Walla Walla Chippa Mocca Mogga

They say music can pick you up when you’re feeling down. Well, they’re not wrong.

Music

I’ve been a music lover as far back as I can remember. My memory can recall when I was sat in a yellow-painted high chair complete with a built-in abacus on a Sunday morning listening to Buddy Holly on the radio, singing ‘Raining In My Heart’. People tell me it’s impossible to recall things from that early in your life, but I can see and hear every last detail of that moment, including the grey wallpaper with silhouetted dancers.

Little Darling

Little Darling (words and music by Maurice Williams) and sung by The Diamonds has had me laughing no end this week. It appears there are a few versions of the song and one covered by the king himself, Elvis Presley. Songwriting has always fascinated me, how someone can put words to music and it sounds so natural is a talent I’ve always envied. Songs like Simon & Garfunkle’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ or many of The Beatles songs seem so clever, beautiful, melodic and hit many emotions. We all have our favourite.

Strange Lyrics

However, ‘Little Darling’ has some of the strangest combinations of words I think I’ve ever heard. For example, “My lover, I was wronger to try to love two” or “Ahh Uha Uha Uha”. Talk about making the words fit the music! And there’s more (where have I heard that before?) in Elvis Presley’s version of the song. He seems to add his own lyrics, such as “Walla Walla Chippa Mocca Mogga”! I’m sure I can hear him laughing while he’s singing too. Which brings me back to what I was originally saying that music can lift you up.

Smile

I’ve included the original version of the song by The Diamonds courtesy of Youtube and up until a few years ago, I believe they were still singing the same version to audiences around Canada and North America. The singer has a big smile on his face and he was probably still a teenager at the time of recording. I hope you can garner a smile or two from listening to it. In a time of little to smile about, this song can take us to a simpler time and hopefully release a few endorphins for you.

More about The Diamonds.