The Monkeys Have No Tails in Zamboanga

"The Monkeys Have No Tails in Zamboanga" is a song, probably written during the Philippine–American War or the Moro Rebellion. It was popular with U.S. soldiers in the Pacific in World War II.

History

"The Monkeys Have No Tails in Zamboanga" is the official regimental march of the 27th Infantry Regiment, as the "Wolfhound March". The lyrics of this official version were written in 1907 in Cuba by G. Savoca, the regimental band leader, after the regiment was formed in 1901 to serve in the Philippines. According to Harry McClintock, the tune was borrowed from an official march of the Philippine Constabulary Band, as played at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. One version was collected as part of the Gordon "Inferno" Collection. As with many folk songs with military origins, the song becomes a souvenir of the campaign for those who served.

Lyrics

Some verses were updated and sung by U.S. Army and Navy personnel and families in Manila, Philippines, and back in the States after World War II. The song mentions islands in the Philippine chain, attributing amusing or unflattering characteristics to their flora and fauna, and humans. As there are many islands, there are no doubt many more verses.

Recorded versions

Two jazz versions were recorded in 1939, as "The Monkeys Have No Tails in Pago Pago". By Abe Lyman 8-29-1939, and by the Milt Herth Trio 10-19-1939
Harry McClintock recorded a version under the title "Subic" on Haywire Mac, Cook Records, 1950
An orchestral version is the B-side of the film tie-in single of The High and the Mighty.
Oscar Brand as "Zamboanga" on Sing-Along Bawdy Songs & Backroom Ballads and Every Inch a Sailor, and on the compilation Four Albums of Military Song from Oscar Brand
Sailorman Jack

Cinema and television

Hell Divers, sung by Wallace Beery
Night Waitress, in which it is attributed to Don Raye, Vic Schoen, Jerry Seelen and Hy Zaret
They Were Expendable, directed by John Ford
It was sung by "the Beaver" in the TV series Leave It to Beaver in Season 1 Episode 20, "Lonesome Beaver"
A Hole in the Head, directed by Frank Capra
Donovan's Reef, directed by John Ford, starring Lee Marvin and John Wayne
''The Virgin Suicides''

Literary use

Two published books share their title with the song, one by S.P. Meek and one by Reese Wolfe
The song is mentioned in Kemp Tolley’s Yangtze Patrol as a popular “Far East ditty” that describes the Asiatic Fleets route from Manila to Tsingtao during the summer.

Related songs and parody versions

"No te vayas de Zamboanga" a Chavacano song written by Juan Cuadrado, Sr. Later spawned the English song Zamboanga, popular with Filipinos with the following lyrics "Don't you go, don't you go too far Zamboanga."
The song later became a Philippine brass band favorite in both civilian and military bands. One YouTube sample by a local Philippine band The Malabon Brass Band:
The Freshmen Up at Yale Get No Tail
Communist Party organizers Joseph and Esther Gelders performed the song, as well as a version entitled "The Workers Have No Vote In Alabama" for ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax in 1937.