The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
His hair is red his eyes are green
He's like a person that you've never seen
He'll sing and dance he's been to france
But he doesn't seem to stand a chance
That's when I saw
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
The woodshed
A smarter man would never plan
To have so many splinters in his hand
And clarabelle would never tell
'Cause he's afraid that he might go to jail
Well what became of big bird
I know it's gonna sound rather absurd
They found some yellow feathers and some other debris
Just underneath the peanut gallery
Ask mortimer snerd ask charlie mccarthy
Even oscar the grouch has seen his casting couch
That's when he caught a whiff of knucklehead smiff
And curse his job he works with bob
'Cause he was swinging from an old corn cob
And that's the thing bob pulls the strings
So you know it when you hear me sing
Howdy doody howdy doody
Howdy doody in the woodshed
He's like a person that you've never seen
He'll sing and dance he's been to france
But he doesn't seem to stand a chance
That's when I saw
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
Howdy doody in the woodshed (going down on buffalo bob)
The woodshed
A smarter man would never plan
To have so many splinters in his hand
And clarabelle would never tell
'Cause he's afraid that he might go to jail
Well what became of big bird
I know it's gonna sound rather absurd
They found some yellow feathers and some other debris
Just underneath the peanut gallery
Ask mortimer snerd ask charlie mccarthy
Even oscar the grouch has seen his casting couch
That's when he caught a whiff of knucklehead smiff
And curse his job he works with bob
'Cause he was swinging from an old corn cob
And that's the thing bob pulls the strings
So you know it when you hear me sing
Howdy doody howdy doody
Howdy doody in the woodshed
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