When I was just sixteen
I stood waiting for a dream
At Barker's Street bus station every night
When I tried to get it on
She just looked at me with scorn
My courage turned to fear and I took flight

For those looks, they seemed to say
You ain't nothin', go away
You're just a face in the crowd
So I went home and I vowed
I'm gonna be somebody, someday

Her name was Irene Wilde
Oh, such beauty for a child
When she started dating boys, I nearly died
For I could not barely stand
Seeing anyone hold her hand
I felt I had to crawl away and hide

In my mother's sunny room
I composed so many tunes
They were all the same, just a frame
For a name and just to say
I'm gonna be somebody, someday

Wilde is your name
As you left that country town
I'd been around, I'd seen some fame
I'd seen some ups, I'd seen some downs
Smile through your shock
When you hear your name aloud
It's that face in the crowd
I didn't dig it, I'm much too proud

When I was just sixteen
I stood waiting for that dream
At Barker's Street bus station non-affair
At the time, it seemed so sad
But it didn't turn out bad
If she hadn't turned me down
I'd still be there

You know I think those folks agree
A little put down makes them see
They ain't no chain, they're just the link
And that's why she made me think
I'm gonna be somebody, be somebody
Be somebody, someday