He was performing under the name Reg Patterson at London's Condor Club in 1957 when he was spotted by impresario Larry Parnes. Parnes gave his protégées surnames like Fury, Power, Gentle and Pride etc, hence the change to Wilde. The 'Marty' came from the commended 1955 film Marty. Wilde was signed to the British recording arm of Philips, with US releases appearing on the Epic label via Philips' reciprocal licensing agreement with Columbia Records Stateside. (Philips had yet to acquire the Mercury group as its US division).
From mid 1958 to the end of 1959, Wilde was one of the leading British rock singers, along with Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard. Wilde's backing group were called the Wildcats who featured Big Jim Sullivan on lead guitar, and Brian Locking and Brian Bennett (drums) who later joined The Shadows.
He appeared regularly on the BBC Television show 6.5 Special and was the main regular artiste on the Saturday ITV popular music shows Oh, Boy! and Boy Meets Girls. There he met and married Joyce, one of The Vernons Girls who were also show regulars. The courtship was highly public but, after the marriage, Wilde's popularity as a teen idol declined.
He moved partly into all-round entertainment, appearing in musicals such as the West End production of Bye Bye Birdie and films.
He enjoyed success as a songwriter in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He penned the virtual one-hit wonder's The Casuals' "Jesamine", plus Lulu's "I'm A Tiger", and the early Status Quo's "Ice In The Sun".
In the early 1970s, Wilde changed his music style to Glam Rock and became 'Zappo'. He released only a few singles which never charted and reverted back to Marty Wilde shortly after.
Later on, as songwriter and/or record producer, he masterminded a string of 1980s hits for his daughter Kim Wilde. His son, Ricki Wilde also gained some notice in the music industry, working mainly in promotion and A&R.
Like many of his contemporaries, Wilde continues to perform in nostalgia tours in the UK and beyond.
Donna
Marty Wilde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, Donna, Oh, Donna
I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she's been gone
I've never been the same
'cause I love my girl
Now that you're gone
I'm left all alone
All by myself
To wander and roam
'cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be? Where can you be?
Well, darlin', now that you're gone
I don't know what I´ll do
All the time and all my love for you
I had a girl
Donna was her name
Since she left me
I've never been the same
'cause I love my girl
Donna, where can you be? Where can you be?
Oh, Donna, Oh, Donna
Oh, Donna, Oh, Donna
The lyrics to Marty Wilde's song "Donna" express the singer's deep longing for a girl named Donna who has left him. The repetition of her name in the chorus emphasizes the intensity of his emotions and his desire for her to return. The first stanza sets the scene by introducing Donna as the girl who has captured the singer's heart. He then laments the fact that he has not been the same since she left.
The second stanza emphasizes the singer's loneliness and isolation in the wake of Donna's departure. He is left to wander and roam, likely searching for her or hoping for her return. The repetition of the phrase "where can you be?" in each chorus reinforces the singer's sense of loss and his longing to be reunited with Donna.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the pain of lost love and the intense emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Donna, Oh, Donna
Repeating Donna's name in a hopeful tone, showing his love for her.
I had a girl
He had a special girl in his life.
Donna was her name
Her name was Donna, emphasizing her importance.
Since she's been gone
He's experiencing life without her.
I've never been the same
He's still affected by her absence and life has changed.
'cause I love my girl
He loves Donna deeply.
Donna, where can you be? Where can you be?
He misses Donna and is searching for her.
Now that you're gone
She's not with him anymore.
I'm left all alone
He feels lonely without her.
All by myself
He's on his own now.
To wander and roam
He feels lost and aimless.
Well, darlin', now that you're gone
He addresses Donna lovingly and is still processing her absence.
I don't know what I´ll do
He's unsure how to move forward without her.
All the time and all my love for you
He invested significant time and love in their relationship.
Since she left me
She initiated the end of their relationship.
Oh, Donna, Oh, Donna
Repeating Donna's name in a hopeful tone, showing his love for her.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ritchie Valens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Károlyné Szépvölgyi
Nagyon tetszett ez a dal, köszönettel Klára.
Alan Fox
My baby sister name was donna now my mum who died in January is now up in heaven in peace.
anthony belcher
Awesome
mark disley
To my sis, love her unconditionally.xx
Michael Sandford
Very good track, but I must end with my brand of comedy, just imagine singing the word teapot instead of Donna, funny, just imagine, teapot, teapot teapot, I had a girl, teapot was her name etc
Michael Sandford
nice tract
Alf Dari
I like the girls songs but thé father s voice is very intéressting
Wesley Cook
Donna and Sea Of Love was covered by Marty Wilde.... poorly. Ritchie Valens' Donna and Phillips' Sea Of Love were sung by the songwriters. Certain emphasis was put on words, verses and the chorus..The songs were unique to the songwriters..They both hit Number 1..Marty Wilde sings the lyrics too syrupy and the chorus is sang in a wailing out of place on his version. His records were never played in the US but I found Donna by him in a record catalog. A friend of mine put it on a CD he was making for me..I listened to it once. Sea Of Love has been covered by some American singers but didn't do well..I heard that London Records released Donna by Ritchie in the UK but of course it didn't do well. Marty was never played over here. If it had been it would have been panned since Ritchie's version is the ultimate.. I heard London Records released Donna by Ritchie Valens in England but it didn't do well. The Brits probably thought Ritchie was covering Wilde. Tommy Steele covered Come On Let's Go but it didn't make it to the USA.
stanley tomlinson
hiya jim the dvds we spoke about i will talk to you again after your time off im a bit occupied with the uk air-shows at the moment if you see this please send me your
e-mail address it will give me time to sort some lists out.....uk
jim rackitts
My Email is: colnj1967@gmail.comThanks be in touch end of July