The Furry Song

The Furry Song is a song by Kurrel the Raven about the furry community. Its lyrics are rapped in a jovial Australian voice over the top of an original reggae-inspired breakbeat-driven backing track.

The song has been taken by some as a statement to attempt to eliminate stereotypes of furry fans and artists, although the original intent was just to write a song about furries to serve as a general introduction to the community, with a bit of angst at the end.

Different versions
The Furry Song is somewhat unusual in that Kurrel keeps rewriting it, releasing it and then revoking it from download again.

Proper versions
The version from August 2001 (the Kwooky Womble or Boo! version, also known as I'm Furry), arguably has better attention paid to groove in the delivery, but its final verse descends into lyrics about how terribly furries are mistreated by everyone outside the community without offering any ideas on what to do about it. The lyrical performance is also not the best. Kurrel deemed this version not good enough to keep online, and the song was promptly withdrawn from download pending a rewrite.

The version from April 2004 (the Kurrel the Raven or Hi! version) has a better fourth verse and a far more animated delivery albeit with a slightly weaker groove. The song goes far more into the diversity of the furry community and goes very much on the attack in the final verse. Despite the marked improvement over the Boo! version, Kurrel again deemed the song unworthy for distribution due to its perceived shortcomings and it was withdrawn once again from release.

A preview of a new version was posted online at Kurrel's Fur Affinity site in February 2007, featuring a selection of draft lyrics of various lengths demonstrating that Kurrel's been studiously polishing his rap technique since the last version. Despite the positive feedback, no more developments have followed and the draft has since been removed.

On 3 December 2007, Kurrel discovered that Encyclopædia Dramatica had linked the unofficial Furry Song video ; as a direct result, he uploaded the Hi! version to FurAffinity in high quality.

A new version of the Furry Song was included on Kurrel's Furry Album as the introductory track. The newest Furry Song is deliverred in a dancehall house style, with the new lyrics not rapped but sung dancehall-style. It has two verses extoling the diversity and fundamental nature of the furry fandom, then spends the rest of the song delivering a winding, mildly satirical monologue about the furry fandom's history and commonality between diverse groups of people.

Other versions
The Kransky the Wombat version of the Furry song is available online at Kurrel's furry.org.au page. The idea was alluded to as a joke by Anfael on Kurrel's Wikifur article: The Furry Song has been rewritten and deleted no less than twenty-three times (including the Kransky the Wombat version, a puzzling 17-minute incarnation in which the lyrics consisted solely of the words 'my face, your thighs' shouted over and over). Kurrel found this surreal joke fascinating enough to actually realise; this version sounds precisely as it is described. It has disappointed more than a few people.

The 2008 version of the Furry Song posted to Fur Affinity begins like a new version of the Furry Song, but quickly turns out to be Kurrel's cover of the Rick Astley song Never Gonna Give You Up.

[|The 2010 version] was made in reaction to [|a YouTube video] where a segment of the 2009 version was quoted. The 2010 version used the portion of the YouTube video's audio that referred to the Furry Song and edited it to fit the rhythm of the original. A new backing track was used.

Two versions of the song exist called Covered with the Fur. These are unaccompanied spoken word versions Kurrel produced by translating the lyrics from the 2001 and 2004 versions of the songs into Japanese and back into English, then reading them as matter-of-factly as possible. They are both available on his FurAffinity page.

Many other unreleased versions of the song exist, none of which are currently available for download.

Structure
The first verse in the first two versions goes into what a furry is in terms of what sort of creature/character is furry.


 * Furries are diverse: let me say that first. And it's this one fact which confuses the worst. We don't all have costumes or collect stuffed toys, so allow me to separate the signal from the noise.

The second verse in both versions goes into what furry fans are, where they're from, what they do, and a quick education on common furry slang including the Y word.


 * In furry lingo, one word stands out. That word is yiff and I'll explain what it's all about..

The third verse, more or less identical in both released versions, goes into how to join in the community and what sorts of different furries there are (artists, fursuiters).


 * Experimentation is the order of the day. Imagination keeps our minds at play.

The fourth verse changes radically between different versions, but both cover the troubles of being a furry.

How to get it
At the moment, a high quality of the Hi! version of the song is available from Kurrel's Fur Affinity page to alleviate the need for people to rip the YouTube version.

The third version of the Furry Song is available for download as part of The Furry Album.

First version
Boo! Ah G'day G'day G'day. It's Kwooky Womble. Comin' to you from the Neptune Room. I've written a bit of a song about furries, set it in a Reggae/Hiphop style. Interesting, because Reggae was responsible for Hiphop in the first place. Big ups to Atpaw and Dutch and Zexyz and all the people in channel fursuit. Now I've written this song to be slow enough for anyone to dance to no matter what sort of fat bastard you are. So get up out of your chair and prepare to dance.

