The Wanderer
Leif Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who will never settle down
Where pretty girls are
Well, you know that I'm around
I kiss em and I love em
Cause to me they're all the same
I hug em and I squeeze em
They call me the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam, around, around
Around, around
Oh well, there's Flo on my left
And there's Mary on my right
And Janie is the girl
Well, that I'll be with tonight
And when she asks me
Which one I love the best
I tear open my shirt
I got Rosie on my chest
Cause I'm the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam, around, around
Around, around
Oh well, I roam from town to town
I go through life without a care
And I'm happy as a clown
With my two fists of iron
But I'm going nowhere
Oh yeah, I'm the type of guy
That likes to roam around
I'm never in one place
I roam from town to town
And when I find myself
A-falling for some girl, yeah
I hop right into that car of mine
I drive around the world
Yeah, I'm the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam, around, around
Around, around
Oh yeah, I'm the type of guy
That likes to roam around
I'm never in one place
I roam from town to town
And when I find myself
A-falling for some girl
I hop right into that car of mine
Drive around the world
Cause I'm a wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around
Around, around, around
Cause I'm a wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around
Around, around, around
"The Wanderer" by Leif Garrett is a song about a man who can never settle down. The singer tells us that he is a wanderer, someone who travels from one town to the next, going through life without a care. He likes pretty girls, and he kisses and loves them because he sees them all the same. He tells us that he hugs and squeezes them, but they don't even know his name. He is a nomad, roaming around and enjoying life, happy as a clown, but he's going nowhere.
The singer goes on to describe his encounters with different girls. There's Flo on his left, Mary on his right, and Janie, who he'll be with tonight. He says that when she asks him which one he loves the best, he tears open his shirt to show that he's got Rosie on his chest. He likes to be with different girls, but he's not emotionally involved with any of them. He tells us that he drives around the world when he falls for a girl, but he is never in one place for too long.
The song is primarily about the thrill of the open road and the freedom to do as one pleases. The wanderer is a character who enjoys adventure and has no desire to settle down. He is happy to be on the move and experience different things, and he doesn't want to be tied down to any one place or person.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh well, I'm the type of guy
I'm the sort of person who
Who will never settle down
never stays in one place for long
Where pretty girls are
When attractive women are present
Well, you know that I'm around
You can bet that I'm nearby
I kiss em and I love em
I show affection to and care about them
Cause to me they're all the same
Because I don't really differentiate between them
I hug em and I squeeze em
I give them physical affection
They don't even know my name
But my name is not important to them
They call me the wanderer
I am known as the wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
Indeed, that's me
I roam, around, around
Traveling from place to place
Oh well, there's Flo on my left
On my left, there's Flo
And there's Mary on my right
And on my right, there's Mary
And Janie is the girl
And Janie is the one
Well, that I'll be with tonight
That I will spend time with tonight
And when she asks me
And if she asks me
Which one I love the best
Which girl is my favorite
I tear open my shirt
I reveal the image on my chest
I got Rosie on my chest
There is a tattoo of Rosie on my chest
Cause I'm the wanderer
I am the wanderer
Oh well, I roam from town to town
Traveling from one city to another
I go through life without a care
Living my life without any worries
And I'm happy as a clown
Feeling content and joyful
With my two fists of iron
With my strong, powerful hands
But I'm going nowhere
But I am not really achieving anything
Oh yeah, I'm the type of guy
So, I am the sort of person who
That likes to roam around
Enjoys traveling and wandering
And when I find myself
And in case I find myself
A-falling for some girl, yeah
Getting romantic feelings for someone
I hop right into that car of mine
I immediately get into my car
I drive around the world
And travel all around the world
Cause I'm a wanderer
Because I am a wanderer
I roam around, around, around
Moving from place to place, all over the place
Cause I'm a wanderer
Because I am a wanderer
I roam around, around, around
Moving from place to place, all over the place
Contributed by Dominic O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Josie Springfield
I love this song I used to have a cassette tape with this song on it. AWESOME
Sharon Collie Northern
This album is what introduced me to this song as well as the work of The Beach Boys. Ol Leif was a Gateway for me!
Jaynette Raber
I still have this album. Don’t judge! 💜😁
ShadowsGathered
No judgement here. I still have the Donny Osmond album my sisters gave me when I was 15, AND I still listen to it (I'll be 65 in July!).
Jaynette Raber
Heather Foxworth I have pictures of my wall. Covered! And pics of a concert he did at Six Flags over Texas. He wore blue and black spandex. Good memory! Lol!
Heather Foxworth
Jaynette Raber I wish I did! I had posters of him all over my room lol
Nello Lolli
Bellissima COVER !!!
Colin Sanders
entered Billboard April 22, 1978. .reached #49 (originally a hit for Dion in Sept, 1961)
Diana Peterson
Great song. Love Leif.Need to see the Medicine Hat Stallion. I have not seen that movie yet.