights weird and skeerie sights
Am Dm Am E7 Am
every vicious animal that creeps and crawls and bites
G ...Fdim ... D7sus4
on ...
C6+2 Am D7sus4 G
... the amazon the prophylactics prowl
C6+2 Am G7/9
on the amazon the hypodermics howl
C6+2 Am Bsus4 Em Gdim Dm G
on the amazon you'll hear a scarab scowl and sting zodiacs on the wing
C6+2 Am D7sus4 G
all the stalagtites are vicious vertabrae
C6+2 Am G7/9
hunt the stalagmites while laryngitis slay
C6+2 Am Bsus4 Em ...Gdim...Dm...G
all the parasites that come from paraguay in spring
F Fm C Bdim A7
snarling equinox among the rocks will seize you
D Dm Fmaj7 Cdim G
and the fahrenheit comes out at night to freeze you
C6+2 Sm D7sus4 G
wild duondenum are lurking in the trees
C6+2 Am G7/9
and the jungle swarms with green apostrophes
C6+2 Am F G C
oh the amazon is calling me
C ... Gdim ... D7sus4 ... G (to 2nd verse)