About The Song
“The Wanderer” is a song written by Ernie Maresca and originally recorded by Dion. Released on his 1961 album Runaround Sue, the song blends a 12-bar blues-based verse with an eight-bar bridge. It narrates the tale of a travelling man and his numerous loves. Ranked number 243 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Chart Success: Entered the US charts in December 1961, reaching number 2 (behind “Duke of Earl”) and also hit number 10 in the UK and number one in Australia.
Recorded with the Del-Satins as an uncredited background vocal group, it showcased a rockier style than Dion’s earlier hits with the Belmonts. Dion described it as black music filtered through an Italian neighborhood, expressing a sense of adventure and a carefree attitude. Despite its upbeat sound, the song conveys a deeper message: “I roam from town to town and go through life without a care, I’m as happy as a clown with my two fists of iron, but I’m going nowhere.”
Lyrics
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, around
Oh, well, there's Flo on my left and there's Mary on my right
And Janie is the girl, well, that I'll be with tonight
And when she asks me, which one I love the best?
I tear open my shirt and I show her "Rosie" on my chest
'Cause I'm a wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around, around
Oh, well, I roam from town to town
I go through life without a care
And I'm as happy as a clown
I with my two fists of iron but 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 fallin' for some girl
Yeah, I hop right into that car of mine, I drive around the world
Yeah I'm a wanderer
Yeah, a wanderer
I roam around, around, around, around
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 drive around the world
'Cause I'm a wanderer
Yeah, the wanderer
I roam around, around, around, around
Yeah, I'm the wanderer
Yeah, I'm a wanderer
I roam around, around, around, around
They call me the wanderer
Yeah, I'm a wanderer
I roam around, around, around, around
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