Hip To Be Square

Album: Fore! (1986)
Charted: 41 3
Play Video
  • I used to be a renegade
    I used to fool around
    But I couldn't take the punishment
    And had to settle down
    Now I'm playing it real straight
    And yes, I cut my hair
    You might think I'm crazy, but I don't even care
    'Cause I can tell what's going on

    It's hip to be square
    It's hip to be square

    I like my bands in business suits
    I watch them on TV
    I'm workin' out 'most every day
    And watchin' what I eat
    They tell me that it's good for me
    But I don't even care
    I know that it's crazy, I know that it's nowhere
    But there is no denying that

    It's hip to be square
    It's hip to be square
    It's hip to be square
    So hip to be square

    It's not too hard to figure out
    You see it every day
    And those that were the farthest out
    Have gone the other way
    You see them on the freeway
    It don't look like a lot of fun
    But don't you try to fight it
    And an idea whose time has come
    Don't tell me that I'm crazy, don't tell me I'm nowhere
    Take it from me

    It's hip to be square
    It's hip to be square
    It's hip to be square
    So hip to be square

    Tell 'em, boys
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip, so hip to be square
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip, so hip to be square
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip, so hip to be square
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip
    Here, there, and everywhere
    Hip, hip, so hip to be square
    Here, there, and everywhere
    So hip to be square
    Hip, hip Writer/s: Huey Lewis, Sean Thomas Hopper, William Scott Gibson
    Publisher: Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • P. Bateman from New York CityIn '87, Huey released this, Fore, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip to be Square", a song so catchy, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about the band itself.
  • Martin from Fresno CaGreat song. Whether you are conservative or liberal it is a song everybody can relate to. Interesting fact while I was googling Huey Lewis. His stepfather was Lew Welch a poet. He always has said he was a major influence on his life. And Huey chose the stage name of Lewis to honor him. I thought he has such love for him that he has paid tribute to Lew countless times. Again, a great song.
  • Esskayess from EarthThere was a spoof of this song created when Clint Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel, CA. The title was "Hip to Be Mayor."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 27, 1986, a video of Huey Lewis and the News' "Hip To Be Square" was aired on the Dick Clark ABC-TV weekday-afternoon program. 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #20 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, three weeks earlier it had peaked at #3 {for 2 weeks}...
    Between 1982 and 1994 the San Francisco group had twenty-one records on the Top 100 chart, twelve* made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "The Power of Love" for 2 weeks in 1985, "Stuck With You" for 3 weeks in 1986, and "Jacob's Ladder" for 1 week in 1987...
    Huey Lewis, born Hugh Anthony Cregg III, will celebrate his 68th birthday come next July 5th {2018}...
    * They just missed having a thirteenth Top 10 record when "Couple Days Off" peaked at #11 {for 2 weeks} in 1991.
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenRosie, that reminds me of the crap Paul Revere and the Raiders took over the anti-drug song "Kicks" during the stoned 60s. Those attempting to belittle those who chose not to imbibe were basically saying "You're not like me, so you're an a**hole." Those with fully functional brains could then see who the real a**holes were.
  • Rosie from NunyaI know he said he did smoke pot and get into trouble. I was saying what would be the big deal if he NEVER did those things? He made it sound like there's something wrong with being a good kid. Kids don't need sarcasm about things like that. They need to be told to keep being good and forget about what everybody is doing and what they consider cool.
  • Rosie from NunyaWhy do people act like there's something wrong with having good morals? So what if he NEVER smoked pot or got into trouble? It's not like we're SUPPOSED to be reckless or we're somehow of lesser value. I never take in what people have to say when they think a person is a "square" for being not being a trouble maker. It is possible to have fun without being wild and reckless. There's a whole bunch of "cool" people who are now dead and hopelessly addicted to drugs too. Not worth the trip if you ask me. Just sayin.'
  • Frank Schnyder from Los AngelesHuey Lewis has said many times that the song was sarcastic, poking fun at square-ness suddenly being cool in the mid-80s. It single-handedly proves that sarcasm is over most people's heads in pop music. They have subsequently performed the song since the late 90s as "(Too) Hip To Be Square," being listed that way on 2006's Live At 25 album/DVD.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Gary Numan

Gary NumanSongwriter Interviews

An Electronic music pioneer with Asperger's Syndrome. This could be interesting.

Tom Waits Lyrics Quiz

Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?