Wig-Wam Bam

Album: Greatest Hits (1972)
Charted: 4
Play Video
  • Hiawatha didn't bother too much
    'Bout Minnie Ha-Ha and her tender touch
    Till she took him to the silver stream
    Then she whispered words like he had 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, want to 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, want to 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 Minnie Ha-Ha 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, want to 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...... Writer/s: MICHAEL DONALD CHAPMAN, NICHOLAS BARRY CHINN
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Alicia from Limbo@Stella Ha I also thought that it was "silver screen"! But for me it still fits with my personal interpretation;)
  • Stella from London, United KingdomI thought this was a song about the portrayal of Indians in Westerns (movies) until recently when I learned they were singing 'Till she took him to the silver stream' and not 'the silver screen'.
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandThis was the first single by the band whereby the Management "allowed" them to actually play their instruments, even though they were all perfectly capable.
  • Sarah from St. Paul , MnThe first verse is about Hiawatha and Minnehaha (not Mini or Minnie - it means waterfall or Laughing Waters in Dakota), fictional characters from The Song of Hiawatha by Longfellow. The second verse is about Running Bear and Little White Dove from the song "Running Bear" written by the Big Bopper.
  • Mark from London, EnglandAlthough the first verse relates to Hiawatha, the second is about Running Bear and Mini Haha.
  • Mark from London, EnglandThe band would play (or mime) on TV dressed in full Native American gear.
  • Mark from London, EnglandThe guitar riff for this song was taken from the Peter Gunn theme.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.