In 1956 Tony formed his first band. In 1958, at 18, he began appearing on the BBC's Oh Boy, playing electric guitar. He was eventually offered a contract to perform at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, Germany.
While performing in Hamburg between 1960 and 1963, Sheridan employed various backup bands. In 1961, one such band, who had met Sheridan during their first visit to Hamburg in 1960, and who worked with him on their second, was The Beatles (with their line-up at the time as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best). When German Polydor agent Bert Kaempfert saw the pairing on stage, he suggested that they make some recordings together. In 1962, after a series of singles (the first of which, "My Bonnie"/"The Saints" made it to #5 in the Hit Parade), Polydor released the album My Bonnie across Germany. The word Beatles was judged to sound too similar to the German Pidels (pronounced peedles), the plural of a slang term for penis, hence the album was credited to Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers. After The Beatles had gained fame, the album was re-released in Britain, with the credit altered to Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.
By 1967, Sheridan had become disillusioned with his Beatle-brought fame. As he was more concerned by the Vietnam War, Sheridan agreed to perform for the Allied troops. While in Vietnam however, the band that he had assembled was fired upon and one of the members was killed. Reuters reported that Sheridan himself had died. For his work entertaining the Allies, Sheridan was made an honorary Captain of the United States army.
In the early 1970s, Sheridan managed a West German radio programme of blues music, which was well-received. In 1978, the Star Club was reopened, and Sheridan performed there along with Elvis Presley's TCB Band.
On August 13, 2002, Sheridan released Vagabond, a collection largely of his own material, but also including a new cover version of "Skinny Minnie", a song he had years earlier recorded for his first album.
Ya Ya
Tony Sheridan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh, uh huh
Ye, baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh
You know that I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh, uh huh
Ye, baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh
You know how I love you
Oh, how I love you
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
I'm sittin' here, la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
It may sound funny
But I don't believe she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh
Ye, baby, honey, don't leave me worried
Uh huh, uh huh
Tony Sheridan's song "Ya Ya" is a tribute to the enduring emotion of anticipation. The upbeat rhythm, repeating verses, and harmonious melody have made this song a popular hit throughout the years. At its core, "Ya Ya" is a song about waiting for a loved one to arrive. The lyrics express the singer's love for his partner, whom he passionately refers to as "baby honey." He anxiously awaits his lover's arrival, singing about how he is sitting around waiting for her to arrive, even though he doesn't believe she's coming. Despite his doubts, he continues to wait, hoping that his lover won't leave him worried.
The song's delightful beat, infectious rhythm, and catchy chorus make it a song that is easy to dance and sing along to. However, its meaning transcends its fun and carefree sound. Listening to "Ya Ya" can evoke memories of the excitement, joy, and butterflies associated with eagerly anticipating the arrival of a loved one. The empassioned lyrics and melody still holds a relevant message today about enduring the long wait for something we so badly want.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, well, I'm sittin' here, la, la
The singer is currently sitting idly and doing nothing as he waits for his lover named Ya Ya.
Waiting for my ya ya
He is patiently anticipating the arrival of Ya Ya.
Uh huh, uh huh
He is expressing agreement with what is being said.
It may sound funny
The situation might be perceived as amusing or peculiar.
But I don't believe she's comin'
Despite waiting for a long time, the singer doubts that Ya Ya will come.
Baby, honey, don't leave me worried
The singer is pleading with Ya Ya not to make him anxious or uneasy about their relationship.
You know that I love you
The singer is reassuring Ya Ya of his strong feelings for her.
Oh, how I love you
He emphasizes the depth of his love for Ya Ya.
Ye, baby, honey, don't leave me worried
The singer is once again asking Ya Ya not to cause him stress or anxiety.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE L LEWIS, LEE DORSEY, MORRIS LEVY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gunaseeilan7979
Sittin' in my la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
Sittin' in my la, la
Waiting for my la la
Uh huh, uh huh
It seem mighty funny
But I don't think she's comin'
Uh huh, uh huh
Hey baby hurry, now don't you make me worried
Uh huh, uh huh
I said hey baby hurry, don't make me worried
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh you know I love you
Yes I really love you
Uh huh, uh huh
Hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh you know I love you
Yes I really love you
Uh huh, uh huh
Little bit of more young now
Sittin' in my la, la
Waiting for my ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
Sittin' in my la, la
Waiting for my little ya ya
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh I really love you
You know I really love you
Uh huh, uh huh
Now hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh you know I love you
Yes I really love you
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Hey hey baby hurry, don't make me worry
Uh huh, uh huh
Oh you know I love you
You know I really love you
Uh huh, uh huh
Uh huh, huh huh huh
Uh huh, huh huh huh, yeah
Uh huh, huh huh huh
@donaldrocks101103
Great song!
I'm gotta comment again, I comment here months ago but I don't see the title changed!
Please Just name the title Tony Sheridan because none of The Beatles are playing here! This recording Is from Jan. 63!
Let's Dance
What'd I Say
Ruby Baby
Ya Ya
Are not The Beatles but The Beatles are In others tracks! Believe me, I wish The Beatles were In here because these are some killers tunes, I wouldn't still be listening to them If I didn't like them!
@topsyturvy1873
Tony Sheridan was a magician onstage. Legendary!
@1510Ronald
really - and without Tony Sheridan the Beatles don't exist
@narayansivananda7089
I wish, I had been an adult when this type of music AND the Beatles were in their heyday. This rocks, wow I could only imagine what it would be like in a place like the Cavern or a small stage pub hearing something with this much energy. NO autotune, NO crappy singing croaking like frogs or worse, but all fun. You can hear the fun they are having performing. I know you can find this music in some venues here and there but its work to find it. So wish I had been alive and an adult then, Music on the radio today is so lifeless and over perfected to me. Maybe it's just me. I wish they would play this on our indie stations where I live at least. Well I have youtube to get to hear it I an thankful for that!
@papercup2517
it's not just you! I know exactly what you mean. :-)
@davidgibbes5530
@PaperCup me too
@carloss3534
You're not the only one thinking this way. I am 63 and had the fortune of growing with the best of this kind of music. Lucky me!
@1510Ronald
this time was exactly in Hamburg on the Reeperbahn - without Tony Sheridan the Beatles where not be
@pauljarzemsky3256
I own the CD of this recording. The liner notes that came with it state that the band backing Tony Sheridan on this recording was Joey Dee & the Starlighters. They were from New Jersey and were the house band at the Peppermint Lounge in New York, and had a huge hit in the mid 60s called "Peppermint Twist". If you listen to it you can hear their "sound" is very similar to the instrumentation on this recording.
@rosemariebarnes175
Only on backing vocals, the band was The Beatbrothers.
@davidlamb7524
Who is playing the organ ?