After The Big O

Written for Song Lyric Sunday
where we’re writing about songs
that appear on an artist’s 2^nd album.
Here’s how the theme inspired me.

This week for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Sophomoric”. The challenge? To write about a song from an artist’s second album.

No matter how far or how wide you search, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more talented, creative, laid back and fun-loving group. I love the music and the delightful and humorous environment created by these guys and I love each one of them! It’s a no-brainer who my featured group is today.

The Traveling Wilburys was a British-American group formed in 1988, consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty. They formed after a chance collaboration between Harrison and Lynne while working on Harrison’s solo album, Cloud Nine. The group’s debut album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, was a huge success, leading to a second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3 (yes, that’s deliberate), after Roy Orbison’s death. 

The group was quickly dubbed a “supergroup” due to the high profile of its members … all established and hugely successful singers/songwriters/performers. I would be remiss at this time if I did not mention the incredible Jim Keltner, session drummer who was with the Wilburys during their time as a group.

The band adopted the persona of a fictional family band with each member taking on a Wilbury pseudonym, adding to their unique charm. The Traveling Wilburys achieved significant commercial and critical success with their two albums, becoming the most beloved supergroup in rock history. Roy Orbison’s death in 1988 left the group with four members for their second album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. Despite disbanding after 1991, the Wilburys’ legacy continues to resonate with fans and their albums have been reissued. Just in case you’re still scratching your head, the Traveling Wilburys’ second album was titled Vol. 3 as a humorous and slightly mischievous move by George Harrison. The band wanted to playfully confuse fans and collectors, essentially skipping Vol. 2 as a joke.

It wasn’t easy to choose just one song so I decided not to put any unnecessary pressure on myself and went with my top three favorite songs from Vol. 3. The first one is called “Wilbury Twist” with a video including lots of familiar faces. The song is a playful, lighthearted track that harkens back to the early days of R&R, with a focus on a silly, choreographed dance. It’s a fun, tongue-in-cheek song that encourages listeners to let loose and enjoy themselves. 

This is “Wilbury Twist” by the Traveling Wilburys

LYRICS

You put your hand on your head (hand on your head)
Put your foot in the air (foot in the air)
Then, you hop around the room (hop around the room)
In your underwear (in your underwear)
There ain’t never been nothin’ quite like this
Come on, baby, it’s the Wilbury Twist

Lift your other foot up (other foot up)
And fall on your ass (fall on your ass)
Get back up (get back up)
Put your teeth in a glass (teeth in a glass)
Ain’t never been nothin’ quite like this
It’s a magical thing called the Wilbury Twist

Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist
China, Belgium, France, Japan
Thailand, Poland, Pakistan
Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

Roll up your rug (roll up your rug)
Dust your broom (dust your broom)
Ball the jack (ball the jack)
Howl at the moon (at the moon)
Ain’t never been nothin’ quite like this
Everybody’s talkin’ ’bout the Wilbury Twist

Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist
Puerto Rico, USA
England, Cameroon, Norway
Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

Turn your lights down low (your lights down low)
Put your blindfold on (your blindfold on)
You’ll never know (you’ll never know)
When your friends have gone (when your friends have gone)
It could be years before you’re missed
Everybody’s trying to do the Wilbury Twist

It’s a different dance (it’s a different dance)
For you all to do (for you all to do)
Spin your body (very versatile)
Like a screw (spin your body like a screw)
Better not forget on your shopping list
(You can stop and buy one, it’s the Wilbury Twist)
Ain’t never been nothin’ quite like this
(Better come and get it, it’s the Wilbury Twist)
I guess by now you’ve got the gist
(Everybody’s crazy about the Wilbury Twist)

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: George Harrison/Bob Dylan/Jeff Lynne/Thomas Earl Petty
Wilbury Twist lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Special Rider Music, Emi Music Publishing, Universal Tunes, Gone Gator Music, Universal Music Group, Tom Petty, Harrisongs, Notoriousjbpsongs

🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶

Our second song, “Inside Out”, emerged from the band’s collaborative songwriting process following the death of Roy Orbison. The song, written by all four members, is notable for its lyrics addressing environmental themes, particularly a world appearing to turn yellow. The music video, set on a concert stage, features the four Wilburys performing the track, once again with Jim Keltner on drums. 

This is “Inside Out” by the Traveling Wilburys

LYRICS

Look out your window
That grass ain’t green
It’s kinda yellow
See what I mean

Look up your chimney
The sky ain’t blue
It’s kinda yellow
You know it’s true

And it’s so hard to figure what it’s all about

When your outside’s in (inside out)
And your downside’s up (upside down)
Yeah, your upside’s right (right side up)
Yeah, don’t it make you wanna twist and shout
When you’re inside out?

Look down your drain pipe
What color do you see?
It’s got to be yellow
Don’t try to fool me

And don’t it make you wanna twist and shout?

When your outside’s in (inside out)
And your downside’s up (upside down)
Yeah, your upside’s right (right side up)
Yeah, don’t it make you wanna twist and shout
When you’re inside out?

Be careful where you’re walking
You might step in something rough
Be careful when you’re talking
And saying all that stuff

Take care when you are breathing
Something’s funny in the air
There’s somethings I’m not saying
‘Bout what’s happening out there
It’s inside out

Look into the future
With your mystic crystal ball
See if it ain’t yellow
See if it’s there at all

Ain’t no shadow of a doubt (ah-ah)
Don’t it make you wanna twist and shout?

When your outside’s in (inside out)
And your downside’s up (upside down)
Yeah, your upside’s right (right side up)
Yeah, don’t it make you wanna twist and shout
When you’re inside out?

Inside out, right side up
Yeah, don’t it make you wanna twist and shout
When you’re inside out?
Inside out
Inside out

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: George Harrison/Bob Dylan/Jeff Lynne/Thomas Earl Petty
Inside Out lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Special Rider Music, Emi Music Publishing, Universal Tunes, Gone Gator Music, Universal Music Group, Tom Petty, Harrisongs, Notoriousjbpsongs

🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶 🎶

The final song for today is the only one not written by the members of the Traveling Wilburys and one you’ll recognize immediately. “Runaway” is a cover of the Del Shannon hit, recorded as a tribute following Shannon’s death; it features Jeff Lynne on lead vocals. While the original “Runaway” is known for its distinctive musitron solo, the Wilburys’ version includes guitar and harmonica instead but maintains the song’s melodic core. 

This is “Runaway” by the Traveling Wilburys

LYRICS

As I walk along
I wonder what went wrong
With our love, a love that was so strong
And as I still walk on
I think of the things we’ve done together
Awhile our hearts were young

I’m a-walkin’ in the rain
Tears are fallin’ and I feel the pain
Wishin’ you were here by me
To end this misery

And I wonder
I wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder
Why
Why, why, why, why, why she ran away
And I wonder
Where she will stay
My little runaway
Run, run, run, run, runaway

I’m a-walkin’ in the rain
Tears are fallin’ and I feel the pain
Wishin’ you were here by me
To end this misery

And I wonder
I wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder
Why
Why, why, why, why, why she ran away
And I wonder
Where she will stay
My little runaway
Run, run, run, run, runaway
Run, run, run, run, runaway
Run, run, run, run, runaway
Run, run, run, run, runaway

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Del Shannon/Max D. Crook
Runaway lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Sophomoric

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some tunes.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

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