Song Lyric Sunday: Rare Earth, “Born To Wander”

Song Lyric Sunday, Song of the Day 2 Minutes
Source: Melanie

Jim asked for Motown songs in his theme for this week. I know exactly what he’s expecting, which is why I’m doing something totally different…

Rare Earth was a Detroit-based band whose music spanned multiple genres, including rock, soul, and funk. They weren’t the first all-White band to be signed to Motown: that honor goes to a band called The Rustix. But they were the first successful White band signed by Berry Gordy. Gordy came up with a record label called Rare Earth Records, named after the band and which later added artists like R. Dean Taylor ("Indiana Wants Me"), The Pretty Things, Love Sculpture, Kiki Dee, Toe Fat, The Cats, and Shaun Murphy. Their first hit was a cover of Smokey Robinson’s "Get Ready," originally done by The Temptations in 1966-67. The 1970 Rare Earth single was a three-minute edit of the full album version, which took up an entire side of the album of the same name.

"Born To Wander" was their third single to chart in 1970. Written by co-producer Tom Baird, it reached #17 on the Hot 100.

There’s nothin’ you can do girl, there’s nothin’ you can say
You talkin’ to the sky babe, I just got to get away, yeah
Got to hear the wind song singin’ in my ear
Got to get it on girl and I’ll never make it here, yeah

‘Cause the wind was my mother, the highway is my brother
I was born to wander and it’s time for movin’ on
I was born to wander turn around and I’ll be gone, gone, gone

I’m just followin’ my heart girl, and it’s followin’ the sun
Lookin’ for an answer, I know may never come
But I got to chase my dreams girl like a river to the sea
Got to find the rainbow that’s waitin’ there for me

‘Cause the wind was my mother, the highway is my brother
I was born to wander and it’s time for movin’ on
I was born to wander turn around and I’ll be gone, gone, gone, gone

Oh yeah, oh yeah
Yeah, gonna move, yeah
Yeah, I was born to wander
I said, I was born to wander
Yeah, born, born to wander

Born to wander, born to wander
Born to wander, born to wander
Born to wander, born to wander…

Source: AZLyrics

That’s Song Lyric Sunday, and Song of the Day, for November 27, 2022.

Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

Published

8 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday: Rare Earth, “Born To Wander””

  1. Pingback: The First December Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

  6. Hi John – I love the name ‘Rare Earth’ … and great way of interpreting the prompt … thanks for telling us about them … I was born to wander – now in my mind … cheers Hilary

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