On the Ning Nang Nong - Spike Milligan

[Hannah]

On the Ning Nang Nong

by Spike Milligan


On the Ning Nang Nong
Where the cows go Bong!
And the monkeys all say BOO!
There?s a Nong Nang Ning
Where the trees go Ping!
And the tree tops jibber jabber joo.
On the Nong Ning Nang
All the mice go Clang
And you just can?t catch ?em when they do!
So it?s Ning Nang Nong
The cows go Bong!
Nong Nang Ning
The trees go Ping!
Nong Ning Nang
The mice go Clang!
What a noise place to belong
Is the Ning Nang Ning Nang Nong!

Copyright
from Complete Poems (Penguin, 1997), by permission of Spike Milligan Productions.

[Viking Poet (U.K.)]

Hello Hannah. 
I have only just spotted this and had to write back and comment on your post.    What a coincidence! I bought 'The Essential Spike Milligan' only this last week! Creepy. 
This was a Spike Special. I had the pleasure of seeing him recite it on the box some time back and have a copy of it somewhere. What a cracker! I enjoyed Spikes and the gang's stuff and even played a part myself on stage many moons ago in an adaptation of The Goon Show. For me the Goons were first class!
I like; I'm walking back for Christmas. 1956 (Even hit number 4 in the charts) So funny.
He had a great mind and great imagination both as a writer and actor which comes across in 'On the Ning Nang Nong.' I thought I could come up with some weird ideas for poems but here old Spike rules. I can see where he got the words from (Can You I ask?) thinking back to his shows and his use of noise and expressions to get across his feelings and add that little bit of Spike humour.
Great!
Thanks for the reminder. 

Best regards

Paul

Viking Poet (U.K.)

[Hannah]

G'day Paul 

I'm not surprised that you are a Spike fan, and a Goon fan. I still listen to reruns of the Goons some mornings. It's on before I need to get up in the morning but sometimes I wake up early. 

It's very distinctive Spike, with his noises and silliness and really wacky sense of humour. It is spooky that you just bought The Essential Spike Milligan! My favourite goon was Neddy Seagoon. I went once to see Harry Secombe at the Melbourne Town Hall (back in the 60s) and was not only blown away by his wonderful voice live, but by the fact that he stood 2-3 feet behind the microphone. He had an inbuilt boom box in his chest!

I've taken care of the housekeeping you mentioned. Thanks for the info.

Cheers for now, Hannah 

[Viking Poet (U.K.)]

Cheers Hannah!
I still smile thinking about the troop and Sir Harry and can just about recall some of their material. But it's patchy.
By the way, I played Moriarty but never got to be fired from the cannon! 
         The dirty rotten swines, I was hiding in that cannon!     
Playing a Goon in front of hundreds for only a short time has stuck with me ever since and I enjoyed every second of it.
That reminds me. I must write that down for the grandsprout. 
Bye for now.

Best regards

Paul

Viking Poet (U.K.)

[Hannah]

G'day Moriarty 

If I had access to that cannon, I'd definitely fire it!  Great fun. I used to act once too, many many moons ago. It as indeed great fun. Now I tend to write plays rather than perform in them, but I'll never even skim the humour of old Spike. I was looking for another show I watch on line and came across this which you might enjoy. I haven't watched it yet but I do know he has the title of this written on his tombstone. Funny beyond the grave.

http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/334291

Cheers, Hannah 

[Viking Poet (U.K.)]

G'day Hannah.
Haha! lol! Moriarty?
Would that be firing the cannon with me in it?  
I did a Christmas Troop Show only. From then on it was sweeping it only. lol! Hahahahahahahahahahahahhaaha!
Cheers

Best regards

Paul

Viking Poet (U.K.)

P.S. Ref: Spike's Headstone. We can't click on to the link as its for viewing for Aus only but, I'll track it here thanks. By the way, the cover of his book, 'The Essential Spike Milligan' has the cartoon of Spike being carried off and a caption saying, 'I told you I was Ill.' lol!

[Hannah]

G'day Paul 

Yes, it's bound to be somewhere else on the web. I'm surprised you can't access the link though. It's supposedly available world wide. Ah, a show for the troops. I guess you were very fortunate to be someone like Moriarty and therefore didn't have to wear a dress! 

Cheers, Hannah