The band was formed in 1962 by lead singer/organist Larry Tamblyn and guitarist Tony Valentino. The Standells' first hit single was Dirty Water, which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966.
Other hits included Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Why Pick On Me, Riot On Sunset Strip (about the 1966 riots resulting from police attacks on hippies), and Try It.
Singer/drummer Dick Dodd, founding drummer of The Bel Airs, who joined the group in 1964 and sang the lead on "Dirty Water", was a former Mouseketeer, and singer/keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, who sang the lead on many of the other Standells songs, is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, star of Joan of Arcadia. Dodd replaced original drummer Gary Leeds, who went on to fame as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. In 1967 John Fleckenstein (formerly of the group Love), joined the Standells. The group appeared in several low budget films of the 1960s, including "Get Yourself a College Girl" and cult classic "Riot on Sunset Strip", in which they performed the movie's title song. Lowell George, who would go on to play with Little Feat, briefly played guitar in the Standells prior to their breakup in 1969.
The Standells also made an appearance on the 1964-1966 television sitcom The Munsters in the episode "Far Out Munster". The band was an integral part of the show, and performed the songs "Come On and Ringo" and The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Furthermore, the group appeared on the television 1964-1965 sitcom The Bing Crosby Show, in the episode "Bugged by the Love Bugs", portraying the fictional rock group of the same name. They performed the songs "Someday You'll Cry" and "Come Here".
Despite the lyrics of "Dirty Water", which states, "Boston, you're my home." The Standells are not from Massachusetts. However, in 2007 the Massachusetts General Court officially decreed "Dirty Water" to be the "Official Victory Song of the Boston Red Sox" . Since 2004, the Standells have attended most every World Series at Fenway Park, including the final winning game in 2013. "Dirty Water" was written by their producer Ed Cobb. It is played after every home victory by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
Dodd and Valentino left the Standells in 2009. Dick Dodd passed away in 2013.
The Standells still are actively performing today, and have been receiving 'rave reviews' from music critics. They recently headlined in 2013 at the Adams Ave. St. Fair, San Diego, CA, and the Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans, Lousiana. Original Members Larry Tamblyn and John Fleck are still in the group, along with co-lead singer Mark Adrian and drummer Greg Burnham. The group has recently released a new album Bump on GRA Records. They been booked on an extensive East Coast tour from April - May, 2014. Learn more about the Standells by visiting http://www.standells-official.com and http://www.facebook.com/Standells
Lil
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's that I see walkin' in these woods?
Why, it's Little Red Riding Hood.
Hey there Little Red Riding Hood,
You sure are looking good.
You're everything a big bad wolf could want.
Listen to me.
I don't think little big girls should
Go walking in these spooky old woods alone.
Owoo!
What big eyes you have,
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.
So just to see that you don't get chased
I think I ought to walk with you for a ways.
What full lips you have.
They're sure to lure someone bad.
So until you get to grandma's place
I think you ought to walk with me and be safe.
I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on
Until I'm sure that you've been shown
That I can be trusted walking with you alone.
Owoo!
Little Red Riding Hood
I'd like to hold you if I could
But you might think I'm a big bad wolf so I won't.
Owoo!
What a big heart I have-the better to love you with.
Little Red Riding Hood
Even bad wolves can be good.
I'll try to be satisfied just to walk close by your side.
Maybe you'll see things my way before we get to grandma's place.
Little Red Riding Hood
You sure are looking good
You're everything that a big bad wolf could want.
Owoo! I mean baa! Baa?
The above lyrics of The Standells’ song “Lil' Red Riding Hood” are about a conversation between Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf that meets her in the woods. The Big Bad Wolf starts by remarking on how good Little Red Riding Hood looks, but then warns her about the danger of walking alone in the woods. He compliments her big eyes and lips but adds that they will attract wild predators, so he offers to walk with her until she reaches her grandmother's house safely. The wolf tries to gain Little Red Riding Hood's trust by assuring her that he is not a threat but a good and caring wolf. The song ends with the wolf expressing his desire to be with Little Red - but he is afraid she will think he is still the Big Bad Wolf.
The lyrics of “Lil' Red Riding Hood” are metaphorical and can be interpreted as a warning about the dangerous ways of seduction. The big bad wolf represents temptation, and Little Red Riding Hood represents innocence. The wolf is trying to lead Little Red astray by taking advantage of her naivety and beauty. The song can also be seen as a nod to the classic fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, however, the wolf is not portrayed as a bloodthirsty villain but instead as a suave, cunning, and manipulative figure.
Line by Line Meaning
Owoo!
The singer is making a wolf sound.
Who's that I see walkin' in these woods?
The singer is asking who is walking in the woods.
Why, it's Little Red Riding Hood.
The singer sees that it's Little Red Riding Hood.
Hey there Little Red Riding Hood, You sure are looking good.
The singer is complimenting Little Red Riding Hood.
You're everything a big bad wolf could want.
The singer is saying that Little Red Riding Hood is very attractive to a big bad wolf.
Listen to me.
The singer is asking Little Red Riding Hood to listen to him.
Little Red Riding Hood, I don't think little big girls should Go walking in these spooky old woods alone.
The singer is warning Little Red Riding Hood that she should not walk alone in the spooky woods.
Owoo!
The singer makes wolf sounds again.
What big eyes you have, The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad.
The singer is admiring Little Red Riding Hood's big eyes.
So just to see that you don't get chased I think I ought to walk with you for a ways.
The singer is offering to walk with Little Red Riding Hood to make sure she doesn't get chased by a wolf.
What full lips you have. They're sure to lure someone bad. So until you get to grandma's place I think you ought to walk with me and be safe.
The singer is admiring Little Red Riding Hood's lips, but is also offering to walk with her to keep her safe until she gets to her grandmother's house.
I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on Until I'm sure that you've been shown That I can be trusted walking with you alone.
The singer is saying that he will keep his sheep suit on until he has proven to Little Red Riding Hood that she can trust him to walk with her alone.
Owoo!
The singer makes wolf sounds again.
Little Red Riding Hood, I'd like to hold you if I could But you might think I'm a big bad wolf so I won't.
The singer is saying that he would like to hold Little Red Riding Hood, but he doesn't want her to think that he is a big bad wolf.
Owoo!
The singer makes wolf sounds again.
What a big heart I have-the better to love you with.
The singer is saying he has a big heart to love Little Red Riding Hood with.
Little Red Riding Hood, even bad wolves can be good. I'll try to be satisfied just to walk close by your side. Maybe you'll see things my way before we get to grandma's place.
The singer is trying to convince Little Red Riding Hood that even bad wolves can be good, and he wants to walk close to her. He hopes that she will agree with him before they get to her grandmother's house.
Little Red Riding Hood, You sure are looking good. You're everything that a big bad wolf could want.
The singer is complimenting Little Red Riding Hood again.
Owoo! I mean baa! Baa?
The singer first makes wolf sounds again, then makes sheep sounds in reference to his sheep suit.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: RONALD BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
daisy rabbit
⚡️❤️⚡️
Nick Thomas
At 1:07 he says "I ought to walk with me to be safe." Sloppy!
daisy rabbit
2:26
he messes up here too. he accidentally howls instead of saying baaa