Wanderin' Kind
The Turtles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am the wanderin' kind
Never know where I'll be bound
I am the wanderin' kind
Always travelin' around

My feet start hurting
If I just sit in one place
'Cause sitting's a disgrace
And stand in such a way
So I move along with this
'Cause I'm tired of all the faces that I've seen

I've got to move to greener lands
Where I can breathe the air
So I can settle there
Till the wind weeps through my hair
The whispering mister orders trying to catch me

I am the wanderin' kind
Never know where I'll be bound




I am the wanderin' kind
Always travelin' around

Overall Meaning

The Turtles' song Wanderin' Kind depicts the life of a true wanderer who never stays in one place and always wants to move around. The singer proclaims himself as the "wanderin' kind" and says that he doesn't know where he'll be bound to next. He suggests that sitting in one place is a disgrace and that he always needs to keep moving. The first two stanzas of the song show the true essence of a wanderer's state of mind, where they constantly crave new experiences and want to explore new places.


In the next stanza, the singer explains the motivations behind his wanderlust. He says that he needs to move to greener lands where he can breathe fresh air and settle there until the wind rustles through his hair. It shows that for a wanderer, the journey is just as important as the destination. Furthermore, the lyrics hint at a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with the current place, suggesting that the singer is in search of a sense of belonging and purpose.


The last stanza of the song shows that the wanderlust can be both liberating and unnerving. The singer implies that he is being chased by the "whispering mister orders," maybe referring to the societal expectations and pressures that often hold people down. However, despite the challenges and uncertainty that accompany a nomadic lifestyle, the singer continues to embrace the wanderer life and affirms that he will always be the wanderin' kind.


Line by Line Meaning

I am the wanderin' kind
I am someone who constantly travels and doesn't stay in one place for too long


Never know where I'll be bound
I don't have a set destination or plan for where I'm going next


Always travelin' around
I am constantly on the move and never in one place for too long


My feet start hurting
Sitting still for too long makes my feet ache and is uncomfortable


If I just sit in one place
Staying in the same place for too long is boring to me


'Cause sitting's a disgrace
I find it embarrassing to be still for too long and not exploring my surroundings


And stand in such a way
I prefer to be on my feet and moving around


So I move along with this
I continue to travel and explore new places


'Cause I'm tired of all the faces that I've seen
I am bored of the same people and places and want to see new things


I've got to move to greener lands
I need to find new and exciting places to explore


Where I can breathe the air
I want to go somewhere with fresh air and new experiences


So I can settle there
Once I find a new place to explore, I will stay there for a while


Till the wind weeps through my hair
I want to stay in a place long enough to experience it fully and feel like I am part of it


The whispering mister orders trying to catch me
There may be societal norms and expectations telling me to stay in one place, but I don't want to be held down




Contributed by Callie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

John LaStrada

This is a song that could've been covered by anyone in that era and they would have had a hit with it. I could even hear Elvis Presley sing this. It's brilliant just the way the Turtles did it originally and I am surprised this was never played on radio. It's the kind of song that was on the flip-side of a 45 but if accidentally played could've become the focus of attention. The Turtles always had great flip-sides. I believe this is how Frank Zappa noticed them (members became part of The Mothers later in their careers). The Turtles had two crazy-Zappa type songs on flip-sides: "Chicken Little Was Right," and "Rugs of Woods and Flowers," which were both brilliant but far and away from their melodic singles output.

John LaStrada

By the way, Robert Plant covered one of The Turtles flip-sides: "Your Maw Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night." That says something for who was listening to this band.

Mike Pitts

The handful of originals written by the singer Howard Kaylan are so strong on this album.

PopShoppekid

Brilliant song, and amazingly I just discovered today in mid 2022.

Robert Pincus

The guitar sound alone is worth the record!

fntime

It Ain't Me Babe, 1965 album was very good!

Corey Light

So many solid Turtles cuts!!!

Joan Jordan

I love this song,i was 13

richard rich

Brilliant! Can I request 'Last laugh' from this album. I'd love to her it.  Thanks!

kinkybeatle

So great...........

More Comments

More Versions