Ray Stevens (born Harold Ray Ragsdale, 24th January 1939) is an American country and pop singer-songwriter, best known for a series of irreverent, quirky singles such as "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and "The Streak". His recording career began with two singles released on Prep Records, followed by a short stint with Capitol Records. Both contracts were made with the help of Atlanta, Georgia music maven Bill Lowery.
Stevens joined Lowery's National Recording Corporation in 1958, where he also was a member of the NRC staff band, playing numerous instruments, arranging, and doing background vocals. When NRC went into bankruptcy, he signed with Mercury Records, and started a series of hit records in the 1960s that included "Ahab the Arab" and "Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills". The later song held the record as the longest title to hit the Top 40 chart until being surpassed in 1981 by the Stars on 45 Medley, whose official title included the titles of 10 other songs because of copyright requirements.
Stevens became a producer and well-known studio musician on the Nashville scene, and recorded hits for Monument, Barnaby, Warner Brothers, MCA and RCA. Perhaps his most famous hit is "The Streak" (1974), which poked fun at the early-1970s "streaking" fad of running nude in public; this was a No 1 in both the UK and the USA. His novelty song "Bridget the Midget (The Queen of the Blues)" reached No 2 on the UK chart in 1971.
Stevens' biggest hit was his gospel-inflected single "Everything Is Beautiful" (1970). A plea for love and tolerance during turbulent times in the United States, the song shot to Number 1 there. Stevens has won two Grammy Awards: one for "Everything Is Beautiful" and one for the arrangement of his country and western version of the jazz standard "Misty" (1975). He also recorded a version of Glenn Miller's "In the Mood" in the style of a clucking chicken, under the pseudonym Henhouse Five Plus Too. This was a Top 40 hit in the US and UK.
With the popularity of the song "Everything Is Beautiful", Stevens had a variety show on CTV. The Ray Stevens Show appeared in Canada in 1970 and soon appeared in the United States on NBC and the United Kingdom on the BBC. Although it only has eight episodes, it is mostly known for being the show that launched the career of regular cast member Steve Martin.
Ray Stevens was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1991, Stevens opened the Ray Stevens Theater in Branson, Missouri. He performed there regularly until 2006, when he sold the theater.
In 2012, Stevens released The Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music, an 8-CD collection of what Stevens considered the 96 greatest comedy songs of all-time.
In the fall of 2019, Stevens will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Streak
Ray Stevens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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? < He's just as proud as he can be > What do
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!!"
The song "The Streak" by Ray Stevens is a comedic take on a fad from the 1970s where individuals would run naked in public, known as streaking. The lyrics feature a fictional news reporter who interviews witnesses to The Streaker's exploits, including his appearances at a supermarket, gas station, and basketball game. The witnesses are shocked and yell out warnings to their companions not to look at The Streaker's nudity. The catchy chorus features a kazoo sound and celebrates The Streaker's speed and pride in his physique.
The song's humor is derived from the reactions of the witnesses and the incongruity of a naked man appearing in seemingly everyday locations. The warnings for Ethel not to look and her subsequent indignation contribute to the comedic effect. The song also comments on the media's fascination with sensational stories, as the news reporter eagerly covers The Streaker's activities.
Line by Line Meaning
(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?)
Action News reporter announcing the story about the disturbance at the supermarket and asking a witness for details.
(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.)
The witness describing how a man ran naked through the supermarket, and the witness warned Ethel not to look, but she had already seen the naked man.
(Here he comes)
Looka dat, looka dat
(There he goes)
Looka dat, looka dat
(And he ain't wearin' no clothes)
The man is streaking, and everyone is looking at him and noting that he is naked.
(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>)
The man streaking is proud of his body and enjoying showing it off to the public, even inviting 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?)
The Action News reporter is reporting on another streaking incident at a gas station and is asking a witness for details.
(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!!)
The witness describes another streaking incident, where a man appears naked around the corner, and the witness warns Ethel not to look, but she has already seen the man's backside.
(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)
The man is not being vulgar or impolite by streaking, he just enjoys running naked.
(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>)
The man likes to show off his backside and appears in the news often wearing only tennis shoes, making him a unique character.
(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?)
The Action News reporter is at a basketball game reporting another streaking incident and is asking a witness for details.
(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.)
The man streaks through the basketball game, bouncing the ball and making a hook shot before escaping through the concession stand. The witness warns Ethel not to look, but she has already seen the man's front side in front of the home team.
(Whoa, yes they call him The Streak <"zipppp" kazoo sound>)
The man is known as The Streak because he likes to run naked in public.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ray Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@justgotcuter
Man I used to LOVE Ray Stephens when I was a kid. We still say, in our family till this day, "did ya see what happened? Yeahhhh I did!!"
@ladymoon1773
Great memories sitting around with my grandma and grandpa. Grandpa just laughing so hard. He had the best laugh.
@criscoleman
First time I've seen the video. Ray Stevens was terrific in an age no longer seen. It's hard to imagine any of his comedic songs playing on the radio today. Their loss.
@adamcantrell1005
If he isn’t in a hall of fame. Then he should get his own.
@FTC73
My Grandpa would sing this song and got me hooked on Ray Stevens. Don't look Ethel!!!!! Thanks for posting.
@bonniegarrison2255
This American out just before the streaker at the Academy Awards.
@anitaburbank8755
I remember this when I was growing up. My Moma loved Ray Stevens...
@Jarethenator
"Pardon me sir, did you see what happend?" "Yeeaaaah, I did..." Ray Stevens, you are one of the greatest comedy song writters/singer period...
@warrenmiller2274
1970s Classic ❤️
@elteescat
People really DID go out streaking after this song came out! (My aunt rode through the neighborhood on the hood of a car with 2 guys! HAHAHAHAHA)