♫ Do Wah Diddy Diddy ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, music, music history

Last time I played this was almost exactly two years ago … September 18th, 2022.  (Sorry I’m still just reduxing, but still not back to 100% from this Covid thing and energy is in short supply still.)  When I last played it, a challenge from our friend Clive led me to play another, Whole Lotta Rosie, and let me just say up front that I am not playing that one again!!!  Still, this is a fun song, and I thought we needed a bit of fun just about now.  

This was written by the songwriting team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who were looking to recreate the gibberish gold they struck on The Crystals hit Da Doo Ron Ron. They stumbled upon Da Doo Ron Ron, but found that creating a nonsense phrase on purpose was not easy, as it had to sound good and sing well. They settled on Do Wah Diddy, and pictured it as another girl group hit. It was first recorded (as Do-Wah-Diddy) in 1963 by The Exciters, who were coming off their hit song Tell Him.

This female version (“There he was, just walking down the street…”) topped out at #78, but got the attention of the British group Manfred Mann, who started performing it at their shows. Since The Beatles had some success covering songs by American girl groups (The Shirelles Boys and The Marvelettes Please Mr. Postman), Manfred Mann decided to give it a shot and recorded Do-Wah-Diddy, adding their extra Diddy to make it Do Wah Diddy Diddy.

In the UK, where Manfred Mann was already established, the song topped the chart in July 1964. In the U.S., it took a little longer, but in October they had the #1 hit for two weeks, joining the British Invasion.

Do Wah Diddy Diddy
Manfred Mann

There she was just a-walkin’ down the street, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
Snappin’ her fingers and shufflin’ her feet, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
She looked good (looked good), she looked fine (looked fine)
She looked good, she looked fine and I nearly lost my mind

Before I knew it she was walkin’ next to me, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
Holdin’ my hand just as natural as can be, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
We walked on (walked on) to my door (my door)
We walked on to my door, then we kissed a little more

Whoa-oh, I knew we was falling in love
Yes I did, and so I told her all the things I’d been dreamin’ of

Now we’re together nearly every single day, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
A-we’re so happy and that’s how we’re gonna stay, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
Well, I’m hers (I’m hers), she’s mine (she’s mine)
I’m hers, she’s mine, wedding bells are gonna chime

Whoa-oh, I knew we was falling in love
Yes I did, and so I told her all the things I’d been dreamin’ of

Now we’re together nearly every single day, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
A-we’re so happy and that’s how we’re gonna stay, singin’ “Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do”
Well, I’m hers (I’m hers), she’s mine (she’s mine)
I’m hers, she’s mine, wedding bells are gonna chime

Whoa-oh-oh-oh, oh yeah
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, we’ll sing it
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, oh yeah, oh, oh yeah
Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Ellie Greenwich / Jeff Barry
Do Wah Diddy Diddy lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

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38 thoughts on “♫ Do Wah Diddy Diddy ♫ (Redux)”

  9. I have to say I was amazed when this song got to number one, and I never really liked it that much. Although ‘Da Do Ron Ron’ had equally senseless lyrics, it benefited heavily from Spector’s ‘wall of sound’ that made it great to listen to.

    Best wishes, Pete.

    Liked by 4 people

  11. Pingback: ♫ Do Wah Diddy Diddy ♫ (Redux) | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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