I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts

"I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" is a novelty song composed in 1944 by Fred Heatherton, an English songwriter, and celebrates coconut shy (coconut toss) at fairs.

The song was first recorded by Danny Kaye, actor of such movies as "White Christmas" and "The Court Jester". Kaye became aware of the song in a tour of the UK featuring performances at the Palladium and appearances in Royal Command Performances. In 1950, the song became Danny Kaye's only US chart hit. It was later recorded by Merv Griffin and other artists. The song is still played over the public address at Cambridge United football matches after home wins.

The song appeared on "I Could Go On Singing", Judy Garland's last film. It also appeared on the "Magical Mystery Tour", Beatles TV special broadcast by the BBC on December 26, 1967.

Merv Griffin's recording with Freddie Martin and His Orchestra is often miscredited to Monty Python on the Internet. The Martin/Griffin version reached the Billboard retail Top 10 and is widely reported to be a million-seller.

Pop culture references

*In the Walt Disney film "The Jungle Book" , the apes are seen singing the song. In "The Lion King", another Disney film, Zazu is forced to sing it for the amusement of Scar.
*In the 1986 Spitting Image special, 'The Ronnie and Nancy Show', the band at U.S. President Ronald Reagan's surprise birthday party (Merv Griffin, Yoko Ono, and Ringo Starr) sing this song throughout, much to the annoyance of Frank Sinatra, the chief organiser. Nancy Reagan blames the situation on Vice-President George H. W. Bush.
*Finnish comedian/musician M.A. Numminen has made a Finnish version of the song, called" Kookospähkinä".
*Swedish comedian/musician Povel Ramel has made a Swedish version of the song, called "Far jag kan inte få upp min kokosnöt". It plays a prominent part in the film "Mitt liv som hund" ("My Life as a Dog").
*Dutch version "Daar Zijn De Appeltjes Van Oranje Weer" refer to an orange vendor. Lyrics by Eddy Christiani recorded by Max Van Praag (Decca, 1950)
*In the sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie" the character of Dr. Bellows sings this song on a ukulele while under the effect of one Jeannie's uncles trying to see if Major Nelson was worthy of her marriage.
*Ben Gates begins shouting the chorus of the song in the middle of Buckingham Palace in "", yet another Disney film.
*A Flash animation alluded the word "coconuts" to mean breasts, and is shown to be "sang" by Bill Clinton while showing breasts of women. [http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/coconuts.php]
* Another animation using only the first verse is on VG Cats as the 100th comic, using characters from the comic and alluding to the coconuts as male genitals [http://www.vgcats.com/comics/extras/100.php]

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:8x65mpb39f5o~T1 Allmusic.com profile of Danny Kaye]
* Walter Everett "The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver Through the Anthology" Oxford University Press US 1999 ISBN 0-19-512941-5 page 132

Ringo Starr can be seen singing 'I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts' in the Beatles' psychedelic 1967 made-for-TV movie 'Magical Mystery Tour'.