Sounds of Soul

While the singer does not think academics are his strong suit — whether it’s history, biology, or French — he does know about love. The song was written by Sam Cooke, Lou Adler, and Herb Alpert (of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass fame) — and the three of them used the pseudonym Barbara Campbell, which was the name of Cooke’s high school sweetheart. In 1960, it went to #12 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B Chart as well as #27 in the U.K.

Artists who have covered the song include Otis Redding, Herman’s Hermits, The Supremes, and Art Garfunkel (with harmonies from James Taylor and Paul Simon). The song was featured in the 1978 film Animal House, the 1983 film Breathless, and the 2005 comedy Hitch. There was a cover by Greg Chapman for the 1985 movie Witness.  Rolling Stone magazine includes it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Here are the lyrics to “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke:

“Don’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book,
Don’t know much about the French I took.
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be.

Don’t know much about geography,
Don’t know much trigonometry.
Don’t know much about algebra,
Don’t know what a slide rule is for.
But I do know that one and one is two,
And if this one could be with you,
What a wonderful world this would be.

Now, I don’t claim to be an ‘A’ student,
But I’m tryin’ to be.
For maybe by being an ‘A’ student, baby,
I can win your love for me.

Don’t know much about history,
Don’t know much biology.
Don’t know much about a science book,
Don’t know much about the French I took.
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be.

History
Biology
Science book
French I took.
But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you love me, too,
What a wonderful world this would be.”

For other songs by Sam Cooke: “Ain’t that Good News,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” “Another Saturday Night,” and “You Send Me.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke.