🐒 About the Song
“Going Wild in the Country” is pure, beautiful chaos — part tribal anthem, part shopping detox, part teenage rebellion.
Released in 1981, it was the sound of post-punk meeting the jungle drum. Bow Wow Wow, formed by ex-Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, were a riot of percussion, surf guitar, and attitude — fronted by the teenage dynamo Annabella Lwin.
The song’s about escaping the neon grime of consumer life — “I don’t like you / I don’t need you” — and running headfirst into the wild.
It’s tongue-in-cheek, anti-establishment, and infectiously fun.
On ukulele, it morphs into a punk-folk rally cry — bouncy, percussive, and perfect for a sweaty singalong with a grin.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
We’ll play it in D major, which keeps the bright bite and easy voicings.
You’ll need D, G, A, and Bm.
Verse progression: [D] – [G] – [A] – [D]
Chorus: [Bm] – [G] – [A] – [D]
Tempo: 140–150 bpm — fast, punchy, full of energy.
Strumming pattern: down–down–up–chuck–up–down–up
Add percussive palm mutes or body taps between bars to mimic the tribal drumming.
If you’ve got a low-G uke, use that bass note to drive the rhythm — it’ll sound wicked.
To keep it authentic, try alternating full strums with quick single-note flicks on the top string — that surf-punk snap cuts through beautifully.
Singing tip: Channel your inner brat.
Annabella Lwin doesn’t croon — she declares.
Half talk, half shout, totally confident.
If you’re not grinning by the second chorus, you’re doing it wrong.
💡 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Annabella Lwin was only 14 when the band formed — she was literally discovered singing in a dry cleaner’s.
- The song’s percussive sound was inspired by Burundi drumming — McLaren lifted actual tribal beats for early demos.
- Bow Wow Wow also popularised the cassette single (“cassingle”) with their song C·30 C·60 C·90 Go!
- “Going Wild in the Country” hit #7 on the UK Singles Chart in 1982.
- The band’s fashion, music, and attitude heavily influenced later acts like Adam Ant and No Doubt.
🌈 Final Word
“Going Wild in the Country” is freedom with a wink — escape as performance art.
On ukulele, it’s all rhythm, laughter, and cheeky rebellion.
It’s not about perfect tone; it’s about energy.
Play it fast, stomp your foot, and shout that chorus like you just quit your day job and bought a tent
