There's no doubt that you have heard this incredibly insane "novelty" song from the early 1960s by inexplicably-located (MN.) surf band the Trashmen. It was a mental mash-up of the Rivingtons' already-crazy "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird Is the Word." Here are the originals.
The Rivingtons, "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow"
The Rivingtons, "The Bird Is The Word"
The Trashmen added just the right amount of white guy geekdom and a frenetic, over-the-top strangeness, making "Surfin' Bird" one of the all-time great garage rock songs, covered by the Ramones and the Cramps and countless other bands. All these years later, it still makes me want to thrash around like the devil's marionette, which is a fine calorie-burning activity, by the way.
In case you have never seen it AND YOU REALLY MUST if you haven't, here is a combo clip of how "Surfin' Bird" was performed on TV back in the day by drummer/vocalist Steve Warher, who, OBVIOUSLY, completely RULED.
The Trashmen, "Surfin' Bird"
© Copyright 2008- Marianne Spellman