SHA LA LA
(words and music by Rick Springfield) 

Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Walking out quite late one night
Not feeling happy or feeling down
In the dark I stumbled over
Something on the ground

As I got back to my feet
I heard a strange voice singing low
Shout out a song I won't forget
'Til my dying day I know

'Cause She said
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la

And when I heard
Her singing
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

First my impulse was to run
But then the magic caught my ear
An unforgettable refrain
A song for all the year

Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la

And then I heard
Her singing
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

In despair I cried out loudly
Begging for her to come out
Suddenly as it began
The sha la song died out

At last I realized who had sung it
Quite amazed I turned to see
The tall trees waving me goodbye
The sha la song and me

They sought me
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la

And then I heard
Her singing
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Sha, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

(total playing time 2:58)

Song Facts: This can be found on Zoot Out and Zoot Locker.

According to US

I actually like this song, even with all of the "sha la la's," and nonsense-type lyrics. I don't mind "strange" lyrics if the music and sound are good. I like the sound and beat of this one. It's also got some good guitars here and there. The music is very upbeat. There is also a cool drum effect of some kind about part-way through. But if I had to choose, I'd say this is my least favorite Zoot/Rick song from Zoot Locker. 

I'm not real sure what Rick was thinking about when he wrote this song (was he hallucinating?! LOL I know psychedelics were big around this time), because it appeared he was hearing things that weren't there….maybe even seeing things. As the story goes in the song, he is in a neutral mood late one night---Walking out quite late one night, not feeling happy or feeling down---when he trips over something in the dark, gets up and realizes he hears a voice singing from "somewhere." The "sha la la`s" scared him at first and he almost ran back inside, until he realized what a magical, beautiful sound it was. So he asks her (the `voice') to come out, but the singing stopped as quickly as it had began. Maybe he should have just stood and listened to it, rather than questioning the voice. Was his mind playing tricks on him? (Again…just WHAT were you drinking that night Rick?! LOL Ok, so the boy has a vivid imagination. That much we DO know.) Then it gets weird. "At last I realized who had sung it, quite amazed I turned to see, the tall trees waving me goodbye, the sha la song and me." He looks around to see the trees "waving" at him and realizes it was the wind rustling in the trees, playing on his imagination. (Or so it seems. That is all I can gather from that verse.) Like I said before, the lyrics are strange…like he was hearing the voice of a woman who wasn't there. 

I wonder if Rick was gathering some influence from the Beatles when he wrote this song. They have many songs in which the lyrics leave me saying, "WHAT are you talking about?!" I admit, I kind of like crazy songs from time to time. The first thing that pops into my mind when I think of nonsensical songs is Strawberry Fields by the Beatles. GREAT song, but I have no idea what all of it means if I try to break down the lyrics. This one is pretty much the same way. Just take it for what it is, sing along, and don't worry too much about what really inspired the words. As a very wise man later said, "it is what it is."  - Kelley Pearson

I actually like this song from Zoot! I think it may be at this point on the CD when I actually start to enjoy the music. Could be because Rick's songs start here, but I wouldn't want to say I am prejudice...hee hee!

I think my favorite 'sound' of this song is the tambourine. It gives the song its on stand-out character, I think. Now, after a while all those repetitive 'sha la la's' start to get monotonous, but since the song is not tooo long, I can stomach it. Also, the lyrics are simple and understandable which also makes it a like-able song for me. - 
Amy L.