The Streak

Album

Boogity Boogity

Label

Barnaby Records

Genre

Novelty

Composer(s)

Ray Stevens (aka Harold Ragsdale)

Entered Chart

Apr 13, 1974

Peak Date

May 18, 1974

Released

February 1974

Recorded

1973

Catalog #

Barnaby 600

B-Side

You've Got The Music Inside

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. Stevens recalled in an interview with Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International: "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.

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!!