W.O.L.D.

Harry Chapin

Wiki:

Songfacts®: In the '70s, radio disc jockeys had a great deal of influence over the music they played, and could help out artists they liked by playing their songs. Very often DJs would have to work for many different stations throughout their careers as stations would change format or "direction" and let them go. These guys would often trade a stable family life for the excitement of being on the air, which could be more difficult as they got older. Chapin was constantly promoting himself, and made sure to visit radio stations as he traveled across the United States. The song is a composite of the disc jockeys he got to know, including Jim Connors, who was an air personality at a radio station in Erie, Pennsylvania, and in 1973, became the morning man on WYSL in Buffalo - he had something of a freeform style which endeared him to many listeners. Chapin was very astute from a marketing perspective (he went to Cornell, you know), and figured out that if you were trying to get disc jockeys to play your song, it would be a good idea to write a song about a disc jockey. WOLD is a real radio station in southwest Virginia, which went on the air in 1968. It was not the inspiration for the song: more likely, Chapin was going for a universal feel, and chose the letters as a play on "World." (Thanks to Sandy Chapin for telling us about this song. For much more on Harry's songwriting and clever marketing tricks, check out her Songfacts interview.)

Lyrics:

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Hello, honey, it's me What did you think when you heard me back on the radio? What did the kids say when they knew it was their long-lost daddy-o? Remember how we listened to the radio And I said, "That's the place to be"? And how I got the job as an FM jock the day you married me? It was two kids and I was into AM rock, but I just had to run around It's been eight years since I left you, babe Let me tell you 'bout what's gone down I am the morning DJ at WOLD-D-D-D-D-D Playing all the hits for you Wherever you may be The bright good morning voice Who's heard but never seen Feeling all of 45 going on 15 The drinking I did on my last big gig It made my voice go low They said that they like the young sounds (Sounds, sounds, sounds) When they let me go So I drifted on down to Tulsa, Oklahoma To do me a late-night talk show Now I've worked my way down home again Here to Boise, Idaho That's how this business goes I am the morning DJ at WOLD-D-D-D-D-D Playing all the hits for you Wherever you may be The bright good morning voice Who's heard but never seen Feeling all of 45 going on 15 I'm making extra money doing high school sock hops I'm the big-time guest MC You should hear me talking to the little children And listen to what they say to me I got a spot on the top of my head Just begging for a new toupee There's a tire around my gut from sitting on my But it's never gonna go away Sometimes I get this crazy dream That I just take off in my car But you can travel on 10,000 miles And still stay where you are Thinkin' that I should stop disc jockin' And start that record store Maybe I could settle down If you'd take me back once more Okay, honey I see I guess he's better than me Sure, old girl, I understand You don't have to worry, I'm such a happy man (WOLD) (WOLD) (WOLD) (WOLD) I am the morning DJ at WOLD-D-D-D-D-D Playing all the hits for you Wherever you may be The bright good morning voice Who's heard but never seen Feeling all of 45 going on 15 I am the morning DJ at WOLD-D-D-D-D-D WOLD-D-D-D-D-D WOLD-D-D-D-D-D WOLD-D-D-D-D-D WOLD-D-D-D-D-D WOLD-D-D-D-D-D

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