From the recording It's Never Too Late
Years ago, I loved Donovan's music. I still do.
I think the message of this song is still relevant. It basically says that you can't sit around waiting for others to "kill your snakes for you." You have to stand up for what you believe in.
Rock on, Donovan!
Lyrics
Riki Tiki Tavi
By Donovan
Better get into what you gotta get into
Better get into it now, no slacking please
United Nations ain't really united
And the organizations ain't really organized
Riki Tiki Tavi mongoose is gone
Riki Tiki Tavi mongoose is gone
Won't be coming around for to kill your snakes no more my love
Riki Tiki Tavi mongoose is gone
Now everybody who read the Jungle Book knows that Riki tiki tavi's a mongoose who kills snakes
When I was a young girl, I was led to believe there were organizations to kill my snakes for me
I.e., the church, i.e. the government, i.e. the schools
But when I got a little older, I learned I had to kill them myself
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone, Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
Won't be coming around for to kill your snakes no more my love
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
People walk around that don't know what they're doing
They been lost so long they don't know what they've been looking for
Well, I know what I'm a looking for but I just can't find it
I guess I gotta look inside of myself some more
Oh oh oh inside of myself some more
Oh oh oh inside of myself some more
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
Riki tiki tavi mongoose is gone
I saw you today on the number twelve bus
You were going my way…