His first musical success was Rosemary Clooney's "Come on-a My House", which he based the lyrics on dialogue from his famous cousin William Saroyan's novel The Human Comedy. He had a moderate hit in 1956 under the name Alfi & Harry with the novelty record "The Trouble With Harry." As David Seville, he had another #1 record in his song, "The Witch Doctor", which was also his first experiment with the technique of speeding up the playback of an audio track to get the "most-distinctive" higher pitched squeaky comical sound. This success led to his recording of "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" with The Chipmunks.
Bagdasarian also appeared in minor film roles, including Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), in which he plays an obsessed, piano-playing songwriter who composes, plays, and sings a song called "Lisa." Bagdasarian's dialogue is not clearly heard, and he appears only in long shots, but he is the only other person seen during Hitchcock's notorious cameo appearance. He also had bit parts in The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Viva Zapata! (1952), Destination Gobi (1953), Stalag 17 (1953), Alaska Seas (1954), The Proud and Profane (1956), Three Violent People (1956), Hot Blood (1956), The Deep Six (1957), and The Devil's Hairpin (1957).
He also provided the voice for the David Seville character in the Chipmunks' 1961 animated television series The Alvin Show.
Bagdasarian died of a heart attack at the age of 52. He was subsequently cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles, California. His son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., continued to release Chipmunks recordings and took over as the voice for the Chipmunk characters in subsequent iterations of the cartoon.
The Witch Doctor
David Seville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
And then the witch doctor he told me what to do
He said that
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me true
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me nice
And then the witch doctor he game me this advice
He said that
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
You've been keeping love from me just like you were a miser
And I'll admit I wasn't very smart
So I went out and found myself a guy that's so much wiser
And he taught me the way to win your heart
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to do
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to you
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
You've been keeping love from me just like you were a miser
And I'll admit I wasn't very smart
So I went out and found myself a guy that's so much wiser
And he taught me the way to win your heart
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to say
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to do
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to you
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang.
Come on, oo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
David Seville's song "Witchdoctor" is a playful tune that tells a story of seeking out the advice of a witch doctor when trying to win the heart of a lover. The lyrics describe the singer telling the witch doctor that he is in love with someone who doesn't love him back. The witch doctor then provides the solution, which involves saying the words "Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang." The singer repeats this phrase multiple times throughout the song as he tries to convince his love interest to be with him.
The lyrics also mention the singer finding another person who was wiser and able to teach him how to win his love interest's heart. The witch doctor serves as an intermediary in this process, providing advice and guidance. Ultimately, the singer is successful in convincing his love interest to be with him, thanks to the witch doctor's help.
Line by Line Meaning
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
I confessed love to someone who has the power to help me
And then the witch doctor he told me what to do
The witch doctor gave me advice to pursue this love interest
He said that Ooo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
The witch doctor used a mysterious chant to solve my love problems
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me true
I expressed doubt about the love interest's feelings toward me
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me nice
I complained that my love interest was not treating me well
And then the witch doctor he gave me this advice
The witch doctor offered me more advice to win over my love interest
You've been keeping love from me just like you were a miser
My love interest has been stingy with their affection towards me
And I'll admit I wasn't very smart
I acknowledge that my actions towards my love interest were not the best approach initially
So I went out and found myself a guy that's so much wiser
I sought help from someone who was more experienced with winning over love interests
And he taught me the way to win your heart
This wise person taught me the best approach to win over my love interest
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to say
The helpful mentor taught me the specific words to say to win over my love interest
My friend the witch doctor he taught me what to do
This friend gave me specific steps to follow in order to successfully win over my love interest
I know that you'll be mine when I say this to you
I am confident that my love interest will reciprocate my feelings when I follow the advice given to me
Come on, oo eee ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang
Encouragement to use the mysterious chant learned from the witch doctor for success
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROSS BAGDASARIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind