While Devo is known for its weird synth sound and can be classified as new wave, Uncontrollable Urge, and the other songs on this album show the influence that punk and post-punk had on their earlier work.
[Refrain]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!
[Verse 1]
Got an urge, got a surge, and it's out of control
Got an urge I wanna purge, 'cause I'm losing control
Uncontrollable urge, I wanna tell you all about it
Got an uncontrollable urge, it makes me scream and shout it
[Chorus]
(He's got an uncontrollable urge!)
I've got an uncontrollable urge!
(He's got an uncontrollable urge!)
I've got an uncontrollable—
[Post-Chorus]
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
It's got style! It's got class!
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
So strong, I can't let it pass!
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
I got to tell you all about it!
I got to scream and shout it!
[Refrain]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!
[Verse 2]
Got an urge, got a surge, and it's out of control now
Got an urge I wanna purge, 'cause I'm losing control
Uncontrollable urge, I wanna tell you all about it
Got an uncontrollable urge, it makes me scream and shout it
That's right!
[Chorus]
(He's got an uncontrollable urge!)
I've got an uncontrollable urge!
(He's got an uncontrollable urge!)
I've got an uncontrollable—
[Post-Chorus]
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
It's got style! It's got class!
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
So strong, I can't let it pass!
(Nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine-nine)
I got to tell you all about it!
I got to scream and shout it!
[Bridge]
I've got an uncontrollable urge, I wanna tell you all about it!
An uncontrollable urge, it makes me scream and shout it
And I said, "Yah!" (He said, “Yah!")
And I said "Yeah!" (He said, “Yeah!")
And I said, "Yah!" (Yah!)
And I said, "Yeah!" (Yeah!)
[Refrain]
And I said, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!"
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!
Uncontrollable Urge was written by Mark Mothersbaugh.
Uncontrollable Urge was produced by Brian Eno.
Devo released Uncontrollable Urge on Mon Aug 28 1978.