Song Meaning
These lyrics plunge us headfirst into a scene of raw, uninhibited infatuation. The speaker is utterly captivated by a girl, so much so that he feels compelled to "swing down on this grapevine" and "holler like Tarzan." It's a playful, almost cartoonish expression of being completely swept away.
The central tension here lies in the sheer force of the speaker's feelings versus the girl's apparent unawareness. "She doesn't know what a thing she's causing," the narrator observes, highlighting the disproportionate impact she has. This intense reaction even prompts a moment of self-reflection, as the speaker muses, "ain't that strange?"—a brief pause of bewilderment amidst the wild abandon.
What makes these lyrics particularly effective is the choice of the Tarzan metaphor. It's not just about strength or wildness; it evokes a primal, untamed joy and a complete shedding of societal inhibitions. The speaker isn't just attracted; he's reverting to an almost animalistic state, culminating in the guttural, surprising addition of "outlaw" to his Tarzan yell. This unexpected word choice adds a layer of rebellious, untamed spirit to his overwhelming desire.
Ultimately, the lyrics succeed by tapping into that universal, slightly absurd feeling of being so smitten you could burst. By grounding such a powerful, almost childlike emotion in vivid, primal imagery, the writing makes the experience of intense attraction feel both authentic and larger-than-life, resonating with anyone who's ever felt completely undone by someone's presence.