♫ The Streak ♫

Posted on by under Humour, music, Social commentary

I had a lovely song in mind to play tonight, but I decided that I’d rather have a bit of fun and save the lovely song for tomorrow or the next day!  My friend Jerry Roll suggested this one a couple of weeks ago, and I told him I would consider it if it wasn’t too … er … risqué.  He laughed and said that since it was a #1 hit in both the U.S. and the UK, it must be audience-approved!  And so, as I watched the video once again, listened to Ray Stevens, and found myself actually grinning, then chuckling, I decided we all need a bit of humour!

The Streak was written, produced, and sung by country music artist Ray Stevens and released in February 1974. Stevens was inspired to write this after reading an article about streaking, which was a fad among college students where they would run around naked in public. By the time Stevens recorded this, a bunch of other songs about streaking had already been released. He took it to a Nashville radio station, and the song got a great response when they played it.  Says Ray …

“There were about a dozen other records about streaking on the market before I could get mine out, and I was pretty fast! I wrote the song the minute I heard about streaking, and got in the studio and cut it. People were just … I don’t know how they got their records out so fast, but maybe they weren’t all that good. When mine came out, it took the market. It was the one that radio liked.”

Five days after this was released, one of the most high-profile streaks took place at the Academy Awards, when advertising executive Robert Opel streaked past David Niven on live TV. This added to the public’s fascination with streaking and helped make the song a huge hit.  Robert Opel, by the way, was murdered in 1979 at the age of only 39.

One of Stevens’ most successful recordings, The Streak was his second #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S., spending three weeks at the top in May 1974, as well as reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. A major international hit, it also reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending a single week at the top of the chart in June 1974. In total it sold over five million copies internationally and ranked on Billboard′s top hits of 1974 at #8.

The Streak
Ray Stevens

Hello, everyone, 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?

Yeah, I did
I’s standin’ over there by the tomaters
And here he come
Running through the pole beans
Through the fruits and vegetables
Nekkid as a jay bird
And I hollered over t’ Ethel
I said, “Don’t look, Ethel!”
But it’s too late
She’d already been incensed.

Boogity, boogity
(There he goes)
Boogity, boogity
(And he ain’t wearin’ no clothes)

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
(Boogity, boogity)
Fastest thing on two feet
(Boogity, boogity)
He’s just as proud as he can be
Of his anatomy
He goin’ give us a peek

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
(Boogity, boogity)
He likes to show off his physique
(Boogity, boogity)
If there’s an audience to be found
He’ll be streakin’ around
Invitin’ public critique

This is your action news reporter once again
And we’re here at the gas station
Pardon me, sir, did you see what happened?

Yeah, I did
I’s just in here gettin my tires checked
An’ he just appeared out of the traffic
He come streakin’ around the grease rack there
Didn’t have nothin’ on but a smile
I looked in there, and Ethel was gettin’ her a cold drink
I hollered, “Don’t look, Ethel!”
But it was too late
She’d already been mooned
Flashed her right there in front of the shock absorbers

Boogity, boogity
(He ain’t lewd)
Boogity, boogity
(He’s just in the mood to run in the nude)

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
(Boogity, boogity)
He likes to turn the other cheek
(Boogity, boogity)
He’s always makin’ the news
Wearin’ just his tennis shoes
Guess you could call him unique

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?

Yeah, I did
Half time, I’s just goin’ down thar to get Ethel a snow cone
And here he come, right out of the cheap seats, dribbling
Right down the middle of the court
Didn’t have on nothing but his PF’s.
Made a hook shot and got out through the concessions stands
I hollered up at Ethel
I said, “Don’t look, Ethel!”
But it was too late.
She’d already got a free shot
Grandstandin’, right there in front of the home team

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Here he comes again.
(Boogity, boogity)
Who’s that with him?
The fastest thing on two feet
Ethel? Is that you, Ethel?
(Boogity, boogity)
What do you think you’re doin’?
He’s just as proud as he can be
You git your clothes on!
Of his anatomy
He’s gonna give us a peek

Oh, yes, they call him the Streak
Ethel! Where you goin’?
(Boogity, boogity)
Ethel, you shameless hussy!
He likes to show off his physique
Say it isn’t so, Ethel!
(Boogity, boogity)
If there’s an audience to be found
He’ll be streakin’ around
Invitin’ public critique
Ethelllllll!

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Ray Stevens
The Streak lyrics © Apace Rights Ltd, Ahab Music Company Inc

29 thoughts on “♫ The Streak ♫”

  2. The first streaker I ever saw were at the Easter Be-In, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columb, Canada in 1968. Stevens didn’t see one till 1974? What rock was he hiding under?

    Liked by 1 person

  3. So, I took over as superintendent of the 750th Space Group Ops Center in Sunnyvale California, in the early nineties. I did things my own way. Got results, so it was accepted. One of the things I liked doing was singing out loud as I walked about the complex. A new assignee later told me that he first met me through my voice: I was walking through singing “The Streak”, imitating the lines that goes, “Who’s that with him? Ethel? Is that you, Ethel? What do you think you’re doin’? You git your clothes on!” Hearing that, he thought, “What in God’s name have I walked into?” Hugs and cheers, M

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  9. LOL! I saw the title and thought did she really post this? Is this the song I think it is. Yup you did and yes it was. Ray Stevens cracks me up! 😄 He has such fun songs, though I know Clive disagrees with me. 🙂 Sorry Clive!

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  10. Hated it then, and it hasn’t got any better. The schmaltz and ‘comedy’ this guy unleashed on us should have got him banned from recording studios for life. Yet he’s still doing it!

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