The Meaning Behind 'Wooly Bully' and the L-7 Gesture
Imagine you're back in the middle of the Swinging Sixties. The era is known for its vibrant culture, fashion, music, and slang. One of the iconic songs from this era is Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. The term 'Wooly Bully' isn't just a catchy phrase; it encompasses the entire era's cultural vernacular and gestures. In the song, when you hear the lyrics related to the L-7 gesture, it's a significant piece of 1960s slang that has been immortalized in popular songs.
Understanding the L-7 Gesture
The L-7 gesture, often referred to simply as 'square,' was a popular and amusing hand signal during the 1950s and 1960s. It's quite simple: you extend your thumb and forefinger to form an 'L' shape with your left hand, and then with your right hand, you form the mirror image of the L but upside down. When you place these two symbols side by side, they create a standard 'square.' However, in 1960s vernacular, a 'square' person was often seen as uncool or outdated, and the L-7 gesture became a funny way to denote such a person.
To explore the history further, let's trace the origin of this gesture. The L-7 gesture can be traced back to the Lincoln Motor Company. In the 1920s and 1930s, Lincoln produced a model called the Model L, which was not popular and eventually went out of business. This led to a joke: the Lincoln was referred to as the 'Loser Car.' Anyone driving a Lincoln was seen as old-fashioned or uncool. The term 'square' was adopted from the L-7 gesture, where the L shape with a mirror image (7) created a square symbol. In the 1950s, this gesture was brought back to life in the context of hip and cool versus square through the beatnik culture.
Sam the Sham, the lead singer of Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, was from Portland, Oregon, which happens to be my hometown. The song 'Wooly Bully' was a brilliant blend of the cultural vernacular of the 1960s, including the L-7 gesture, to convey the idea of not wanting to be seen as uncool or square. The lyrics suggest a longing for coolness and being part of the in-crowd, and the L-7 gesture was a sophisticated yet humorous way to express this sentiment.
Historical Associations and Cultural Impact
This era was rich with slang and gestures that were used to differentiate between what was considered 'cool' and 'square.' In the 50s, the L-7 gesture was a hip way to perform this. By the 60s, the term 'square' had become more popular, and the L-7 gesture was widely recognized as a way to identify someone who was not up-to-date with the latest fashions and interests.
Interestingly, the L-7 gesture didn't disappear with the 60s. It resurfaced in the 1990s and 2000s, symbolizing a similar sentiment of being out of the loop. Today, while the term 'square' may not be as popular, the L-7 gesture remains a nostalgic and humorous reminder of the cultural elements of the 1960s.
Conclusion
The L-7 gesture, mentioned in the song 'Wooly Bully,' is not just a casual fist pump or a quirky hand signal. It's a marker of cultural shifts, preferences, and social hierarchies of the 1960s and beyond. Its evolution reflects the complex interplay of fashion, music, and language over time. As we listen to 'Wooly Bully' today, we can appreciate its layered meanings and the importance of understanding cultural context.