One, two, three, bring the beats on.

All around the world among the people in the street Are a group of folks who're marching to a different beat Now we aren't about to squick you and get all heavy-handed But the furries have landed.

Now there's a lot of different furries and I have to respect that. There's straights and queers, but you might have expected that. But there's no one thing with which to unite us. Aside from the critters, but that's pretty obvious. And by critters of course, I mean the animal kingdom. Not just the furry ones, but the scaly ones with 'em. As well as the arthropods, fishes and birds. But mainly it's the furry ones, so they get the word. In long form we call it anthropomorphics. Its such a lengthy word the ones who use it need their jaws fixed. So it's a furry for short, you might have known. Join the chorus while we keep the chant going.

I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry.

Now, if you listen properly, you will have realized (hooray) That I'm not a furry person from the U S of A If you need more information I can lend you a hand, Kwooky Womble is a furry from the great southern land. Now there's furries in Americas, there's furries in the EU. There's furries in Australia and New Zealand too. There's furries all around the world I think it's safe to say. Planet Earth is furry populated all the way. On the Internet we gather from the soil of all nations. All the races, both genders, and a range of situations. From the rich to the poor, all the furries are we. Whether artists or musicians or strictly RP. Now to help with the furry jargon, here's a quick education. RP is role-playing in a fake situation. RL: is real life, IC is in character Got that? Good. Later on it might matter. Now out of all the furry words, there is one that stands out. That word is yiff, and I'll explain what it's all about. Or maybe I won't, because I'll move right along, Cause you can't define yiff in a PG-rated song. But you can define scritch, it's like a scratching only nice. And furries get a lot of scritching done in their lives. That's about the quota for the second verse done. Back to the chant and turn up the fun.

I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm not a Furby.

To make a furry's easy, anyone can do it. You take your favourite animal and mix a human through it. You modify the product, is it real or cartoony? Is it 2 legs or 4? Is it straight, is it loony? Does it have a pair of wings sprouting out of its back, Does it have an extra set of legs that other furs lack? Can it talk or does it speak with psychic communication? Is it you? Is it not? Is it just speculation? Once you have your fursona all sorted out, You can take a walk and see what we are all about Some of us have gone and made a costume for effect, But that's a different story, fursuiting on the left. And to the right we have the artists, who are numerous in style, Any way you like it, they can draw it with a smile. But keep in mind in the mix is every sort of thing, And not all of it is for children which can be a bit of a sting Experimentation is the order of the day. Imagination keeps our mind at play. Now the next verse is long, so I'm going to abort, And start the chant early to keep the third one short.

I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furry. I'm furrrry.

Up to the down side, and man, it's a big one. There's a bunch of people got the furry nation of the run Misrepresentations are informing the planet. The war against the furries has to stop now dammit It's _Loaded_, and it's _Vanity Fair_, it's Eurotrash, and it's _Marie Claire_. Sad computer geeks in furry costumes. Pet molesting weirdos and orgies in every room. Look at the freaks. Come and see the parade. These Characters are only for children! This is sad and depraved! Pity some people can't stand tall on their feet, without attacking folks who're marching to a different beat. Me, I'm only here to have fun. Say what you will the lies and propaganda make the decent furs ill. The very small percentage of furverts aside, most of us furries have nothing to hide. At least we wouldn't if you didn't keep the lies up. So many furries have to keep a disguise up. There's nothing going on, but we're still living in fe-ar, because they put the naughty possum furry on ER. It's not a bad thing for the world to know of us But just the weirdo stuff it's not fair part to show of us. We don't mind curiosity, cause that's what we're about. But the news crew from the BBC had better watch out. One extra verse might undo a lot of damage Furries have to deal in life with quite enough spammage The science-fiction geeks are completely on our cases and these are people walking around all lost in their spaces The saddest of the saddest and the furries rate below them? One day we'll drown them all in spooge, and that'll show them. Tongue in cheek aside it would be best to respect us because a lot of people take the other tack and reject us. but honestly, I couldn't care what they think That sort of stupid hatred makes the whole world stink. I'd rather be a kook and use my imagination And die a happy death instead of bitter stagnation Well I've laid it on you furry style the good and the bad the fun and games, and the problems we've had. So sayonara people, now you know what were about, Kwooky Womble on the microphone, over and out.

Second version
I've written a little song about furries. It is a rap song. I hope you like rap songs. I know I do. I will magically count to 4, and the beat shall appear. 1, 2, 3, 4. Are you grooving yet? I hope so! Grooving is what this song's about. Grooving to furry information. Hello!

