The story behind
Baltimora released "Tarzan Boy" in April 1985 as the lead single from their album *Living in the Background*. The song was recorded in the Italo disco style, featuring an electronic beat and simple English lyrics. The chorus uses Tarzan's cry as a melody, and the song is very rhythmic, perfect for dancing. The lyrics tell the story of a man alone in the jungle, enjoying his freedom, as if he were the famous character. Although it was not written by the singer, some interpreted the song as a statement about his sexual orientation. The original version is 3:48 long, but there are longer versions, such as the “summer version,” which runs 6:40. The single was released in Europe by Columbia/EMI and in the United States by Manhattan Records. It was a hit in Italy, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. In France, it topped the charts for five weeks. In the United Kingdom, it reached number three, and in the United States, it remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for six months, peaking at number 13. In the 1990s, the song became popular thanks to a Listerine commercial. It also appeared on soundtracks for films such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III and Beverly Hills Ninja. The music video has a comedic style, with the singer dressed in an extravagant manner. ↓ Skip to chords
Key
F major
Capo
0
Text
Auto
Intro 1
F5 C5 D5
Bb5 C5 F5
F5 C5 D5
Bb5 C5 F5
Interlude 1
F5 C5 D5
Bb5 C5 F5
F5 C5 D5
Bb5 C5 F5
Verse 1
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb
C A/Db
Dm C/E F
Verse 2
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb
C A/Db
Dm
C/E F
Interlude 2
F C Dm
Bb C F
F C Dm
Bb C F
Chorus 1
Bb
C
Bb
C
Bb
C
Dm Dm
Interlude 3
F C Dm
Bb C F
F C Dm
Bb C F
Verse 3
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb C
A/Db Dm
C/E F
Verse 4
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb C
Dm Bb
C A/Db
Dm C/E F
Chorus 2
Bb
C
Bb
C
Bb
C
Bb
Dm
Chorus 3
Bb
C
Bb
C
Gm Bb
C
Dm Dm
Interlude 4
F C Dm
Bb C F
F C Dm
Bb C F
Outro 1
F C Dm
Bb C F
Repeat and fade
From the album
Living in the Background
Baltimora · 0 · Track 0