In 1962 she began a string of successful Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hits: "Slow Twistin'" (with Chubby Checker) (#3), "Mashed Potato Time" (#2), "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" (#9), "Ride" (#5) and "Do the Bird" (#10). Both "Mashed Potato Time" and "Ride" each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs. "Do the Bird" provided her only entry in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at #46 in April 1963. In 1967, she married record producer Kenny Gamble and has since recorded under the name Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble.
She had a brief career resurgence during the disco era and hit the charts again with her version of 10 CC's "I'm Not In Love." She also joined Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The O'Jays and Archie Bell) as a member of the Philadelphia International All Stars, who had a minor hit with "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto." During this time she was married to Philadelphia International co-founder Kenny Gamble, and was known professionally as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. The couple later divorced.
In 1981 she spent four weeks at number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Breaking and Entering" / "Easy Money," from her album Dee Dee.
More recent appearances included a performance at Pontins in the UK for the Northern Soul Show, and at the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival. In May 2009, she appeared in Belgium at the Salle De L'Hotel de Ville.
Sharp and her husband Bill Witherspoon have been residents of Medford, New Jersey.
WILD
Dee Dee Sharp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never treat me like a lover should.
And I know in the end
You're gonna leave me, my friend.
But I go wiiiild when you kiss me.
And I go wiiiild when you hug me.
You're gonna break my heart, I know
And if I played it smart I'd go.
Baby, baby every day
I make my mind up that I'll run away.
But I find love is blind,
One kiss and I change my mind.
Yes, I go wiiiild, when you kiss me.
And I go wiiiild, when you hug me.
Because I love you so, I cry
But if you ever go I'd die.
Cause I'm so wiiiild, wild about you baby
You're gonna break my heart I know
And if I played it smart I'd go.
But I'm so wiiiild, wild about you baby.
Yay, yay, yay.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
Oh, you drive me crazy.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
Can't think of anything.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
The song "Wild" by Dee Dee Sharp is an emotional ballad telling the story of a woman who is deeply in love with a man who does not treat her the way she deserves. The chorus repeats the phrase "I go wild when you kiss me," emphasizing the passionate attraction she feels towards this man, despite knowing that he will inevitably break her heart. The verses speak to the internal struggle the woman faces, as she recognizes the toxicity of their relationship and knows that she should leave, but cannot resist the thrill of being with him.
The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is both vulnerable and strong, wrestling with her own heart as she tries to navigate a difficult relationship. Her willingness to stay with someone who does not treat her well is a common theme in love songs, but the way she describes her own wildness and the unpredictability of her emotions adds a unique twist to the story.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby you're no good.
You're not a good partner to me.
You never treat me like a lover should.
You don't treat me the way someone in love should.
And I know in the end
You're gonna leave me, my friend.
I'm aware that eventually, you'll leave me.
But I go wiiiild when you kiss me.
However, I can't resist the rush of emotions that come with your kiss.
And I go wiiiild when you hug me.
The same is true when you hug me.
You're gonna break my heart, I know
I'm preparing for the inevitable heartache you'll cause.
And if I played it smart I'd go.
If I were wise, I'd leave you now.
But I'm so wiiiild, wild about you baby.
Unfortunately, I'm crazy about you and unable to let go.
Baby, baby every day
I make my mind up that I'll run away.
Every day, I decide to leave you and never look back.
But I find love is blind,
One kiss and I change my mind.
However, my feelings for you are too strong, and I change my mind with a single kiss.
Because I love you so, I cry
But if you ever go I'd die.
My love for you is so intense that losing you would feel like the end of me.
Yay, yay, yay.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
I'm thrilled to be with you, even if it's not necessarily good for me.
Oh, you drive me crazy.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
You make me feel insane with desire, yet I can't get enough.
Can't think of anything.
I'm wiiiild, wild about you baby.
I'm completely lost in my emotions for you.
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.