User:Roy Kaighin

THE GING GANG GOOLI STORY A well-known Campfire Song.

In 1920, just after the First World War, there was to be the first of the large Boy Scout Jamborees in England, lead by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, Chief Scout. There were 8,000 Scouts present from 34 countries.

He was looking for a song that everyone could sing, no matter what their language was. He wrote a suitable song. Ging Gang Gooli was the result. It is of no language, so it was easy for everyone to learn. After almost six years of war and the first confused years of peace, it was a great celebration for Scouts and Guides to meet with their brothers and sisters from around the world, and be united in one common interest.

Here is a story that was made up about the song. It is based in Africa, where Lord Baden-Powell spent much time of Military Service.

In the deepest darkest Africa there is a legend concerning the Great Grey Ghost Elephant. Every year, after the rains, the great grey ghost elephant arose from the mists 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 Wat-Cha had been visited three years in a row by the elephant and things were very bad indeed. The village leader, Ging-Ganga was very worried, as was the village medicine man Ha-la-shay. Together, they decided to do something about the problem. Ging-Ganga and his warriors where huge men with big shields and spears. They decided to stand in the path of the elephant and shake their shields and spears at it to frighten it away. 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 shalli-walli, shalli-walli, shalli-walli. 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, and on the other was Hay-la-shay and his followers. 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: Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho, Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho.

And they shook their medicine bags… Shalli-walli, shalli-walli, Shalli-walli, shalli-walli.

And from the river came the mighty great grey elephants' reply… Oompa, oompa, oompa, oompa ...

The elephant came closer, so the warriors beat their shields and sang louder… 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… Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho, Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho.

And they shook their medicine bags… Shalli-walli, shalli-walli, Shalli-walli, shalli-walli.

And the mighty great grey elephant turned aside and went around the village saying Oompa, Oompa, Ooompa, Ooompa...

There was great rejoicing in the village and all the villagers joined together to sing ... Ging gang gooli 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. Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho, Heyla, heyla sheyla, Heyla sheyla, heyla ho. Shalli-walli, shalli-walli, Shalli-walli, shalli-walli. Oompa, Oompa, Ooompa, Ooompa...

Lord Baden-Powell died in January 1941, but the Scout movement lives on throughout the world. Ging Gang Gooli remains a favourite Campfire song.