The Treniers, Poon-tang | Wacky Wednesday

In the 29th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique “Poon-tang,” performed by The Treniers.

Do you know what day it is? It is Wednesday, folks! Do you know what that means? Why, it is Wacky Wednesday! In the spirited column Wacky Wednesday, we analyze, break down, and explore songs from various musicians of various genres that can be considered unique, unusual, or ‘wacky.’  These songs can be new or old; the only requirement is that they ‘catch the ears’ because of their distinctiveness.  With the background established, in the 29^th edition of Wacky Wednesday (2025), we break down the unique “Poon-tang”, performed by The Treniers. Wacky Wednesday vibes commence!

“Poon-tang / Poon-tang.” Say what, now 🥴 ?! According to the lyrics from The Treniers’ (twins Cliff (1919 – 1983) and Claude Trenier (1919 – 2003)) 1952 song “Poon-tang,” poontang is not dirty! Hmm, oh really 🤨? Apparently, “Poon is a hug, tang is a kiss.” In their eyes, it’s, hence, “A hugging and a kissing (that’s poon-tang).” Check out the definition/description of poontang on Urban Dictionary, and it tells a far different, more graphic story 😳.  Green’s Dictionary of Slang doesn’t support this innocence either. Poon, the abbreviation of poontang, is described as the vagina. Poontang in full, from the same source, is sexual in context.  Slang and Euphemism by Richard A. Spears also features various sexual definitions for this innocent happening, including ‘copulation with a black woman’ and ‘a black woman considered as a source of sexual gratification; the genitals of a black woman.’[i] Oh, snap!

Perhaps “Poon-tang” songwriters Richard Adler and Jerry Ross had something different in mind regarding poon-tang.  Still, who are they or The Treniers fooling? The double entendre and sexual innuendo are through the roof! They say poon-tang far too many times for it to be mere PG-13 rated hugging and kissing. There are hints that intimacy is a must! “I’ve been marooned on and out and / …been missing my love/ … Now that I’m home, I go right out and get me some poon-tang.” Hugs and kisses only, huh? Hmm… “I don’t want to eat, and I don’t want to sleep, I’ve got a yin that I’m dying to flee / ‘Til I get weak in the knees, gonna get me that poon-tang.” Noted… and, again, noted as far more than a hug and a kiss. Ultimately, “Poon-tang” is an intriguing oldie.  It is jazzy and tongue-in-cheek and features an electrifying saxophone solo.  But, the most striking thing about this song is that it is about pleasure… sex… plain and simple.

[i] Spears, R. A. (2001). poontang. In Slang and Euphemism (third, pp. 275–275). essay, Signet.