| "Out Come the Freaks" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Was (Not Was) | ||||
| from the album Was (Not Was) | ||||
| B-side | "Hello Operator...I Mean Dad...I Mean Police...I Can't Even Remember Who I Am" | |||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Recorded | The Sound Suite, January–March 1981 | |||
| Genre | funk, R&B, dance | |||
| Length | 5:41 | |||
| Label | ZE Records, Island Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Was, Don Was | |||
| Producer(s) | David Was, Don Was, Jack Tann, Michael Zilkha | |||
| Was (Not Was) singles chronology | ||||
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"Out Come the Freaks" is the name of a trilogy of songs by art-funk ensemble Was (Not Was). The trilogy consists of three songs that feature the same basic title, tune and chorus lyric: "Out Come the Freaks" (1981), "(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" (1983), and "Out Come The Freaks" (1987) (later issued as "Out Come the Freaks (Again)".)
Despite the three songs' abundant similarities, each song is distinctive, as differing lyrics in the verses of each song tell stories about different societal outcasts. As well, each recording had a different contemporary sound, a thoroughly different arrangement, and reworked the melody while still retaining the chorus vocal: Woodwork squeaks, and out comes the freaks.