Oh wild one I'm gonna tame you down (tame you down)
Ah, wild one I'll get you yet (yeah, yeah) you bet (yeah, yeah)
You little doll all you do is play, you've got a new baby ev'ry day
But some day it's gonna be me, me and only me

Oh oh wild one I'll make you settle down (settle down)
Ah wild one I'll clippa your wings (yeah, yeah) and them things (yeah, yeah)
You got the lips that I'm mad about
I got the lips that'll knock you out
C'mon wild one be wild about me

Whoa, yeah, baby

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(Yeah, yeah)
(Wah, wah, wah, wah)

You little doll all you do is play, you've got a new baby ev'ry day
But some day it's gonna be me, me and only me

Oh oh wild one I'll make you settle down (settle down)
Ah wild one I'll clippa your wings (yeah, yeah) and things (yeah, yeah)
You got the lips that I'm mad about
I got the lips that'll knock you out
C'mon wild one be wild about me

Whoa, yeah (wah, wah, wah, wah)
C'mon wild one be wild about me

One more once (wah, wah, wah, wah)

Ah, c'mon wild one be wild about me
Be wild about me

Overall Meaning

In "Wild One," Bobby Rydell sings about a wild, flirtatious woman, who seems to have a new lover every day. The singer in this song wants to tame this woman, to make her settle down and be with him exclusively. He is convinced that one day she will be with him only, and that he can make her be "wild" about him. He taunts her, telling her he will "clip her wings" and keep her from playing around with other guys. The lyrics of the song suggest a sense of possessiveness and a desire for control, as the singer wants to limit the wild woman's freedom to be with other men.

However, it is also notable that Rydell's voice is charming and upbeat throughout the song, with a catchy melody and a fun rhythm. The music seems to suggest that this is all in good fun, and that the singer's desire to be with the "wild one" is a playful challenge rather than a serious threat. Overall, "Wild One" is a classic example of 1960s pop music, with a catchy tune, upbeat energy, and a hint of romantic tension.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh wild one I'm gonna tame you down (tame you down)
I will calm you down and make you less impulsive, wild and unpredictable

Ah, wild one I'll get you yet (yeah, yeah) you bet (yeah, yeah)
I will catch you, despite the difficulty

You little doll all you do is play, you've got a new baby ev'ry day
You have many lovers and don't seem to take any of them seriously

But some day it's gonna be me, me and only me
I will win your heart and be the only one you care about

Oh oh wild one I'll make you settle down (settle down)
I will make you calm and content

Ah wild one I'll clippa your wings (yeah, yeah) and them things (yeah, yeah)
I will take away your freedom and prevent you from doing things that are reckless or irresponsible

You got the lips that I'm mad about
I am deeply attracted to your kisses

I got the lips that'll knock you out
My kisses are intense and powerful

C'mon wild one be wild about me
Please feel strong passion and affection for me

Ah, c'mon wild one be wild about me
Please feel strong passion and affection for me

Be wild about me
Feel wild and free when you're with me

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Kal Mann, Bernie Lowe, David Appell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Comments from YouTube:

Jack Spry

2y↑85

RIP and long live Bobby Rydell (April 26, 1942 – April 5, 2022), aged 79
You will always be remembered as a legend.

Trisha Duron

2y↑91

What a great song. Rest in peace Bobby.

joycebheart

2y↑31

I love his music. Rest in peace, Bobby.

Tony LaSpina

2y↑15

Rest in peace, Bobby. Thank you for teaching me how to rock and roll!

Freddie Freihofer

2y↑14

RIP Bobby. I bought the 45 of this song in 1960 and played it a thousand times!! Love the saxophones!

jennifur sun

1y↑1

me too

Gary Jaffe

My mom had the 45 of this and I loved it. Still do!

Laura Vizcaya

2y↑16

I loved this song when I was a kid. Rest in peace Bobby

santafejack

2y↑32

One of my faves from Bobby. So energizing!!

GabbyG

2y↑5

RIP. Bobby Rydell, like so many singers from this era, will be sorely missed. I was a shy high school girl when I listened to this on a 45 (daydreaming he was singing this to me).
What's missing in today's music: the sheer joy that comes through (rather than today's ego and arrogance and unfathomable wealth) with with singers like Bobby; talent - pure voices carrying a tune, rather than today's mediocrity that's covered up by loud background music; ability to sing in multiple octaves instead of about 3 notes of today's music; so many songs about love of/romance with girls/women, instead of the crass, hateful, obscenity-fllled songs about women today...
But mostly just the sheer joy of singing/entertaining in those more innocent days.

