Yugo Yugo, NewsRevue Lyric, 17 April 1993

I’m not sure whether this one ever saw the light of day in the show – Michael Eriera did used to use a lot of mine, even if they weren’t overtly funny.

But on re-reading this lyric 25 years later I am quite taken by some of the rhymes and in particular by the strength of sentiment I wanted to get across and, I think, managed to get across within a very sparse word pattern.

YUGO YUGO

(To the Tune of “Iko Iko”)

 

VERSE 1

My Grand Duke told your Grand Duke, the Balkan scene is dire;

My Grand Duke said to your Grand Duke, we’ll let them wallow in the mire.

 

CHORUS 1

Talking ’bout Yugo {Yugo} Yugo {Yugo}

Yugoslav-ee-i-ay; {Oh, oh}

Cannot interfere with Balkan ways, never mind the folks they slay.

 

VERSE 2

Look at those troops with blue berets, Boutros Boutros Ghali;

I bet you five dollars they do nothing today, UN troops will keep away.

 

CHORUS 2

Talking ’bout Boutros {Boutros} Boutros {Boutros}

Boutros Boutros Ghali; {Oh, oh}

Fails to save the Bosnian Muslims, fails to save the Somalis.

 

VERSE 3

My envoy told your envoy, Radovan’s a liar;

My envoy told your envoy, he’s goanna set Tuzla on fire.

 

CHORUS 3

Talking ’bout Cyrus {Cyrus} Cyrus {Cyrus}

Cyrus Vance and Owen; {Oh, oh}

When will the UN do anything, when will the UN go in?

 

VERSE 4

Look at those Serbs all dressed in green, Boutros Boutros Ghali;

They’re not just men they are killing machines, goanna rape and loot and slay.

 

CHORUS 4

I suggest you go {you go} you go {you go}

You go to Gorazde, {Oh, oh}

I shall keep a safe distance away, I shall stay at home and pray,

Yes, lets just stay at home and pray, lets just stay at home and pray;

{Boutros!!}

Below is a little vid with The Dixie Cups singing Iko Iko and the lyrics on the screen:

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