It Would Appear I Enjoy Having Men Yell at Me

Remember when I was puzzled about what my very favorite songs all had in common? Well, there is a subset of songs that have one very recognizable feature.

I noticed this today, when I switched from “Joe Strummer” by Cowboy Mouth to “Over Under Sideways Down” by the Yardbirds.

Here are the lyrics to the Yardbirds song:

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Cars and girls are easy come by in this day and age,
Laughing, joking, drinking, smoking,
Till I’ve spent my wage.
When I was young people spoke of immorality,
All the things they said were wrong,
Are what I want to be.

(Hey)
Over under sideways down,
(Hey)
Backwards forwards square and round.
(Hey)
Over under sideways down,
(Hey)
Backwards forwards square and round.
When will it end, when will it end,
When will it end, when will it end.

AND the Cowboy Mouth song:

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
She had all the tattoos and the piercings
Hates everything says everybody’s wrong
She dressed like she slept with Guns and Roses
But I busted her singing all the boy band songs

And so it struck me (Hey!) that what I like best about those songs are groups of men yelling “Hey!” in unison. On further contemplation the syllable need not be limited to “Hey,” I also enjoy the “Jump!” in Barenaked Ladies “Pollywog in a Bog.”

And it can’t be sung, it has to be shouted.

Clearly this needs to be a playlist. So, everyone, keep your ears open for songs that feature men shouting. Evidently it appeals to me. Hey! Leave suggestions in the comments. (Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)