Tongo

Words & Music:

Traditional Polynesian

 

I have not been able to find a recording of this, so I made one of the version I learned as a kid at camp.  Here it is.

 

CALL:                            RESPONSE:

Tongo!                           Tongo!

Jim-biddy-by-um, by-oo-way!      Jim-biddy-by-um, by-oo-way!

Tongo!                           Tongo!

Oo-ah-lay!                       Oo-ah-lay!

Mah-lay-pah-ma-lou-way!          Mah-lay-pah-ma-lou-way!

Mah-lay-pah-ma-lou-way!          Mah-lay-pah-ma-lou-way!

 

The song as listed above was learned orally, so I spelled the words best as I could phonetically.  Correspondent Rob Jones sent me the correctly spelled version below, AND included a MIDI file and music score, to boot!  Yay!

 

CALL:                            RESPONSE:

Tongo!                           Tongo!

Chimne ba e ba e o!              Chimne ba e ba e o!

M ba le kimbayo!                 M ba le kimbayo!

Tongo!                           Tongo!

Oo-ah-way!                       Oo-ah-way!

Bale ka lowaway!                 Bale ka lowaway!

Bale ka lowaway!                 Bale ka lowaway!

 




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