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 ↴
Never treat me like a lover should.
And I know in the end
You're gonna leave me, my friend.
But I go on, oh, when you kiss me.
And I go on 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 take my mind up and away.
But I find love is blind,
One kiss and I change my mind.
Yes, I go wild, when you kiss me.
And I go wild, oh, when you hug me.
Because I love you so, I try
But if you ever go I'd die.
But I'm so wild, wild about you baby
Yay, yay, yay
Oh, I'm oh, you drive me crazy
Can't think of anything, I'm a wild
The lyrics in Dee Dee Sharp's song "Wild!" describe a woman who is hopelessly in love with a man who treats her poorly. She acknowledges that he is not good to her and doesn't treat her the way a lover should. She knows that eventually he will leave her, but she can't help how she feels when he kisses and hugs her. She knows that she should play it smart and leave him, but she is wild about him and can't help but love him.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby you're no good.
You don't treat me the way a significant other should.
Never treat me like a lover should.
You don't treat me the way a significant other should.
And I know in the end
You're gonna leave me, my friend.
I understand that you will eventually abandon me.
But I go on, oh, when you kiss me.
Despite being aware of the situation, I continue to enjoy your physical affection.
And I go on when you hug me.
Despite being aware of the situation, I continue to enjoy your physical affection.
You're gonna break my heart, I know
And if I played it smart I'd go.
I understand that you will hurt me, and it would be wise for me to leave.
But I'm so wild, wild about you baby.
Despite the negative aspects, I am uncontrollably infatuated with you.
Baby, baby every day
I take my mind up and away.
I try to distract myself from the situation every day.
But I find love is blind,
One kiss and I change my mind.
Despite my efforts, my love for you clouds my judgment and I waver on leaving.
Yes, I go wild, when you kiss me.
I am overcome with passion when you show me physical affection.
And I go wild, oh, when you hug me.
I am overcome with passion when you show me physical affection.
Because I love you so, I try
But if you ever go I'd die.
My love for you keeps me trying to make things work, but the thought of you leaving devastates me.
But I'm so wild, wild about you baby
Despite the negative aspects, I am uncontrollably infatuated with you.
Yay, yay, yay
An excited exclamation.
Oh, I'm oh, you drive me crazy
You make me lose control of my emotions.
Can't think of anything, I'm a wild
I am so caught up in my emotions for you that I cannot focus on anything else.
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.