Paris was born on the 11th January 1900. His brother, Sidney de Paris, was also a musician. The two brothers started a band in the late 1940s called New New Orleans Jazz. It featured Omer Simeon, the famed clarinettist with Jelly Roll Morton. Other legendary jazzmen who served in the band from time to time were drummers Zutty Singleton and Freddie Moore. The banjo chair was filled first by Eddie Gibbs and later by Lee Blair. Don Kirkpatrick was the piano player who played with them most often. This band became an institution in New York City during the 1950s, toured the world in the late 1950s, and recorded extensively.
Paris died on the 3rd January 1973.
Running Wild
Wilbur De Paris Lyrics
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And I'm all by myself
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I'll lay right on the shelf
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't sit home, all alone
She'll soon find that I'm
Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
When I first met that gal of mine
It seemed just like a dream
But when she tho't she had me right
She started actin' mean
Like mary led her little lamb
She led me all the time
Until the worm had to turn
That's the reason I'm
Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
No gal will ever make a fool of me
No gal! I mean just what I say
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
Wonder how I got that way
Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
But now I got a cruel heart
With all that other foolishness I'm through
Gonna play the Villain part
Runnin' wild, lost control
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
Feelin' gay, reckless too
Care free mind all the time, never blue
Always goin' don't know where
Always showin', I don't care
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
The song "Runnin' Wild" by Wilbur De Paris is about a man who has just had a fight with his girlfriend and is now trying to show her that he doesn't need her. He is determined to prove that he is not the kind of man who will sit at home, feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he's going to live his life on his own terms, without any attachments or commitments.
The lyrics suggest the man is running wild and feeling reckless, with a carefree mind, no responsibilities and no thoughts of settling down. He claims that he is "mighty bold" and "never blue", but it's unclear whether he really feels that way or if he is just putting on a front to hide his hurt feelings. It is interesting to note that he is trying to challenge his girlfriend's perception of him and prove her wrong, rather than trying to reconcile with her.
Overall, the song portrays a man who is trying to find his way after a disagreement with his girlfriend. He uses his freedom as a way to prove to her that he can live without her and that she cannot make a fool of him.
Line by Line Meaning
My gal and I, we had a fight
My girlfriend and I had an argument
And I'm all by myself
I'm alone now
I guess she thinks now that she's gone
I suppose she believes that since she left
I'll lay right on the shelf
I'll be inactive and sad
I'm gonna show her she's all wrong
I’ll prove her wrong
No lonesome stuff for mine
I won't be sad
I won't sit home, all alone
I won't stay at home by myself
She'll soon find that I'm Runnin' wild, lost control
She’ll discover that I’m being reckless
Runnin' wild, mighty bold
I’m acting daring with no limits
Feelin' gay, reckless too
I’m feeling happy and carefree, but also reckless
Care free mind all the time, never blue
My mind is carefree all the time, I'm never sad
Always goin' don't know where
I'm always on the move, but I don't know where I'm going
Always showin', I don't care
I’m always exhibiting my carefree behavior, and I don't care what anybody thinks
Don't love nobody, it's not worth while
I don't love anybody because it's not worth it
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
I’m running wild all by myself
When I first met that gal of mine
When I first met my girlfriend
It seemed just like a dream
It felt like a perfect way to be with someone
But when she tho't she had me right
But when she believed she completely understood me
She started actin' mean
She started to be unkind
Like mary led her little lamb
She led me all the time like Mary led her little lamb
She led me all the time
She was guiding me always
Until the worm had to turn
Until I broke and became angry
That's the reason I'm Runnin' wild, lost control
That’s why I’m acting reckless and with no limits
No gal will ever make a fool of me
No woman will humiliate me
No gal! I mean just what I say
No woman can change my mind
I ain't the simpleton I used to be
I’m not as foolish as I was in the past
Wonder how I got that way
I'm wondering what made me change
Once I was full of sentiment, it's true
I used to be very emotional, that is true
But now I got a cruel heart
But now I have a cruel heart
With all that other foolishness I'm through
I’m done with all that foolishness
Gonna play the Villain part
I’m going to take on the role of the bad guy
All alone, runnin' wild. Runnin' wild
I’m running wild all by myself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR GIBBS, ARTHUR HARRINGTON GIBBS, JOSEPH GREY, JOSEPH W GREY, LEO WOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind