Album: Boogity Boogity (1974)

Charted: 1 1

License This Song 

• SPOKEN: Hello, ev'ryone, This is your Action News reporter with all the news that
  is news across the nation on the scene at the supermarket. There seems to have
  been some disturbance here. Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened?
  
  SPOKEN: Yeah, I did. I's standin' over there by the tomaters and here he comes-
  runnin' through the pole beans, through the fruits ''n' vegetables, nekked as a
  jaybird. 'n' I hollered over t'Ethel, I said "DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!!" 'n' it's too late-
  she'd already been INcensed.
  
  (Here he comes)
  Looka dat, looka dat
  (There he goes)
  Looka dat, looka dat
  (And he ain't wearin' no clothes)
  
  Whoa, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  Fastest thing on two feet
  Looka dat, looka dat
  He's just as proud as he can be of his anatomy
  He gun give us a peek
  Oh, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  He likes to show off his physique
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  If there's an audience to be found
  He'll be streakin' A-round invitin' public critique <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  
  SPOKEN: This is your Action News reporter once again and we're here at the gas
  station. Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened?
  
  SPOKEN: Yeah, I did. I's just in here gettin' my tawres checked 'n' he just
  appeared outta the back. Come streakin' around the grease rack there-didn't have
  nuthin on but a smile!! I looked at her and Ethel was gettin' 'er a cold drink. I
  hollered "DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!!" But it's too late-she'd already been MOONED!!
  Flashed her right there in front of the shock absorbers!!
  
  (He ain't crude)
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  (He ain't rude)
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  (He's just in the mood to run in the nude)
  
  Whoa, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  He likes to turn other cheek
  (Looka dat, looka dat)
  He's always makin' the news wearin' just his tennis shoes
  Guess you could call him unique <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  
  SPOKEN: Once again, your Action News reporter in the booth at the gym covering
  the disturbance at the basketball playoff. Pardon me, sir, did you see what
  happened?
  
  SPOKEN: Yeah, I did. Halftime, I's just goin' down there to get Ethel a snow cone.
  Here he come, right outta the cheap seats, dribblin'. Right down the middle of the
  floor. Didn't have on nothin' but his Keds! Made a hook shot and got out through
  the concession stand. I hollered up at Ethel, I said "DON'T LOOK, ETHEL!!"..Too
  late. She'd already gotten a free shot. Grandstand. Right there in front of the
  home team.
  
  Whoa, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  
  CLOSING: Not totally decipherable because 3 things are going on at once. Ray is
  singing a verse and the backup singers are doing (Looka dat, looka dat) while Ray,
  on an overlaid track is speaking "Ethel! Is that you
  Ethel? < He's just as proud as he can be > What do you think
  you're doin? < He gonna give us a peek> You get your clothes on !!"
  Whoa, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>
  "Ethel, where you goin'? < He likes to show off his physique> Ethel, you
  shameless hussy!!" invitin' public critique> Say it isn't SO, Ethel!! Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 11

• Steve Allen from Woodbury TnWho are the girls on video the streak
• Michele Gilliland from Fort Gibson OklahomaI remember hearing this when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I thought it was the funniest song. My husband has it on his playlist.
• Ethel Carlyle from Bristol Tennessee By using my name in your song everyone that meets says Dont look Ethel. It makes me furious. I tell them yes i have heard that at least a thousand times. People have teased me that i wanted to change my name to something beside Ethel. But my grandmother name was Ethel. She also hated that song. I could not do that to her.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaThis man always makes me laugh Look out Ethel. wonder however, who his back up singers were, and who were the actors on his videos?
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenWhenever I hear this, I think of something that actually happened during the early-to-mid-70s "streaking" craze. Many here may remember the way Safeways (the ones with the arched roofs) were laid out at that time – a door on the left and right sides of the building with a wide aisle between them that passed in front of the checkout counters. In my neck of the woods, a favored way of streaking was for a car to let the streaker out at one of the doors. The au buffo individual would run past the checkouts, during which time the car would quickly drive over to the other door and pick him/her up and peel rubber before anyone could react. A friend of my older sister's had learned that her boyfriend was two-timing her, but had not yet revealed her knowledge to him. Wearing a poncho and "just his tennis shoes," he got into her car and she drove him to the local Safeway. He shed his poncho, jumped out and streaked past the checkouts and out the door, only to find that his (ex-) girlfriend had driven off without him. Best breakup ever!
• Farrah from Elon, NcOne Of the funniest songs ever. Ray Stevens is The King Of Country Comedy in my opinion.
• Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiThis is a funny song! I saw the streaker on a flashback David opal run past David Nivin at the academy awards.I wish I put it on dvr,maybe when the academy awards moments comes on.I'll put it on.I'll print the words to it.
• Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaThis, as well as being a funny song, hearkens back to the days when a song told an actual story, rather than being a collection of hooks & refrains -- he(the storyteller) is watching a game, when a streasker runs through; his first thought is for his wife's sensibiklities, so he holers, "Don't look, Ethel!" eventually we find out in a bit of comedy irony that the streaker IS his wife Ethel! Too cute!
• Andrew from Birmingham, United StatesThis song is so goofy. Ray Stevens is also a redneck, as we can VERY clearly hear. "Disco Duck" cracks me up; "The Streak" is goofy too, but in a different way. "Disco Duck" uses a "duck-voice"; "The Streak" is merely making a farce out of a news incident. It's fun to listen to.
• Lalah from Wasilla, AkThis was the goofiest song about one of the stupidest fads of the 70s. Even pet rocks made more sense. I knew every word of it along with all of my classmates. Football jocks made it a rite of passage to run through a study hall wearing a ski mask and a smile. Everybody would yell "DONT LOOK ETHEL!"
• Don from Newmarket, CanadaDavid Niven's comment about the streaker as he was being led away "Now that man has allowed the world to see his shortcomings."

More Songfacts:

Peter Gunn ThemeHenry Mancini

"Peter Gunn" was the first TV theme to hit the Hot 100.

MMMbopHanson

Zac Hanson was just 11 years and 7 months old when "MMMbop" topped the Hot 100, making him the youngest group member to co-write and perform a US #1 single.

OutsideStaind

Staind's big moment came in 1999 when lead singer Aaron Lewis played "Outside" on Limp Bizkit's Family Values tour. The live, acoustic version earned lots of radio play.

Diamonds From Sierra LeoneKanye West

"Diamonds From Sierra Leone" by Kanye West is about the "blood diamonds" mined using child labor in Africa. It also serves as a shout-out to Roc-A-Fella records, known for a diamond-shaped hand signal.

Take It EasyEagles

The Eagles' first single, "Take It Easy," was written by Jackson Browne, who was living in the apartment below Glenn Frey when he wrote it.

The House Of The Rising SunThe Animals

"The House Of The Rising Sun" is a traditional folk song, either about a brothel or a prison.

Editor's Picks

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.