Jorge Mario Rodas

2y↑2

I like this song, which has such a good rhythm, lyrics and is well sung. Too bad Bobby Rydell is gone, but I shall keep hearing his songs. RIP Bobby.

Maria C

2y↑11

Loved Bobby great singer loved all his songs Rest In Peace Bobby😭

LANDA HOLLAR

2y↑12

We had the BEST and Bobby Rydell was one of them!!! Always loved your songs!! Thank you Bobby for keeping the 60's so Alive!! RIP!!!

ilona peterson

It was the best of times! I saw him and many of the others at POP ( pacific ocean park, in Calif) Happy songs..love songs...innocent songs. What the hell happened? We can call up songs and know exactly where and when...

Maria C

2y↑6

Loved Bobby he was the best great singer always loved all his songs Rest In Peace Bobby😭

Jorge Mario Rodas

48w↑1

Bobby is one of those singers I used to hear on the radio, in my teens, and listening to him sing, makes me remember so many things of my High School days. This song was one of my favorites, and I still like it.

John Lopez

2y↑6

One of the great ones! RIP Bobby!

Filo Escobar

2y↑7

Rip Bobby. You leave great memories behind. May you be resting in my father's hands

Matthew Farmer

2y↑5

Rest easy Bobby Rydell never be forgotten

Sharon Black

2y↑7

What a great voice !! Good man , God love you !!

TheOldcardave

2y↑5

Great song and singer RIP Bobby

Tara

2y↑20

Rest in Peace, loved your music.

Natasha Nicholson

2y↑3

Rest In Peace Bobby Rydell. We really miss you. You’re in a better place now. You’re in arms of God. You’ll be dearly missed. You were a really great and loving person

Sonny Dryer

2y↑7

RIP Sir....Always enjoyed growing up with your Music.....

Elisa Sanford

2y↑11

RIP Bobby ......loved your songs

Marie Kratsios

2y↑6

Rest In Peace Bobby and may your memory be eternal. You always will be in my mind. Thinking of you on all my teen magazines.

Rod S

2y↑6

Amazing artist RIP

Mary Ellen Bunney

2y↑7

RIP Bobby Rydell. I will never forget about meeting you in NYC at Joey Dee's club. You gave me tickets to your show and back stage passes. You were very handsome.

Kathleen Sherman

47w↑1

This is the first 45 I ever bought! It was the first of many, including two albums! I was so crazy about Bobby Rydell and terribly sad when he passed.

amangogna68

5y↑9

Great song and great singer!

Maria Schatz

2y↑8

Rest In Peace Bobby. 4/5/22 of pneumonia.😭

Patrik Uosukainen

3y↑10

I always liked the original, but now that I've heard this one, I have to say that this is better than the original arrangement.

sauquoit13456

5y↑8

On this day in 1960 {April 18th} Bobby Rydell appeared in the 'Blind Date' episode on the CBS-TV family sitcom, 'Father Knows Best'...
At the time his "Wild One" was at position #7 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three weeks earlier it had peaked at #2* {for 1 week} and it spent sixteen weeks on the Top 100...
Also at the time his "Little Bitty Girl", the B-side of "Wild One", was on the Top 100 at position #32, three weeks earlier it had peaked at #19 {for 1 week}...
Between 1959 and 1965 the Philadelphia native had twenty-eight songs on the Top 100 chart; six made the Top 10, with "Wild One" being his biggest hit...
He just missed having two more Top 10 records when both "Kissin' Time" {1959} and "Good Time Baby" {1961} peaked at #11 on the Top 100...
Mr. Rydell, born Robert Louis Ridarelli, will celebrate his 77th birthday in eight days on April 26th, 2019...
* The week "Wild One" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'" by Percy Faith and his Orchestra, at the time "A Summer Place" was in it's sixth of nine weeks at #1...

Cheryl Daniels

5y↑7

Love it!

mkl62

5y↑1

This hit from Bobby Rydell went to #2 on the Top 40 charts. It went to #10 on the Rhythm & Blues charts, #7 in the United Kingdom, and to #11 in Australia. It also went to #3 on the Cashbox charts. It would finish at #12 for the year, 1960. It was kept out of the #1 spot by the #1 song of 1960. What was that song? Would the late Johnny Horton repeat? Or did another act take the torch? Stay tuned.

