JOO-JAH TREE, THE
(Box / Cox / Roberts / Butler)

as recorded by George Formby
1938


Somewhere out in Joo-Jah Land,
In a forest fine and grand,
Miles and miles above the sea
Stands the mighty Joo-Jah tree.

The Joo-Jah Tree, the Joo-Jah tree,
The finest tree that you ever did see!
Last July it grew so high,
It poked a hole through the bright blue sky!

Sailors say, when they're down that way,
From two till half past three,
On its branches, big and strong,
Prehistoric animals are shufflin' along,
And they keep on shufflin', shufflin', shufflin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree.

It's trunk's the most gigantic size,
You just can't believe your eyes,
Little doggies whoop with glee
When they see the Joo-Jah tree!

The Joo-Jah Tree, the Joo-Jah tree,
The finest tree that you ever did see!
Last July it grew so high,
It poked a hole through the bright blue sky!

Sailors say, when they're down that way,
From two till half past three,
You'll see Tarzan Of The Apes,
With a big banana and a lovely bunch o' grapes,
And he keeps on climbin', climbin', climbin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree.

A nice pink elephant you will see,
Shouting, "I'm a fairy!" as he flits from tree to tree,
And he keeps on flittin', flittin', flittin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree.

The big baboon with purple patch
Is yelling to his lady love who won't come up and scratch,
And he keeps on yellin', scratchin', yellin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree. 

Joo-Jah maidens, young and fair,
Only wear a necklace to protect 'em from the air,
And they keep on shiverin', shiverin', shiverin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree.

You'll see things that don't seem true;
If you don't believe 'em, well you know what you can do,
You can keep on climbin', climbin', climbin'
Up the Joo-Jah tree.

Oh the Joo-Jah Tree, the Joo-Jah tree,
The finest tree that you ever did see!
Last July it grew so high,
It poked a hole through the bright blue sky!

Sailors say, when they're down that way,
From two till half past three,
Beneath that tree don't dare to stop,
Pennies down from heaven isn't what the birdies drop,
You must keep on movin', movin', movin'
From under the Joo-Jah Tree!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2019)