The Wanderer

Dion, Brian Wilson

About The Wanderer

"The Wanderer" is a song written by Ernie Maresca and originally recorded by Dion. The song, with a 12-bar blues-base verse and an eight-bar bridge, tells the story of a travelling man and his many loves. The song is ranked number 243 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


Year:
2005
2:43
1,287 
#2

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Oh well I'm the type of guy who will never settle down
Where pretty girls are well, you know that I'm around
I kiss 'em and I love 'em 'cause to me they're all the same
I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em they don't even know my name
They call me the wanderer, yeah the wanderer
I roam around around around

Oh well there's Flo on my left and there's Mary on my right
And Janie is the girl with that I'll be with tonight
And when she asks me which one I love the best
I tear open my shirt I got Rosie on my chest
'Cause I'm the wanderer yeah the wanderer
I roam around around around

Oh well I roam from town to town
I go through life without a care
'Til I'm as happy as a clown
With my two fists of iron and I'm going nowhere

I'm the type of guy that likes to roam around
I'm never in one place I roam from town to town
And when I find myself a-fallin' for some girl, yeah
I hop right into that car of mine and ride around the world
Yeah I'm the wanderer, yeah the wanderer
I roam around around around, let's go

Oh yeah I'm the type of guy that likes to roam around
I'm never in one place I roam from town to town
And when I find myself a-fallin' for some girl
I hop right into that car of mine and ride around the world
'Cause I'm a wanderer, yeah a wanderer
I roam around around around, around, around
'Cause I'm a wanderer, yeah a wanderer
I roam around around around, aroundm around

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Dion

Dion is a highly influential American singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was part of the doo-wop group Dion and the Belmonts before pursuing a successful solo career. Known for his expressive, soulful voice and catchy melodies, Dion's music spans various genres, including doo-wop, rock and roll, pop, folk, and blues. Some of his best-known songs include "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer." He continues to perform and record music to this day. more »

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Written by: Ernie Maresca

Lyrics © ERNEST MARESCA AND PAULA SIMON MARESCA MARITAL TRUST, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Musical Composition
The song was written by Ernie Maresca and performed by Dion. Its upbeat-tempo and blues-like rhythm was quite unique in the era of slower, rock & roll songs.
Chart Success
The Wanderer was released as a single in 1961. It hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of Dion's most popular songs. Additionally, it peaked at #10 in the UK Singles Chart.
Concept
The song is about a carefree, roving man who loves women. The lyrics are free-spirited and portray a man who is not interested in settling down.
Signature Song
Despite Dion's long and successful career, "The Wanderer" is often considered his signature song. It largely defined his early career and is universally recognized as classic.
Musical Recognition
"The Wanderer" is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Cover Versions
This iconic song has been covered by numerous artists like The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo and Gary Glitter.
Lyrics Controversy
Despite its upbeat sequence, The Wanderer has been critiqued for its potential sexist overtones, since it portrays women only as objects of desire.
Song's Identity
The song when released, appealed to both adult and teenage audiences due to its catch melody and Dion's charismatic performance.
Modern Music
The Wanderer was used in video games like "Fallout 4" and in movies such as "The Wanderers" highlighting its ongoing influence on modern pop culture.
Dion's Stance
Dion himself has described the song as a "picaresque" ballad designed to fit his vocal range and showcase a mood of carefree independence.
Album Evolution
Though initially it was just a single, a full album was later released under the name "The Wanderer" due to the song's immense popularity.
Ernie Maresca
Despite writing numerous hits in his career, Maresca has mentioned "The Wanderer" as one of his favourites.
MTV Music Video
Decades after the release, a music video was filmed for the song and aired on MTV, re-introducing Dion's classic hit to younger viewers in the 80s.
U2 and the Wanderer
In 1993, the rock band U2 reimagined "The Wanderer" with a verse spoken by Johnny Cash which was dramatically different from Dion's original version.
Cultural Impact
The term "Wanderer" from this song has been used in cultural context to denote a person who is footloose and fickle in matters of love.

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    The Wanderer

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1962

    Billboard #2


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