Hey Sandy by Polaris

Album: Music From The Adventures Of Pete And Pete (2004)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

This is the opening theme to the Nickelodeon show The Adventures Of Pete And Pete.
This is based on a 1972 song of the same name by Harvey Andrews. Andrews' song is about Sandy Scheuer, a student at Kent State University who shot dead by the US National Guard during a protest on May 4, 1970.
The lyrics are hard to understand and remain a mystery, especially the third line. One theory of what that line says is, "Can You Settle to Shoot Me," as this would fit with the subject of the song and the next line - "Or have you picked your target yet." >>
Suggestion credit:
Andrew - Springfield, MO, for all above
On the Adventures Of Pete And Pete Season Set DVDs released in 2005, during the opening credits sequence for which this song is the theme, the closed captions say "Can you settle to shoot me?" on the third line, giving reason to believe that it is the actual line. >>
Suggestion credit:
Caleb - Rocky Mount, NC
Danny Tamberelli, one of the title stars of Pete and Pete, confirmed in a 2012 interview on Reddit that the song's ambiguous third line is actually "Can you settle a sure bet." >>
Suggestion credit:
Alex - New Orleans, LA

Comments: 6

Thebeerhistorypodcast from FloridaThere has always been a debate regarding the lyrics of the chorus. Listed above is "Don't you talk back". The other common lyric is, "Does your dog bite". Turns out it is in fact "Does your dog bite", and this can be verified by the band itself in their live rendition recorded on the album, "Live at Lincoln Hall" (2015).

It's extremely clear what he says in the live version, but even if there's still debate, at the end of the song Mark Mulcahy does an entire dialog about Sandy's dog saying things like, "he never bites", "he's great with children", etc. Not sure how to get lyrics updated on SongFacts, but they definitely are not correct at the time of this post. [Corrected -editor]
Neil Rhodes from Destination Unknown@Mjn Seifer it's not a bloody conspiracy! The Album "Music From The Adventures Of Pete And Pete" by Polaris was released in 2004. No one is claiming that the show came out in 2004 but this album WAS released in 2004.
Chris from Fort Smith, ArFirst of all, Pete and Pete always featured this song seeing as how it was the theme song for the show. Secondly, the show didn't air when Nickelodeaon when the channel first started. It came on air in 1993 and Nick started in 1977 i believe.
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandIt's NOT 2004!!! it's far Early then that.

Pete and Pete (Which sometimes fetures this song) was on a: when I was very young and i'm 19 now and b: When Nickolodian (sp?) had just started! So it is NOT 2004 and so tired of this conspiracy!!!!
Levi from El Paso, TxThis is in my opinion THE BEST SONG I've ever listened to. It reminded me of my early childhood, and though the song might not be the best musically, it brings a lot of memories to those who watched one of the best TV series EVER.
Becky from Gloucester, EnglandI know another Harvey Andrews song about that -
HEY SANDY

The sun was hot, the air heavy, and the marching men came by
You stood at door, you watched them pass, you asked no reason why
The sound of steel of their jackboot heel came pound through your head
Your reason's past, they've came at last, with the blessings of the dead

Chorus:
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy why are you the one
All the years of growing up are wasted now and gone
Did you see them turn did you feel the burn of the bullets as they flew
Hey Sandy, hey Sandy just what did you do

At the college square, they were standing there, with the flag and with the gun
And the whispered words as the ones young stirred, saying, 'Why are you the one?'
And the air was still with lonely thrill of now the hour is near
And the smell of sweat was better yet, than the awful smell of fear

Chorus

The awful shout, as you all ran out, saying, why are these things done?'
And you stood and stared, yet no one cared for another campus bum
Your songs are dead and your instead are to the funeral pyre
And the words of youth, like love and truth, are just ashes on the fire

Chorus

Did you throw no stone, at the men alone, with their bayonets fixed for hire?
Did you think that they would kill no one, did you scream as they opened fire
And the square ran red, with your blood stains spread, and the darkness round you grew
Did you feel the pain, did you call the name of the man you never knew

Chorus

see more comments

More Songfacts:

The Girl From IpanemaStan Getz and Astrud Gilberto

There really is a Girl From Ipanema. Her name is Helo Pinheiro, and she would walk "Like a samba" past the bar the songwriters frequented, providing the inspiration.