WOLD (song)
"W·O·L·D" is a song written and performed by Harry Chapin. The song is about an aging disc jockey who travels the United States seeking happiness, which he believes he will find by following his passion for being a radio broadcaster, only to discover that his life, looks, and voice have passed him by, which is alluded to in the song's title. (WOLD)
The song is sung through the point of view of a phone call conversation from the DJ to his ex-wife, only hearing what he has to say to her.[1] The lyrics go on to reveal that perhaps we can never change who we really are and that what he had really wanted was the love and companionship that had eluded him in a previous failed relationship.[2]
Inspiration
This hit song was inspired by radio personality Jim Connors, who is credited for discovering Chapin, and pushing his hit, "Taxi", through Boston radio station WMEX, where he was the AM Drive time host. After the debut of "Taxi", Chapin sat in on a phone conversation Connors was having with his ex-wife while in studio at WMEX. This conversation led to a deep and personal discussion during an interview both on and off the air between the men. They talked about life, the business, marriage, divorce, happiness, and all the troubles associated with being a DJ and the music business at the time.[3]
WOLD-FM is an actual radio station in Marion, Virginia, which went on the air in 1968, five years before Chapin recorded the song.[4]
Discography
From the album Short Stories, the song peaked on the US charts at number 36 in March 1974[5] and at number 34 in the UK.[1] However, when Chapin sings the song on the Greatest Stories Live album, he jokingly says that the song actually charted for "15 minutes".[6] W*O*L*D was most popular in Canada, where it reached number 14 on the singles chart[7] and number 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Chart performance
Weekly singles charts
|
Year-end charts
| Chart (1974) |
Position |
| Australia [12] |
149 |
| Canada [13] |
141 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [14] |
226 |
|
References
- 1 2 3 Lewis, Jesse (November 3, 1977). "DJ's Off Mike: Tuning In On The Radio Rodeo". Ocala Star-Banner (Ocala, FL). p. 10A. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ "A Friend Remembers Harry Chapin". ClassicBands.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=7655
- ↑ "The Facilities of AM-FM Radio". 1969 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1969. p. B-169.
- ↑ "Hot 100 for Week Ending March 23, 1974" (PDF). Billboard. March 23, 1974. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ "Rock, Storytellers And Jazz Fill November Concert Calendar". St. Petersburg Independent (St Petersburg, FL). October 27, 1979. p. 12D. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4993a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4ka5t8g9v4cqih16migimv91a6
- ↑ http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4993a&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4ka5t8g9v4cqih16migimv91a6
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5008&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4ka5t8g9v4cqih16migimv91a6
- ↑ http://50.6.195.142/archives/70s_files/19740330.html
- ↑ http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=35092
- ↑ https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3893b&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=4ka5t8g9v4cqih16migimv91a6
- ↑ http://www.bullfrogspond.com/whitburn/1974wye.htm
External links
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- Mike Masters
- Doug Walker
- Howie Fields
- Ron Evanuik
- Kim Scholes
- Yvonne Cable
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| | Singles | |
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| | Other songs | |
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| | Related articles | |
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