Hey Sandy

"Hey Sandy" is a song by the American indie rock band Polaris which serves as the theme song for the Nickelodeon television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete. It's well-known by fans of the show and the band alike that the song's lyrics, nearly indecipherable, have generated considerable debate as to their meaning.[1]

"Hey Sandy"
Song by Polaris
GenreTheme song

Missing lyric

The full lyrics were a subject of speculation for several years until they were revealed to fans by band members and cast members of the show. One line, the third and the most difficult one to understand, was purposefully left a mystery by head songwriter Mark Mulcahy.[2][3] The most common assumptions are "Can you settle to shoot me?" and "Can you settle a sure bet?", with actor Danny Tamberelli backing up the second one.[4] Another theory indicates that it could be a reference to the Kent State shootings and Sandra Lee Scheuer (being the diminutive "Sandy" of the song), although the actual meaning of the song is in debate.[5] In regards to this, Mulcahy said in 2015: "No one is right. Nothing that anyone has guessed is right (...) But, you know, eventually no one’s going to care so. I don’t know if I want to take it to my grave. Maybe I do".[6] Incorrect translations of this lyric, however, can still be found on the closed captioning of Pete and Pete DVD sets.

Additions

The full album version of "Hey Sandy" contains an introduction with a man, Sorrell Booke, speaking the following words:

Jupiter, or Thor, is perfect. We need Atlas for our long-distance stuff. The Titan will be even better. They shouldn't have canceled Navaho. Wait 'til you see our submarines with Polaris.[7]

Besides a reference to the band's name, this sound bite is in fact discussing United States ballistic missiles designed during the Cold War:

The initial sample is abruptly cut off and followed by another sample of a radio transmission from the pre-launch testing of Apollo 11:

Attention all personnel, this is CVTS. Base vehicle pre-count operations will start on my mark in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...[7]

Both samples are taken from "To The Moon: A Time-Life Records Presentation".[8]

There is a cover version of "Hey Sandy" by the New Jersey band Mister Behavior, as well as by California math rock band Tera Melos on their covers EP Idioms, Vol. I

References
  1. Ufberg, Max (October 3, 2014). "Why a Fake Band From a 1990s Kids' Show Decided to Tour This Year". Wired. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  2. Lloyd, Robert (April 24, 2015). "Polaris rising: Mark Mulcahy's 'Pete and Pete' band comes to town". latimes. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  3. Danton, Eric R. (July 8, 2016). "How Nostalgia for 'The Adventures of Pete & Pete' Revived Miracle Legion". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  4. "IAMA comedian and musician Danny Tamberelli. I was Little Pete and a cast member of All That. I worked from 6-18 with Nickelodeon. Now I play in bands, write sketch comedy and enjoy Woody Harrelson movies..." Reddit. 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  5. Hey Sandy by Polaris (Songfacts, 2017)
  6. Hughes, Chris (April 4, 2015). "Vinyl records and the mystery of 'Hey Sandy:' In-depth with Mark Mulcahy of Polaris". NEPA Scene. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  7. "POLARIS - Hey Sandy". Youtube.com. May 4, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  8. "To The Moon - Time-Life Records" (audio). Internet Archive. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
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