Furries are diverse - let me say that first. And it's this one fact which confuses the worst. We don't all have costumes or collect stuffed toys, so allow me to separate the signal from the noise.

First off, what's furry? That's an easy thing to tell: It's an animal that happens to be human as well. In technical terms we call it anthropomorphics, But it's easy to explain without all the linguistics; If it walks like a person but meows like a cat, You've got yourself a furry - it's as simple as that!

If it talks like a person and flies like a bird, Then it's still a furry even though it sounds absurd. 'Cause even though birds have feathers and not fur, Mammals are the commonest type of furry in the world So the word comes from them. Even starting with a fly, You'll end up with a furry no matter how hard you try.

That's a furry. That's a furry, that's a furry. I will sing it. That's a fuuurry. That's a furry, that's a furry. That's a furry you know.

So, that's a furry character but what about the rest? A furry is a person to whom furries are an interest. So both the character and the viewer are furry - It'll all make sense soon, so don't worry.

Most furries never meet face to face. We come from everywhere, all over the place. There's furries in the Americas and in the EU. There's furries in Asia and Australasia too. On the Internet we gather from the soil of all nations: All ages and races; both genders; a range of educations. Here we are, all the furries are we, Whether artists or congoers or strictly RP.

Now to help with the furry jargon here's some quick education: RP is roleplaying in a made-up situation; A fursona is a furry you pretend to be, Usually one you make up yourself for other people to see. In furry lingo, one word stands out: And that word is yiff and this is what it's all about. Or maybe I'll shut up and move right along, Because you can't define yiff in a polite sort of song. And that's without touching scritching or spooge, When it comes to furry-speak, there's a veritable deluge. But that's about the quota for the second verse done, So join in the chant and have some fun!

Furry. This is furry. This is furry. This is furry, furry! Furry! (We're not furbies, by the way.)

To make a furry's easy - anyone can do it: You take your favourite animal and mix a human through it. You modify the product - is it real or cartoony? Is it two legs or four? Is it straight? Is it loony? Does it have a pair of wings sprouting out of its back? Does it have an extra set of legs that other furs lack? Can it talk or does it speak with psychic communication? Is it you? Is it not? Is it just speculation?

Once you have your fursona all sorted out, You can take a walk and see what we are all about. Some of us have gone and made a costume for effect - But that's a different story - fursuiters on the left and to the right we have the artists, who are numerous in style: Anyway you like it, they can draw it with a smile! But keep in mind that in the mix is every sort of thing And not all of it for children, which can be a bit of a sting.

Experimentation is the order of the day; Imagination keeps our minds at play. Now the next verse is long so I'm going to abort And start the chant early to keep the third one short.

We're Furry. We're Furry. We're Furry. Furry. So Furry. So Furry. So Furry! aaaaah....

Up to the downside of all this furry fun: Some people don't get it not all, just some. Misinformation and lies are afoot! It's crap up with which I shall not put! Hey MTV! Hey Vanity Fair! Take a bow, Eurotrash and Marie Claire! And a special shout out to - you know what? I don't care. If I bitch about detractors, it's a total waste of air.

I'm only a furry to have fun, say what you like. Anti-furry propaganda can take a long hike! And it's not just that we're all completely squeaky clean, Only sometimes the normal world thinks it has a right to be mean. And normal? Who'd wanna be? It's not for us! You can heckle us all you like from the Boring Bus! And if you need to put a weirdo down to feel bigger, then you're a sad sort of person and you're sicker than Doug Winger.

Some furries are odd, some furries are mean, Some furries draw pictures which are rather obscene. Some furries believe things which are strange to me! But remember what I said about furry diversity?

'Cause it's not a bad thing for the world to know us, But just the kooky stuff is not a fair part to show of us. We don't mind curiosity, 'cause that's what we're about, But any future journalists had better watch out!

One extra single doesn't do a lot of damage; We furries have dealt with quite enough spammage. With all that said, the tide is turning. The wounds are healing and we're quickly learning that:

Best paw forward is the way to go! Put your best paw forward and away you go! Put your best paw forward and away you go! That is if you've even got a paw. Um. I don't know.

I'd rather be furry and use my imagination And die a happy death instead of bitter stagnation. I'd rather express than repress and then get depressed And then get stressed about my situation.

Well I've laid it on you birdy style, the good and the bad, The fun and the games and the problems we've had.

So sayonara people, now you know what we're about. This is Kurrel on the microphone, over and out!

Third version

 * Main article: The Furry Album

Unofficial links

 * Short flash sampler from YTMND
 * Another short sample from YTMND
 * The first version of The Furry Song
 * Download Version
 * The second version of The Furry Song
 * Audio with lyric at YouTube

The Furry Song