Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs – Wooly Bully

Uno dos, one two tres quatro!

This 1965 song still works…it can light up a party in a heartbeat. This is one of those songs that you can play without rehearsing if you are in a band. A fun rock and roll song that doesn’t take itself seriously.

The exact meaning of Wooly Bully is left ambiguous, fitting the song’s fun nature. Others must agree because according to secondhandsongs.com it has 190 cover versions. Those versions include Dave Edmunds, Lindisfarne, and of course…Billy Bacon and The Forbidden Pigs. I don’t know much about them but with that name…I had to include them.

The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard 100. They were kept out of the top spot by those two upstart bands…The Rolling Stones with Satisfaction and The Beatles with Help!. The song peaked at #2 in Canada as well in 1965 and #11 in the UK.

They were not a one-hit wonder though. They had one other top ten song (#2) with Li’l Red Riding Hood. They had 6 top-40 hits between 1965 and 1970. Look at the variety of the 1960s. Satisfaction, Help!, Like A Rolling Stone, and Wooly Bully all within a couple of years.

sam_the_sham_and_pharaohs_performing

The band’s leader, Domingo “Sam” Samudio, was born in Dallas, Texas. He first started performing in the late 1950s. Sam joined various bands before forming The Pharaohs in 1961 and another version in 1963 and that time it stuck. Samudio wrote this song as well.

In 1970, Sam started a solo career and was awarded a Grammy in 1971 for Best Album Liner Notes to his record Sam, Hard and Heavy. He later started to cover gospel and country as well.

Wooly Bully

Uno dos, one two tres quatro

Ay, wooly bullyWatch it now, watch it

Here he comes, here he comesWatch it now, he get ‘cha

Matty told HattyAbout a thing she sawHad two big hornsAnd a wooly jawWooly bullyWooly bullyYeah driveWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyHatty told MattyLet’s don’t take no chanceLet’s not be L-sevenCome and learn to danceWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWatch it now, watch it watch it watch itAy…Ay, drive, drive, drive

Matty told HattyThat’s the thing to doGet you someone reallyPull the wool with youWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWooly bullyWatch it now, watch it, here he comesYou got it, you got it

….

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

31 thoughts on “Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs – Wooly Bully”

    1. He is alive and well…it was a fun song and still is! Kinda like Duke of Earl…who cares what it means…it’s just fun. I posted two opposite ones day lol.

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  3. One of those oddball 60s tunes I knew nothing about (but recognized) and assumed was a one hit wonder, but apparently not. It’s lived on better than many more serious pieces from that time period. I think I remember Bruce Willis doing it in the 80s too somehow

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    1. It’s a likable song and a good party starter song… a lot of fun. Means absolutely nothing except have a good time.

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      2. Now that is a cool thought…a sax with a kazoo on it.
        I used to take a kazoo with me everywhere…they are fun as hell.

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  7. He might be describing the wooly booger that Brother Dave Gardner was speaking of, ” you going to be here when John gets home?” One of his best skits, on a vinyl record of course. My band played that song forever and always had fun doing it.

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      1. Back in “the day” in order to get the lyrics to a song, you had to sit by the turntable and keep replaying the record. No one knew the real words because Sam sort of slurred them, sort of like Louie Louie. It’s either about a furry bull, a Buffalo or a wooly booger, which is my favorite critter.

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      2. That is what we did…we just did them by phonics…The Stones were one of the hardest so we just sounded like Mick…later on when I checked the lyrics…it wasn’t close.

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  8. Wow Max, you are schizoid music wise today- from the deep Fripp side to Sam being flip as all hell. I recall this one as a kid, this and ”Lil’ Red Riding Hood.’ (I used to try to crack up my blonde good looking big brother by going ‘Awoo’ when he was about to put on his moves, try to chat up some girl who caught his eye/took his fancy at the local pool or park). It’s a good goofy fun song that brings back bittersweet memories. Leaves me with a smile though.

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    1. I wanted an opposite day today! I think I achieved it! Hmmm maybe a duo with Sam the Shame and Crimson? Uh probably not!
      Now that is funny what you did to your brother! That is what brothers are for!

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      2. My mom made my sister take me out on dates….hell that didn’t work well…I was too engrossed in the R movie to care what they did.

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