Li'l Red Riding Hood
Encyclopedia
"Li'l Red Riding Hood" (also known as "Little Red Riding Hood") was a 1966 song by Sam the Sham
and the Pharaohs. It was the group's second top-10 hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966. It was certified gold by the RIAA on August 11, 1966.
It is a prominent plot element in the 1993 film Striking Distance
with Bruce Willis
, and is featured in the film Wild Country in 2005.
", adapted by ending before the grandmother makes her entrance
, and explicitly using the ambiguity of modern English between "wolf", the carnivore, and "wolf", a man with concealed sexual intentions. The effect, whether intentional or incidental, is to strip away the fairy tale's metaphorical device and present the relationship between the two characters without literary pretense.
The singer remarks on "what big eyes" and "what full lips" Red has, and eventually on "what a big heart" he himself has. An added element is that he says (presumably aside, to the song's audience) that he is disguised in a "sheep suit" until he can demonstrate his good intentions, but he seems to be having a hard time suppressing his wolf call in the form of a howl, in favor of the baa-ing of a sheep, at the very end of the song when Sam repeats the word "BAAHED" a few times during the song's fade. One of its signature lines is "you're ev'rything that a big bad wolf could want".
Though related in concept to the later Blackwell song, these differ in:
However, at least one site, which ignores the Bopper-recorded lyrics in listing his work, attributes the Blackwell/Pharaohs lyrics to the Big Bopper.
on their 2005 album Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
. The Smashing Pumpkins
also released a cover of the song in their Live Smashing Pumpkins
album series. ApologetiX
parodied this as "Little-Read Bible Book" on their 2004 album, Adam Up. A cover was also done by punk pioneers 999
. A cover version of the song appeared on the Voodoo Glow Skulls 2002 album "Steady as She Goes", listed as 'Untitled Hidden Track'. To promote her movie, Red Riding Hood, star Amanda Seyfried
performed a cover of the song.
Sam the Sham
Sam the Sham is the stage name of the American rock and roll singer Domingo “Sam” Samudio . Sam the Sham was known for his camp robe and turban and hauling his equipment in a 1952 Packard hearse with maroon velvet curtains...
and the Pharaohs. It was the group's second top-10 hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966. It was certified gold by the RIAA on August 11, 1966.
It is a prominent plot element in the 1993 film Striking Distance
Striking Distance
Striking Distance is a 1993 thriller starring Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Farina, and Tom Sizemore as Pittsburgh Police officers pursuing a serial killer. It was directed by Rowdy Herrington and written by Herrington and Marty Kaplan...
with Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
, and is featured in the film Wild Country in 2005.
Premise
The song is built around Charles Perrault's fairy tale "Little Red Riding HoodLittle Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, also known as Little Red Cap, is a French fairy tale about a young girl and a Big Bad Wolf. The story has been changed considerably in its history and subject to numerous modern adaptations and readings....
", adapted by ending before the grandmother makes her entrance
Making an entrance
The theatrical term entrance is the appearance of a character on screen or stage. The term "making an entrance" commonly refers to entrances that are particularly prominent or attention-grabbing....
, and explicitly using the ambiguity of modern English between "wolf", the carnivore, and "wolf", a man with concealed sexual intentions. The effect, whether intentional or incidental, is to strip away the fairy tale's metaphorical device and present the relationship between the two characters without literary pretense.
The singer remarks on "what big eyes" and "what full lips" Red has, and eventually on "what a big heart" he himself has. An added element is that he says (presumably aside, to the song's audience) that he is disguised in a "sheep suit" until he can demonstrate his good intentions, but he seems to be having a hard time suppressing his wolf call in the form of a howl, in favor of the baa-ing of a sheep, at the very end of the song when Sam repeats the word "BAAHED" a few times during the song's fade. One of its signature lines is "you're ev'rything that a big bad wolf could want".
Attribution
The song whose lyrics are described just above is widely attributed to Ronald Blackwell. There seems to be no controversy (although various titles are occasionally used) that one with a similar title was earlier written and recorded by the Big Bopper, and released as "Little Red Riding Hood" (NB: with "little" spelled out) late in 1958 as the B-side of his second hit. The searchable sites with its complete lyrics as text seem to constitute no more than a handful, but a recording, purported to be of his voice and thus presumably as being authoritative as to lyrics, exists online.Though related in concept to the later Blackwell song, these differ in:
- Conflating into one the wolves of Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs (and implying he is on good terms with the pigs)
- Having the singer call himself both the Big Bopper and the Big Bad WolfBig Bad WolfThe Big Bad Wolf is a term used to describe a fictional wolf who appears in several precautionary folkloric stories, including some of Aesop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales.-Interpretations:...
- Encountering Red from outside her locked door, where he knocks seeking entrance
- Being apparently more frank, in saying "you're the swingin'est and that's no lie", and insisting on being let in promptly lest the rest of the household return first
- Foregoing mentioning any fairy-tale-wolfish characteristics or behavior except a Three-Pigs-wolfish threat to blow the house down (unless one counts cackling laughter).
However, at least one site, which ignores the Bopper-recorded lyrics in listing his work, attributes the Blackwell/Pharaohs lyrics to the Big Bopper.
Cover versions
Subsequent recordings of the Blackwell composition included a version by punk rock band Bowling for SoupBowling for Soup
Bowling for Soup is an American pop-punk band which originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994...
on their 2005 album Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies
- B-sides :- About the songs :# "Jimmy Neutron Theme"...
. The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
also released a cover of the song in their Live Smashing Pumpkins
Live Smashing Pumpkins
Live Smashing Pumpkins is a joint venture between the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and the music distributor Nugs.net Enterprises to sell audio recordings "mastered directly from the soundboard" of The Smashing Pumpkins concerts from the band's 2008 20th anniversary tour of...
album series. ApologetiX
ApologetiX
ApologetiX is a Christian parody band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. The band was founded in 1992, and since then, has played in 44 states, released 17 studio albums, and built up a fan club that includes 45,000 people. The band is currently composed of J...
parodied this as "Little-Read Bible Book" on their 2004 album, Adam Up. A cover was also done by punk pioneers 999
999 (band)
999 are an English rock band who formed in London in 1977. They are often cited as one of the first punk rock bands. Between 1978 and 1981, they had five Top 75 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and one Top 40 single. After extensive touring across the Atlantic Ocean, the band's third and fourth...
. A cover version of the song appeared on the Voodoo Glow Skulls 2002 album "Steady as She Goes", listed as 'Untitled Hidden Track'. To promote her movie, Red Riding Hood, star Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Michelle Seyfried is an American actress, singer-songwriter and former child model. She began her career as a child model when she was 11, and at 15 began her career as an actress, starting off with uncredited roles and moving on to recurring roles on As the World Turns and All My...
performed a cover of the song.