A Line-By-Line Analysis of Ylvis’ “The Fox”

As you’ve no doubt heard and been horribly confused, shocked, or weirdly aroused by at this point, a Norweigian band named Ylvis has recently released a viral song dubbed “The Fox” that has one simple purpose – to search for and discover the sound of elusive fox. However, in their apparently simple search, they uncover some complex truths about human nature, theist religion systems, and the noise that a doggy makes.

To help you explore all of these phenomena, Sherman Ave has extensively researched to provide a detailed explanation of the meaning behind Ylvis’ “The Fox.”

The analysis starts now:

“Dog goes woof

The dog goes woof

Cat goes meow

The cat goes meow

Bird goes tweet

The bird goes tweet

and mouse goes squeak

And, as the good lord intended, the mouse goes squeak

Cow goes moo

The cow goes moo

Frog goes croak:

The frog goes croak

and the elephant goes toot

Here’s where things get a little deeper. Though the elephant does make a noise resembling a toot, what Ylvis is actually saying in this extended metaphor is that the elephant…goes toot.

Ducks say quack

Yep, ducks quack.

and fish go blub

Fishes, though making few apparent noises, do release air into the water that then goes… BLUB.

and the seal goes ow ow ow

Once again, highly contested; The seal, oft considered the dog of the sea, typically barks in a manner similar to his land canine brethren – an audible yelp that seems to go…ow ow ow.

But there’s one sound / That no one knows / What does the fox say?

The fox, a paragon and mystery in the animal kingdom, has managed to escape all modes of audible detection. Like a transient fall breeze, or the wisp of a lover’s hair on your cheek, we search for a way to describe another of one life’s beautiful wonders – the melody of the fox.

Ring-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! / Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! / Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding! / What the fox say?

Does the fox echo rings of glee into the forest, hearkening to the whispers of the fawn or the cries of the owl that it receives in rejoinder?

Is that what the blessed fox exclaims?

Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow! / Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow! / Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow! / What the fox say?

Translation:

Perhaps it asserts its dominion over the land with a mighty “pow!” Verily is the fox a member of royalty in these backwoods, making this such an appropriate action.

Is this indeed what the fox proclaims?

Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho! / Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho! / Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho! / What the fox say?

Translation:

Maybe it is a mere statement of open friendship to all those around? A friendly “hatee-hatee-hatee-ho” to all that the fox may encounter along its travels.

Is this perhaps the sound of the fox?

Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff! / Tchoff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff ! /Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff! / What the fox say?

Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!
Tchoff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!
Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!

Seriously, like, what is the fox saying?

Big blue eyes / Pointy nose / Chasing mice / and digging holes

Translation:

The fox is elegance and simplicity. With reflective eyes and a demure nose, the fox remains in touch with the earth and finds common ground with even the basest creatures, still scavenging for food.

Tiny paws / Up the hill / Suddenly you’re standing still / Your fur is red / So beautiful / Like an angel in disguise

Though small, the fox is truly the greatest creature in the land. Triumphantly pausing to observe his boundless dominion, he serves as publicly as a friend to all – but privately as the God he truly is.

But if you meet / a friendly horse / Will you communicate by / mo-o-o-o-orse? / mo-o-o-o-orse? / mo-o-o-o-orse? / How will you speak to that / ho-o-o-o-orse? / ho-o-o-o-orse? / ho-o-o-o-orse? / What does the fox say?

While the fox oft chooses to hide his divinity, he is presented a challenge when he must speak to one of those he protects. As the fox mustn’t reveal his voice to those he watches over, lest overwhelm them with a voice only fit to grace the ears of a God, perhaps he would communicate with a friendly horse in Morse code.

Though it is understood why the fox must never utter a sound to mere mortals, we must still ask – what does the fox say?

Jacha-chacha-chacha-chow! / Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow! / Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow! / What the fox say?

The cha-cha slide instructions for foxes? Does the fox just keep telling other animals to do the cha-cha slide? Seems like a pretty silly thing for a God to tell his followers

Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow! / Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow! / Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow! / What the fox say?

Seriously. Will someone just tell the noise a fucking fox makes so I can stop this? Like, really? Does nobody have a tape recorder, or a smart phone, or anything whenever they’re near a fox?

A-hee-ahee ha-hee! / A-hee-ahee ha-hee! / A-hee-ahee ha-hee! / What the fox say?

Fine. We’re gonna take a couple more shots at this: Maybe the fox is laughing at the animals it oversees. It’s a mean God. You know, the kind that has never been captured on footage by National Geographic long enough to make A SINGLE FUCKING SOUND. C’mon.

A-oo-oo-oo-ooo! / Woo-oo-oo-ooo! / What does the fox say?

Honestly, that’s probably it. It probably howls. That makes a lot of sense.

The secret of the fox / Ancient mystery / Somewhere deep in the woods / I know you’re hiding / What is your sound? / Will we ever know? / Will always be a mystery / What do you say? / You’re my guardian angel / Hiding in the woods / What is your sound?

How long will it be until someone hears the melody of the fox? Months? Years? An eternity? I must know its sound. I must become closer to the one I praise and treasure. Tell me fox – what is your sound?

(Fox Sings): Wa-wa-way-do Wub-wid-bid-dum-way-do Wa-wa-way-do

Will we ever know?

I MUST HEAR A FOX!

 (Fox Sings): Bay-budabud-dum-bam

I want to

(Fox sings): Mama-dum-day-do

I want to
I want to know!

I need to hear the sound of the fox!!! What do you mean one was just singing? Bullshit. No. You’re lying. Stop being a liar. This is my life’s goal and you’re going to tell me that a fox, a God among man and beast, just got up and sung in the middle of the forest. You’re a real dick.

(Fox sings): Abay-ba-da bum-bum bay-do”

Oh. I guess it did. Cool. That’s what a fox sounds like.