The Dave Clark Five (DC5) was an English rock and roll group of the 60s, kn… Read Full Bio ↴The Dave Clark Five (DC5) was an English rock and roll group of the 60s, known as one of the few that were able to present something of a commercial threat to The Beatles, the dominant group of the period, during the beat music craze. They were, in fact, the second group of the 'British Invasion' after the Beatles to have a chart hit in America with "Glad All Over", a sort of 'signature song' of the band that continues to receive airplay. DC5 sold over 100 million records, appeared the most of any group on the Ed Sullivan Show, and were the pioneers in introducing the concept of music videos, a la MTV, decades before it went into fashion. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 in a ceremony officiated by fan Tom Hanks.

The band, from London, UK, started out as The Dave Clark Quintet in 1957, with Dave Clark on drums, Dave Sanford on lead guitar, Chris Walls on bass, Don Vale on piano (and arranger) and a saxophone player. By 1962, the band had changed its name to The Dave Clark Five and settled on the line-up that continued until the band called it a day in 1970: Dave Clark (drums, vocals; born December 15, 1939), Lenny Davidson (guitar; born May 30, 1944), Rick Huxley (bass; born August 5, 1942; died February 11, 2013), Denis Payton (saxes, harmonica, vocals; born August 11, 1943, died December 17, 2006), Mike Smith (keyboards, vocals; born December 6, 1943, died February 28, 2008).

Between 1964 and 1967, the band had 17 records in the US Billboard Top 40, with 12 Top 40 United Kingdom hits.

The DC5 disbanded in 1970, having placed three singles on the UK chart that year, two of which reached the Top Ten. That same year, Davidson, Huxley and Payton left and Alan Parker and Eric Ford joined on lead guitar and bass; this line-up, renamed "Dave Clark & Friends", lasted until 1973.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
The Dave Clark Five Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine, heading my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Zip-a-dee-ay
Zip-a-dee-ay
Zip-a-dee-ay.

Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Everything is satisfactual.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
Wonderful day
Wonderful day
Wonderful day.

Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Everything is satisfactual.

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
Wonderful day
Wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-ay.

Wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-ay

Wonderful day
Zip-a-dee-ay.

Overall Meaning

The Dave Clark Five's "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" is a joyful and uplifting song that celebrates the simple pleasures in life. The song's opening lines set the tone for an optimistic and carefree attitude. The lyrics speak of a beautiful day, filled with sunshine and the promise of happiness. The repetition of "zip-a-dee-doo-dah" and "zip-a-dee-ay" adds to the lightheartedness of the song and reinforces the idea of living in the moment and enjoying life.

The song's reference to "Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder" is a metaphor for a feeling of contentment and good luck. The lyrics suggest that everything is going right for the singer and that he is in a state of perfect harmony with the world around him. The catchy melody and upbeat tempo of the song make it a timeless classic that is sure to put a smile on anyone's face.

Line by Line Meaning

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Expressing excitement for the day to come

My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Feeling grateful for the good day ahead

Plenty of sunshine, heading my way
Looking forward to a sunny and bright day

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
Repeating the excitement for the day

Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder
Feeling joy and contentment with the presence of a little bird

It's the truth, it's actual
Assuring that everything is real and good

Everything is satisfactual.
Being completely content and satisfied with everything around oneself

Wonderful feeling, wonderful day
Expressing how positive and content the day feels

Wonderful day
Repeating the feeling of the day being wonderful

Zip-a-dee-ay.
A joyful expression to emphasize the wonderful nature of the day

Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.