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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To save his career, a Tennessee farm boy had to learn how to walk, sing, and breathe inside the glass walls of an urban professional studio. By the late 1950s, the steel guitars and cowboy boots that propelled Eddy Arnold to the top of the charts were gathering dust. The radio airwaves had shifted beneath his feet, and the hits that once felt effortless were drying up entirely. Arnold stood at a crossroads, staring down the very real possibility of packing his bags and leaving the music business for good. He was a man out of time, clinging to an image that the new American consumer no longer wanted to buy. Instead of bowing out, he began a slow, deliberate demolition of the persona that had made him a star. The rustic, down-home threads were traded for the sharp, muted formality of a tuxedo. The steel guitars were replaced by sweeping orchestral arrangements and velvet-smooth vocal deliveries designed for supper clubs rather than honky-tonks. He was not just updating his sound; he was performing an act of total reinvention, moving from the farmhouse to the high-rise with startling, cold calculation. When he recorded Make the World Go Away in 1965, the gamble achieved something profound. The song bypassed the traditional country boundaries, finding a home on the pop charts and turning his perceived failure into a second, far more lucrative life. He never went back to the plow. He sat under the studio lights, a man who had successfully traded his heritage for a tuxedo and a permanent place in the modern spotlight.