24/11/2025
This is something I came across today, pretty interesting to read I guess it will also interest you as well
Ging Gang Goolie is a song that is known and sung around the world, which was invented by B. -P. on the occasion of the first World Jamboree. The strange words that make up the song are not part of any language, and they have been inserted by B. -P so everyone could sing it, hence it's not written in any language, which makes it pretty fun.
The story behind this song was created later:
In a dark, remote African jungle there is a legend that tells the story of the "Ghost of the Great Grey Elephant".
Every year after the season of heavy rains, the elephant ghost emerged from the fog at dawn and wandered through the jungle. When I came to a village, I would stop, raise the trumpet and smell... “functional”!
Then he decided whether to go through the village or around it. And if he crossed the village, it meant that the year would be bad, there would be famine, disease, and the crops would be bad due to drought, pestilence, or any other misfortune; but if he crossed through the village on the contrary, it meant the year would be prosperous.
The village of Wat-Cha had been haunted by a ghost for three consecutive years and things were starting to get really bad for the residents. Village chief Ging-Gang and wizard Sheyla were rather worried as elephant day was again approaching. Together they decided that something needed to be done to keep the ghost from walking through the village again.
The village warriors, who were big men like fluffy hippos, wore a shield and a spear and decided that they would stand in the elephant's path to scare it away, making noise with their spears and shields. In turn, Sheila’s disciples would perform magic to ward off the elephant by waving its magic sticks. These sticks had various ornaments hanging and when they shook them they made a noises... Slow down, slow down, slow down!
Finally the day to visit the Grey Elephant! Very early, the residents got up and gathered outside the village. On one side was Ging-Gang and their warriors, on the other was Sheila and her disciples. While waiting for the ghost to arrive, the warriors began to sing short the heroic deeds of their boss... Gone gang, gun, gun, gunie, gunie, watcha, Gone gang, goo, Gone Gang goo... Sheila's disciples did not want to stay back and began singing too... Hail, hail, hail, hail Sheila, hail, hail sheyla, hail... and at the same time shake their sticks... Prayers, prayers, prayers, prayers.
Suddenly emerged from the fog the ghost of the big grey elephant hearing the horns raised its trumpet and answered oompa, oompa, Oompa... As the elephant got closer, the warriors began to sing louder and make noises with their spears slamming their shields... Gone gang, gun, gun, gunie, gunie, watcha, Gone gang, goo, Gone Gang goo... Sheila’s disciples got up and worked their magic... Hail, hail, hail, hail Sheila, hail, hail... and at the same time shake their sticks... Prayers, prayers, prayers, prayers.
Impressed with so much noise the elephant began to move around the village and kept barking... Uncle, uncle, uncle...
There was great joy among the inhabitants and they all began singing together... Gone head, goalie...
Author: Dorothy Untershutz, driver in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Published in “Leader” magazine with the title “The Great Grey Ghost Elephant”, June/July 1991 edition, page 7.
More scouting, less moving!
