About The Song
In 1963, the American vocal group the Exciters first introduced “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” to the world, initially recorded as “Do-Wah-Diddy.” Cash Box lauded the Exciters’ rendition as “a sparkling rocker that bubbles over with coin-catching enthusiasm,” praising the exceptional lead performance and superb instrumental arrangement. However, it was the British band Manfred Mann that catapulted the song to international fame.
Shortly after its original recording, the British R&B, beat, and pop band Manfred Mann covered “Do Wah Diddy Diddy.” Their version hit the airwaves on 10 July 1964, quickly securing a two-week reign at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August and replicating this success with another two weeks atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in October. Billboard noted the song’s “powerful beat with Mann’s solo echoed by male chorus,” while Cash Box described it as “a thumpin’ novelty rocker that’s right up the teeners’ alley.”
This dual success on both sides of the Atlantic solidified “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” as a timeless classic, with Manfred Mann’s energetic rendition leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape of the 1960s.
Video
Lyrics
There she was just a-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’She looked good (Looked good)She looked fine (Looked fine)She looked good, she looked fineAnd I nearly lost my mindBefore 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’We walked on (Walked on)To my door (My door)We walked on to my doorThen we kissed a little moreWhoa-oh, I knew we was falling in loveYes, I didAnd so I told her all the thingsI’d been dreamin’ ofNow we’re together nearly every single day, singin’‘Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do’A-we’re so happy, and that’s how we’re gonna stay, singin’‘Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do’Well, I’m hers (I’m hers)She’s mine (She’s mine)I’m hers, she’s mineWedding bells are gonna chimeWhoa-oh, I knew we was falling in loveYes, I didAnd so I told her all the thingsI’d been dreamin’ ofNow we’re together nearly every single day, singin’‘Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do’A-we’re so happy, and that’s how we’re gonna stay, singin’‘Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do’Well, I’m hers (I’m hers)She’s mine (She’s mine)I’m hers, she’s mineWedding bells are gonna chimeWhoa-oh-oh-oh, oh yeahDo wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, we’ll sing itDo wah diddy diddy dum diddy do, oh yeah, oh, oh yeahDo wah diddy diddy dum diddy do