Wham Bam (Shang-A-Lang)

This gibberish could only have become a hit in the 1970s. Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang? Are you serious? What does Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang possibly mean? Listen to the first verse and it appears Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang means the couple needs to stay together. Or go grocery shopping. Or file their taxes. I’m unsure at this point. Verse two seems to imply things are not as they seem even though “baby has been so good to me” but “please don’t make it what it’s not.” Why? Because the singer clearly says he “will tell you what we’ve got.” And what they’ve got is a Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang and a sha-la-la-la-la thing. Perfectly clear at this point, right? They own a pet rock together. Or a bell-bottom recycling store. Or a Chevy van (intentional Sammy Johns reference there). Third verse it looks like it’s time to say goodbye. They are breaking up! The chorus now says “We had a Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang and a sha-la-la-la-la thing.” Notice the past-tense had in the chorus. This sacred union is suddenly broken. Such a pity. Was this a one-night stand? To quote Seinfeld, did the singer just “Ya-da-ya-da sex?” The world may never truly know. But they did know enough about this breezy 1970s soft rock song to push Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang to #16 on the Billboard Top 40 in 1976, which turned Silver into one-hit wonders.

What I believe the song is about is: Two lovers who have fallen out of love and they know it. This is made clear through the first verse, "You've loved all you can and now you're all loved out." In the second verse, "Ooh, ooh, baby, you've been so good to me. But please don't make it what it's not," suggests that the partner feels the same yet is trying to hold on to whatever love they did have, "Careful now, don't get caught in your dreams". Finally, in the third verse, both parties accept that they no longer love each other and part ways, "'Cause I hear you singing to the tune I'm playing. And now that it's said and we both understand. Let's say our goodbye's before it gets out of hand so Bye, bye, baby..." The singing of the tune being a metaphor for something that they're both thinking (That the love is gone). Now for chorus, I'm not entirely sure but it sure is catchy. Perhaps it's a play on words to describe how rocky the relationship had become/ was becoming? Considering that Wham and bam are onomatopoeias that are associated with impact.

What does the Wham Bam Shang a Lang lyric refer to? Like their relationship or something sexual? Seems like it'd be strange to include "shang a lang" as a sexual reference.

I believe the song is about a guy talking to his girlfriend about how their relationship is purely physical, and isn't actual love like he once thought, and how long before that, he thought it was about being happy about and with someone.

"Starry nights and sunny days I always thought that love should be that way But then comes a time when you're ridden with doubt You've loved all you can and now you're all loved out Oh Oh Baby we've been a long long way And who's to say where we'll be tomorrow Well my heart says no but my mind says it's so That we got a love that isn't a love to stay

"We've got a wham, bam shang-a-lang And a sha-la-la-la-la-la thing"

He talks about how there's no emotion in their relationship, and eventually, they have to go their separate ways.

I think these lyrics need to be corrected It should be

Wham bam shang-a-lang And a sha-la-la-la-la-la thing

thing... not babe.

Reading the comments here, The melody is what sounds cool. If you don't listen to the lyrics to that part, it's kinda catchy.

And, I just made an account here just to make this comment. :)