‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ is a song written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich who were looking to recreate the gibberish gold they struck on The Crystals hit ‘Da Doo Ron Ron.’ The song was originally recorded in 1963, as ‘Do-Wah-Diddy’, by the American vocal group the Exciters, who were coming off their hit song "Tell Him." Cash Box described the Exciters' version as "a sparkling rocker that bubbles over with coin-catching enthusiasm" and said that the "great lead job is backed by a fabulous instrumental arrangement."
This female version ("There he was, just walking down the street...") topped out at #78, but got the attention of the British group Manfred Mann, who started performing it at their shows. Since The Beatles had some success covering songs by American girl groups (The Shirelles ‘Boys’ and The Marvelettes ‘Please Mr. Postman’), Manfred Mann decided to give it a shot and recorded ‘Do-Wah-Diddy,’ adding their extra Diddy to make it ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy.’ Manfred Mann's version was released on 10 July 1964. It spent two weeks at No. 1 of the UK Singles Chart in August and two weeks at No. 1 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in October. Billboard said it "features powerful beat with Mann's solo echoed by male chorus." Cash Box described it as "a thumpin' novelty rocker that's right up the teeners' alley."
In the UK, where Manfred Mann was established with the hits ‘5-4-3-2-1’ (#5) and ‘Hubble Bubble (Toil And Trouble)’ (#11), the song topped the chart in July 1964. In America, it took a little longer, but in October they had the #1 hit for two weeks, joining the British Invasion.
‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ was featured on a 1980 episode of The Muppet Show, where it was performed by a group of elderly rock 'n rollers known as Geri and the Atrics. The song was also featured in the 1981 film Stripes, used as a marching cadence by characters played by Bill Murray and Harold Ramis in boot camp. This usage inspired real-life Army units to use it as a marching song.
Labels – HMV POP (UK), Ascot (US), Capitol (Canada)
Songwriters – Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich
Producer – John Burgess
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]There she was just walkin' down the street
Singin', "Do wah diddy, diddy, dum diddy do"
Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
[Hook 1]
She looked good (Looked good)
She looked fine (Looked fine)
She looked good, she looked fine
And I nearly lost my mind
[Verse 2]
Before I knew it she was walkin' next to me
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
Holdin' my hand just as natural as can be
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
[Hook 2]
We walked on (Walked on)
To my door (My door)
We walked on to my door
Then we kissed a little more
[Bridge]
Whoa, oh
I knew we was falling in love
Yes, I did and so I told her
All the things, I'd been dreamin' of
[Verse 3]
Now we're together nearly every single day
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
We're so happy and that's how we're gonna stay
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
[Hook 3]
Well, I'm hers (I'm hers)
She's mine (She's mine)
I'm hers, she's mine
Wedding bells are gonna chime
[Bridge]
Whoa, oh
I knew we was falling in love
Yes, I did and so I told her
All the things, I'd been dreamin' of
[Verse 3]
Now we're together nearly every single day
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
We're so happy and that's how we're gonna stay
Singin', "Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do"
[Hook 3]
Well, I'm hers (I'm hers)
She's mine (She's mine)
I'm hers, she's mine
Wedding bells are gonna chime
[Outro]
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh yeah
Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do, we'll sing it
Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do
Do wah diddy diddy, dum diddy do