Dorothy Lingwood

4y↑16

Bopping to this In My hey days - brilliant times. Terrific song xx

nikitakelley

2y↑1

Fabulous song! RIP ….

Magan Pugh

2y↑3

Rest in peaceful perfection. Loved your music.

Salvatore Pinna

5y↑4

Wild one by bobby rydell is one of the best records he ever had too bad he never had a number one record

philip norris

2y↑2

R.I.P. Bobby; the rock and roll Heaven has yet another member.

ndnballin

2y↑3

RIP Legend…

yosemitehikes

2y↑3

Great voice, great music. He also had a good role in a Combat! TV series episode (Duel).

Rev Rotunda

I luved the show Combat. Will have to look for that episode w/Bobby Rydell.

Marcia Jones

2y↑2

I was only 8 when this song was out, but loved it. R.I.P.

Sheri Drips

2y↑2

R.I.P. Bobby Rydell! You were my favorite back in Jr High!

Sharon Black

3y↑33

This guy is great bring the oldies back!!! Thats when music was the best!!!

Preston Hazard

Good song but music definitely didn’t too until 67 ish

Repulsive Shoes

2y↑1

I find it funny that people try to establish when "music was good." Had a professor that thought the classical romantic period was the epitome of music, and anything after 1890 was garbage.

I love the classy charm of the '50s. I love the poetry and depth from the music of the '60s. The bass, hard-hitting beats, and grooves of the '70s are great, so is the reinvention of rock in the '70s and '80s, and the infusion of electric sounds in the '80s and '90s. I like the pensive direction taken by rock into the 2000's, and the returning hooks in pop.

Each era has it's charm. Let's glory in what made each era great, but not undervalue what is in favor of what was. We'll each have the era that we're biased towards. I became an adult 25 years ago, and the music that was on when I was coming up will always seem best to me, but I love it all.

philip norris

It's still good now, Sharon.

Kat Bis

I've wanted to look for this song for a long time & finally did! My sister & I used to a dance to this song that we called The Swim. We'd move our arms around in front of ourselves as if we were swimming. But upon listening to this just now, it doesn't quite sound like the same singer. Grant it, I was just a kid the last time I heard it. Either way, as I listened to this song it brought up so many good memories!!

Brian Malone

We will all stay wild Bobby rest in peace!

Mary Wissing

One of the great artiest and a great person will be missed

sugarfalls1

3y↑5

If Bobby Rydell doesn't scream Wildwood and Philadelphia, I don't know what does!

Menaceri Samir

this is a hit , i never heard about this singer , now i got a new idol

Walter Eugene Lane

31w

I'm old enough to remember this from when it first played. I seem to remember seeing Rydell dot this on American Bandstand.

Smartiebob

I notice many comments wishing Bobby RIP, but I am an old man of 76 I saw Bobby back in the day & I'll bet wherever he is singing and cutting the rug just like the old days. Love you, Bobby.

kade6767

2y↑4

RIP Bobby...😢

Kent Larsen

34w

Bobby will live forever and ever and ever.

Evelyn MONTEZ

3y↑5

Omg loved him!!!

Judy Thomas

2y↑2

Bobby Rydell RIP. Still wild about you.

Dorothy Lingwood

Fantastic entertainer RIP 🥰

ROBERT ROTUNNO

2y↑2

God Bless Bobby Rydell

Jonathan Zegarra

2y↑1

Rest in peace Bobby.

🌸Fairy Godmomma🌸

41w

Epic!! RIP Mr. Fabulous!!

DOMINIC TOCCI

2y↑1

SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT HIS PASSING REST IN PEACE

j. dragon

4y↑12

I love his back up singers, he has the same singers on other tunes and sometimes lets them step out front and he takes the back up. You don't hear that much.

JEWELL Rogers

Me too

Rev Rotunda

The back up singers to the old songs helped in shaping the songs. Without them, something would be missing.

j. dragon

@Rev Rotunda Some are better than others and these gals stand out.

MAIN MAN

2y↑3

R.I.P. Bobby Rydell

Edward Aguilar aka Elvis

39w↑1

Greatness,miss him 😢😢

janet gallo

Rest in peace Bobby Rydell

Jan Cramp

2y↑3

RIP Bobby.

bobdal1946

2y↑1

I first heard this song in 1960 in San Diego. The "good old days."

