Wig-Wam Bam - song and lyrics by Sweet | Spotify

About the Song

In the annals of rock history, few genres evoke as much nostalgia and sheer fun as glam rock. With its catchy hooks, flamboyant fashion, and larger-than-life personalities, glam rock was a breath of fresh air in the early 1970s. And among the bands that defined this era, Sweet stands out as a true powerhouse.

Formed in London in 1968, Sweet quickly gained a reputation for their infectious blend of pop melodies and hard-rocking riffs. Their music was the perfect soundtrack for a generation eager to embrace a new sense of freedom and expression. And in 1972, they released a song that would become an anthem of the glam rock movement: “Wig Wam Bam.”

From the opening guitar riff, “Wig Wam Bam” grabs your attention and never lets go. It’s a high-energy rocker with a driving beat, catchy lyrics, and irresistible sing-along chorus. The song’s playful spirit and infectious energy perfectly captured the mood of the times, making it an instant hit with audiences around the world.

But “Wig Wam Bam” is more than just a fun, catchy tune. It’s also a testament to Sweet‘s musical prowess. The band’s tight instrumentation, dynamic vocals, and clever songwriting are all on full display here. And while the song may seem simple on the surface, there’s a depth and sophistication to its arrangement that reveals itself with repeated listens.

Over the years, “Wig Wam Bam” has become a classic rock staple, a beloved reminder of the glam rock era. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal, its ability to connect with listeners of all ages. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Sweet or a newcomer to their music, “Wig Wam Bam” is sure to get your toes tapping and your head bobbing.

So, crank up the volume, let the music wash over you, and get ready to experience the pure, unadulterated joy of Sweet‘s “Wig Wam Bam.” It’s a song that will take you back to a time when rock and roll was all about having fun and letting loose. And in a world that often takes itself too seriously, that’s something worth celebrating.The Sweet - Wig-Wam Bam - 1972

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Lyrics: Wig Wam Bam

Hiawatha didn’t bother too much
About Minnehaha and her tender touch
Till she took him to the silver stream
Then she whispered words like he’d never heard
That made him all shudder inside when she said

Wig wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig wam bam

Running Bear never cared enough
About Little White Dove and her tender love
Till she took him to the silver stream
She told him all about what he couldn’t live without
And made him all weak inside when she said

Wig wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam

Wig wam, bam sham-a-lam
Wam bam, bam sham-a-lam
Wig wam, bam sham-a-lam
Wam bam, bam sham-a-lam

Hiawatha didn’t bother too much
About Minnehaha and her tender touch
Till she took him to the silver stream
Then she whispered words like he’d never heard
That made him all shudder inside when she said

Wig wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam, and she said

Wig wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam

Wig wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much

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MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?