"The Wanderer" is a song written by Ernie Maresca and originally recorded by Dion, released on his 1961 album Runaround Sue. The song, with a 12-bar blues-base verse and an eight-bar bridge, tells the story of a travelling man and his many loves.
"The Wanderer" has been covered by many other popular singers and bands, including Bad Company, Dee Snider, Gary Glitter, The Beach Boys, Leif Garrett (US number 49 in 1978), Bruce Springsteen, Delbert McClinton, Dave Edmunds, Status Quo covered the song twice, once as a complete version, and once again as part of their Anniversary Waltz, Pt. 1.
Status Quo's version was a number seven hit in the UK and a number three hit in Ireland in 1984; it was later included on the 2006 reissue of Back to Back. Eddie Rabbitt's version was a number one hit on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in mid-1988.
The song is ranked number 243 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.