These lyrics are from Relient K’s song “Sadies Hawkins Dance” and are a pretty accurate depiction of what goes on before the Sadies dance, anxiously approaching on April 4.

The Sadies dance is a common practice among many American high schools. This tradition was originated in a cartoon strip called Lil’ Abner. The “homeliest girl in all them hills,” Sadie Hawkins was released and chased all of the town’s bachelors. Whichever lucky (or unlucky) guy she caught would be her husband.

Today, the idea of Sadie Hawkins has changed into an event in which the girls are given the choice to pick whichever guy their heart desires, instead of having to go with the first guy that asks her.

However, because of this role-swap, the girls are now swamped with the same pressure guys feel before the Homecoming dance or prom. Girls feel obligated to ask a guy because it is a welcome from the social guidelines for other dances, for this is the one time they have that freedom to choose their date.

Girls are meticulous and don’t want to ask their date like everybody else. They try to be creative and original; they give it a lot more thought than guys do.

“Girls try to be cute, unlike guys who just buy the girl the usual red rose,” sophomore Kaila Tam said.

They also do not want to give the wrong impression to the guy, so they really think in-depth about how they are going to pop the question.

“Sadies is more of a friendly dance,” Kaila said. “Girls don’t want it to come across that they like the guy, even if they do.”

It is also a much bigger deal for a girl to ask a guy because it contradictory to what society is used to, and the twist in the system makes more pressure.

“It’s always in the guy’s hands,” junior Tavia Norheim said. “More pressure is on the girls now they are in control.”

Underneath their tough guy façade, boys actually get nervous before the Sadies Hawkins dance. The roles have been switched, and the guys don’t know what to do. They get uncomfortable because guys aren’t used to waiting to be asked, they are usually the ones who have to be proactive and do the asking.

“Guys like to have control over the situation,” freshman Colin Mulcahy said. “It gives them confidence. Guys don’t know what to do with themselves when they have to sit on the sidelines and wait to be asked.”

But the general male popular likes being asked by girls, because they are relieved from the pressure they usually have to cope with. However, many said they would not attend the Sadies dance if they were not asked.

“Girls can go in groups, dress up and put make-up on together. Guys can’t do that, so they just don’t go,” sophomore Mark Conrad said.