K F

2y↑1

So sad!😢Im younger but liked his songs. The loss of an American music idol!

FER PAS

2y↑1

That's a good rock n' roll blanch !!! 😁😁😁👍👍👍Greetings to All from México City 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

JEWELL Rogers

2y↑1

Me sitting at home a 5 cent in pocket .
Watching ABS Dick Clark.These rock and roll entertained us.
Waiting for stardom.Bobby was one.
Man a loss.I think he acknowledged once.In last years.I ⚘♥️

Tim Holt

4y↑2

Big hit for him

S Cady

2y↑2

RIP.Great memories Wonderful times.God bless your family.Bella Primavera nel Cielo,Steve

Pete Dizbon

2y↑3

RIP BOBBY !!!!!!!!! :-(

JD

2y↑1

RIP BOBBY. I WAS SO IN LOVE WITH YOU. 😍

Roxy Cauldwell

Noooooo :( Rest in Peace to a legend of the time period :(

William Colella

2y↑2

R.I.P. Bobby!

Dennis Engram

This is music!

D T

Ok guys this is real music I grew up on.

Nelly Goodrem

5y↑12

This is the only version I know and love

Christina Grismer

2y↑2

The best Rydell is his Bye Bye Birdie album where h sings all the songs. The best Jerry!!!!

Donna Beals

2y↑1

RIP Mr. Rydell

Melzmum

3y↑2

Those were the days!

Conrad DiDiodato

2y↑1

RIP, Bobby.

Sandro Stefanini

Avevo questo brano simpaticissimo e allegro, negli anni 60 con etichetta " Top Rank " potessi ritrovarlo !!!

Ser-Col

Le bonheur de l'année 60

Von Mccarson

2y↑2

rest in peace: loved all your songs

Joseph Schauster

4y↑3

classic jukebox song!

Donna Shore

9y↑5

so many singers called Bobby in those years..loved them all.

Rustina Ginger

5y↑2

Bobby Vee, Bobby Darin, Bobby Sherman

Patrik Uosukainen

3y↑3

@Rustina Ginger Bobby Vinton and Bobby Lewis are great ones too

♦️_Gabriel_⏳

Johnnie's: 🤡

Susan Jackson

2y↑1

R I P And thank you for the memories

Mike Sauro

2y↑2

Rip Bobby Rydell

Linda Mugford

Oh yessssssssssss, love this !!!! :)

James Duclos

2y↑1

Bobby Rydell, RIP

The Ink Pit Ox

2y↑2

Two hit albums
Numerous hit singles
Walk of Fame

It's a shame he is not in the Rock Hall, and now he will never be able to attend the ceremony if he ever is.

ManagerGuy1

2y↑1

RIP we loved you...🙏🏼❤️andy, Ann

Shirley Johnson

R.I.P. Bobby !!

ChrisBigBoy

8y↑3

The sound is far better than usual, but the last few seconds are different from the original, here he is still singing when the last few notes of backing are played, but on my original copy, he stops singing and the backing with female chorus does the last bit, only 3 notes, but defo not the original take that's always been out there. I expect there are other differences too, but I can't be bothered to check all the way through.

ceeceerider

2y↑2

RIP Bobby

chris g

Great song..kinda sounds like early Ronnie James Dio when he was in the red caps ..dio did early rock

Viviane Dubé

Où est donc passée la « « « VERSION ORIGINALE??? » » »—Ayant vécue cette époque fabuleuse; j’allais sur mes onze ans lorsque ce succès est sorti.—Je suis d’autant plus déçue; que lorsque vous nous avez fait entendre la toute première compilation; vous tentiez d’approcher des acheteurs potentiels avec les DC, illustrant les succès des différents interprètes des années cinquante; soixante; soixante-dix; quatre-vingt et quatre-vingt-dix.—Et il y a moins de dix ans.—Cordialement vôtre!!!.—Viviane (22 Juillet 2019)

anna demo

2y↑2

RIP Mr. Ridarelli.

Maggie Diaz

2y↑3

just heard of your passing 😥😥 May you rest in peace now

Judy Jennings

This song is as old as me. I was born the same year this song came out. I'm 62.

Veg4Ev

My fav. male singer along with Neil of the 60's

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