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WOLDWOLD is a remarkable comment by Harry on the state of humanity and
takes up a number of themes that seem to run through his songs.
On the surface a simple song from the DJ to his ex-wife. But within the
song are the themes of loneliness, lost opportunity, shattered dreams,
broken relationships and growing old.
The Jock's ambition took over his life to the detriment of his family
and those around him. Now eight years after walking out on his family he
has drifted into a job with WOLD.
The problem is he realises that he cannot prevent getting old and fat
and deep regret starts to set in and he begins to remember the past.
"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."
On his way to WOLD the jock has been passed over for younger DJs before
drifting home again to Boise.
Underneath it all he hankers not for the bright lights of the guest DJ
but for his home and family and he begs his wife to take him back. There
follows the two lines that I believe to be the most profound ever written by
Harry.
"Sometimes I get this crazy feeling that I'll just take off in my
car. But you can travel on 10,000 miles and still stay where you
are."
Harry has realised like so many before and after that you can chase a
dream but sometimes it may be back where you started from. This is a kind
of "the other man's grass is always greener" ethos. Sometimes it
doesn't matter how far you physically travel in an effort to change your
life. It is within the individual to change it. In other words you cannot
chase a dream.
In the end the sad jock realises that he has had his chance and is left
to continue his lonely life and the charade that he is happy.
His pleading has failed, his chance of true happiness has gone - maybe
for ever. WOLD is an immensely sad song 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 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
CHORUS
I am the morning DJ at W*O*L*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 forty-five going on fifteen
The drinking I did on my last big gig made my voice go low
They said that they liked the young sound 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
CHORUS
I've been making extra money doing high school sock hops
I'm a big time guest MC
You should hear me talking to the little children
And listen what they say to me
Got a spot on the top of my head, just begging for a new toupee
And a tire round 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 ten thousand miles and still stay where you are
I've been thinking that I should stop this jocking
And start that record store
Maybe I could settle down if you'd take me back once more
OK 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
Chorus
W*O*L*D, W*O*L*D, W*O*L, W*O*L, W*O*L*D*D*D
I am the morning DJ on W*O*L*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 forty-five, going on fifteen
I am the morning DJ on W*O*L*D
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