WARNING! This article contains major SPOILERS for Wednesday season 1!The popular dance scene in The Addams Family sitcom’s Wednesday actress Lisa Loring, footage of goths dancing at clubs in the 1980s, and gothic rockstar Siouxsie Sioux.
Wednesday season 1’s iconic dance scene is set to the 1980 punk song “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps. Led by singer Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy, The Cramps were an alternative American rock band specializing in psychobilly, gothabilly, and punk rock genres, which fits well with Wednesday Addams’ style and taste. While the version of the song that plays on Wednesday season 1’s soundtrack is sung and popularized by The Cramps, “Goo Goo Muck” was originally performed by Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads in 1962 – long before the goth movement of the 1980s. Netflix’s Wednesday has now given “Goo Goo Muck” a new life by introducing the gothic song to a new generation of teens.
What "Goo Goo Muck" Means & Why Wednesday's Dance Scene Uses It
The underlying song meaning has been debated, but the repetition of “teenage goo goo muck” in relation to tigers, night headhunters, and beasts roaming the night indicate the narrator is a type of werewolf or monster in the night. “Goo Goo Muck” being about a fearsome teenage monster fits perfectly with Wednesday season 1’s story, which follows Nevermore Academy's school for supernatural outcasts, some of whom are classic monsters feared by “normies.” It also connects to Tyler as the literal teenage monster who kills both normies and outcasts around Jericho at night.
The lyrics of “Goo Goo Muck” also seem to be symbolizing gothic teens that prefer the night and scare those around them, which sums up how Wednesday Addams and many of her fellow outcast students are perceived. Wednesday season 1’s dance scene using the song makes sense based on the meaning as well as its gothic and psychedelic genre, as its alternative style sticks out among the other pop songs being played, mimicking how Wednesday Addams sticks out among her classmates and the normies. Wednesday isn’t apt to dance to any of the top charts songs played at the Rave’N, but as a “teenage goo goo muck” herself, The Cramps’ song brings out her musical self-expression.
Full Lyrics To "Goo Goo Muck"
"When the sun goes down, and the moon comes up
I turn into a teenage goo goo muck
Yeah, I cruise through the city and I roam the street
Looking for something that is nice to eat
You better duck
When I show up
The goo goo muck
I'm the night headhunter looking for some head
With a way out body underneath that head
Well I'll get you baby with a little luck
'Cause I'm a teenage tiger and a goo goo muck
You better duck
When I show up
The goo goo muck
Yeah the city is a jungle and I'm a beast
I'm a teenage tiger looking for a feast
I want the most but I'll take the least
'Cause I'm a goo goo muck tiger and a teenage beast
You'd better duck
When I show up
The goo goo muck
The goo goo muck"
Where To Listen To "Goo Goo Muck" Outside Of Wednesday's Dance Scene
Aside from repeatedly re-watching Jenna Ortega's dance scene in Wednesday season 1, episode 4, the song “Goo Goo Muck” can be listened to on major music streaming platforms. In addition to many of the other hit songs from Wednesday season 1’s soundtrack, The Cramps’ version of “Goo Goo Muck” is available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube. The song can also be played on CDs, vinyl, and other physical copies of The Cramps’ 1981 album Psychedelic Jungle.