The Boogie Man
Kinky Friedman Lyrics


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Well, the boogie man
Gonna get you and
Snatch you up and whip you off to Boogie Land.
If you don't watch out

He'll make you scream and shout,
He the boogie man.
He the boogie man.

He gonna have them ants
Crawlin' in your pants
With them creatures in your seat you got to leap up to your feet you know you gotta dance

To the boogie man,
To the boogie man, babe,
He the boogie man.

The boogie man, he's got a little piece of land,
He got a mean ol' lady keeps him gentle as a lamb.
He got a dog named Frog and a VW van,
The neighbors think he's an insurance man.

When the moon comes out, the kids all shout
"Hey bring him out, come on, bring him out!"
He picks up his guitar, there's a change inside
From the good Dr. Jekyll to the bad Mr. Hyde.

Come on and clap hands
For the boogie man.
He the wicked master
Of the screamin' Telecaster

And the one-night stand
He the boogie man.
He the boogie man, babe,
He the boogie man.

The boogie man, he's got a little piece of land,
He got a mean ol' lady keeps him gentle as a lamb.
He got a dog named Frog and a VW van,
The neighbors think he's an insurance man.

When the man comes out, the kids all shout
"Hey bring him out, come on, bring him out!"




He picks up his guitar there's a change inside
From the good Dr. Jekyll to the bad Mr. Hyde.

Overall Meaning

The song "The Boogie Man" by Kinky Friedman is a playful and humorous take on the mythical creature who terrorizes children's nightmares. In the song, the boogie man is described as a menacing figure who snatches people and takes them off to Boogie Land. He has the power to make people dance uncontrollably, and even has ants crawling in their pants. Despite his wickedness, the boogie man is also portrayed as a musician with a love for the Telecaster guitar. The song suggests that, while the boogie man may be a frightening presence, he is also a source of entertainment and excitement.


One way to interpret the song's lyrics is as a commentary on the power of music to incite people to dance and let loose. The boogie man is a personification of this idea; he represents the irresistible rhythm that gets people moving. The song also plays with the idea of fear, suggesting that the boogie man is both terrifying and thrilling. Moreover, the song depicts the boogie man as having a hidden life, with a "little piece of land," a dog named Frog, and a VW van. These mundane details juxtapose with his seemingly supernatural abilities, highlighting the idea that appearances can be deceiving.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, the boogie man
Introducing the character of the boogie man


Gonna get you and
The boogie man is coming for you


Snatch you up and whip you off to Boogie Land.
He'll take you to a magical place where you have to dance


If you don't watch out
Be cautious of the boogie man and his powers


He'll make you scream and shout,
The boogie man has the ability to make you feel immense joy and excitement


He the boogie man.
Reiterating the presence of the boogie man


He gonna have them ants
The boogie man has control over small creatures like ants


Crawlin' in your pants
These creatures might invade your personal space


With them creatures in your seat you got to leap up to your feet you know you gotta dance
You'll be forced to start dancing to the boogie man's beat


To the boogie man,
Invoking the boogie man's name


To the boogie man, babe,
A term of endearment for the boogie man


He the boogie man.
Confirming that the boogie man is present


The boogie man, he's got a little piece of land,
The boogie man has his own territory


He got a mean ol' lady keeps him gentle as a lamb.
Despite his sinister image, the boogie man is controlled by his partner


He got a dog named Frog and a VW van,
The boogie man has a dog and car, basic things that make him look like a normal person


The neighbors think he's an insurance man.
No one really knows what the boogie man does for a living


When the moon comes out, the kids all shout
The boogie man is popular among the youth


"Hey bring him out, come on, bring him out!"
The kids demand to see the boogie man


He picks up his guitar, there's a change inside
Playing his guitar is like a transformation for the boogie man


From the good Dr. Jekyll to the bad Mr. Hyde.
He becomes a different person, going from calm to sinister at the sound of music


Come on and clap hands
A call for the audience to applaud


For the boogie man.
Appreciation for the boogie man's performance


He the wicked master
A recognition of the power and skill of the boogie man


Of the screamin' Telecaster
The boogie man can make his guitar scream with his ability


And the one-night stand
The boogie man's performance is like a one-night stand, a fleeting experience


He the boogie man.
Ending the song with the reiteration of the character's presence




Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: H JONES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Floyd Potter

Richard 'Kinky' Friedman says this is real sweet. But 'taint that silly song he wrote '80s. All you ranchers know. Getting him stoked for the new tour and, given this, he asks if we're not setting him up like Malcolm Little.

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