In a digital world where parody often gets lost in the noise, one song managed to slice through the chaos—not by being profound or complex, but by screaming one simple truth: “I can only count to four.”
This absurdist anthem, created by the comedy metal band Psychostick, is a riotous remix of Drowning Pool’s iconic “Bodies.” Instead of “Let the bodies hit the floor,” the chorus repeatedly yells, “Let me count to four!” And somehow, it works. Gloriously.
The Premise: Brutal Simplicity
The song opens with a whisper, mimicking the ominous build-up of Drowning Pool’s original. But instead of dark, aggressive lyrics about chaos and destruction, Psychostick flips the narrative into comedic gold.
The vocalist urgently shouts numbers, but the count never progresses beyond four. It’s a surreal, exaggerated take on nu-metal’s over-the-top energy. That contrast between intensity and idiocy is what gives this parody its power—it doesn’t try to be clever in the traditional sense. Instead, it embraces its own absurdity.
And then there’s the visual component.
Muppets, Mayhem, and Moshing
What elevates I Can Only Count to Four beyond a typical YouTube parody is the video itself. Featuring puppet-like characters styled after familiar children’s show icons, the visuals feel like Sesame Street on a metal tour. There’s a Cookie Monster in a hoodie headbanging to the rhythm, a slightly deranged Elmo screeching into the mic, and even a Kermit-type character who seems entirely too distressed by his inability to progress numerically.
The production quality is surprisingly high. While the video screams DIY in spirit, the lighting, puppetry, and editing suggest a deeper level of craftsmanship. This isn’t some slapped-together internet joke—it’s a performance.
Image Source: Laughing Squid
At times, the puppeteers themselves become part of the humor. Their facial expressions, visible behind the puppets, reveal a level of commitment that’s both hilarious and admirable. You can’t help but laugh—and respect—the sheer amount of effort behind something so wonderfully ridiculous.
The Band Behind the Chaos: Who Is Psychostick?
Psychostick isn’t new to the game. The band formed in the early 2000s with the mission of fusing heavy metal with satire, slapstick, and silliness. Known for songs like “Beer,” “Because Boobs,” and “Dogs Like Socks,” they occupy a unique niche: humorcore—a subgenre that blends metal instrumentation with comedy lyrics.
While their sound borrows from nu-metal, hardcore, and alternative metal, their lyrical content is anything but angry. Instead, they lean hard into parody, surrealism, and absurd commentary on everything from consumerism to introversion.
Despite their comedic angle, Psychostick is a legitimate band with tight instrumentation, strong vocals, and a devoted fan base. Their humor isn’t a mask to hide musical weakness—it’s an extension of their identity.
The Power of Parody Done Right
Parody is a tricky game. It’s easy to fall into the trap of mockery without meaning. But what Psychostick does so well is embrace the form of metal without degrading it. In fact, many metal fans have praised I Can Only Count to Four for its authenticity. The rhythm, the drop, the screams—all feel like a real metal track, which only makes the punchline funnier.
This is what makes the song sticky: it’s not just funny, it’s catchy.
And it plays on a deep well of pop culture associations. If you were alive during the early 2000s, chances are Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” was the soundtrack to a chaotic movie trailer, a wrestling promo, or a middle-school mosh pit memory. Psychostick taps into that nostalgia, subverts it, and transforms it into something hilariously harmless.
From Mosh Pits to Kindergartens?
What’s most surprising is how many people now use the song for completely unintended purposes. Parents have jokingly admitted to playing the song for their toddlers to teach counting. One can imagine a child innocently chanting, “One! Two! Three! Four!” while the walls vibrate from double bass drums.
Others say they blast it during workouts, hyping themselves up before a gym session. There are even stories of teachers being tempted to show the video in class, stopped only by the fear of awkward parent-teacher conferences.
The line between comedy and utility, it seems, is thinner than we thought.
The Internet’s Collective Laughter
While the song itself is brilliant, it wouldn’t have reached meme-status without the fuel of internet culture. On forums, comment sections, and social media threads, I Can Only Count to Four has become a recurring in-joke. It’s the punchline to everything from Valve’s inability to count past three (in gaming circles) to personal jokes about bad math skills.
Even years after its release, fans still post comments like:
- “This needs to be played at my funeral.”
- “Every time I hear the original, I think of this instead.”
- “I forgot the real lyrics. Now I only count to four.”
In many ways, this song has transcended parody. It’s now part of internet folklore—a song referenced not just for laughs, but as an identity marker among a certain tribe of fans who love both metal and irreverence.
Musical Comedy: A Rare, Respected Art
Comedy music isn’t new, but few artists manage to pull it off without becoming gimmicky. Think of Weird Al Yankovic or Tenacious D—musicians who are not only funny but immensely skilled. Psychostick sits comfortably in this space.
They don’t just poke fun at metal—they honor it. There’s no sneering in their tone, only affection. This is parody from the inside, and that’s what gives it staying power.
There’s also something refreshing about how unpretentious it is. In a musical landscape often dominated by self-seriousness, a song that just screams “FOUR!” on repeat feels oddly liberating.
A Tribute to “Bodies”—And the Era It Came From
Let’s not forget the source material. Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” was a defining track of the early 2000s metal scene—raw, loud, and emotionally charged. It became an anthem for intensity, often associated with wrestling promos, action films, and gym playlists.
By parodying such an iconic song, Psychostick walks a fine line. But they pull it off with care. Instead of mocking the original, they reinterpret it, reimagining it through a completely ridiculous but oddly charming lens. The song isn’t cheapened—it’s given a second life.
Final Thoughts: Why It Still Resonates
In an age of algorithmic content and cookie-cutter creativity, a puppet-led parody metal song about counting feels like a rebellious breath of fresh air. It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t try to be politically correct or emotionally deep. It simply screams into the void—“I can only count to four!”—and lets you laugh without guilt.
The video’s success lies in its universal appeal: everyone understands the joke. You don’t need to be a metal fan to laugh at the absurdity of a screamo Muppet failing at basic math. But if you are a metal fan? It’s even better.
Whether you discovered it as a teenager rebelling against authority, a gym-goer looking for the perfect pump-up song, or a parent just trying to survive the bedtime chaos—I Can Only Count to Four finds a way to meet you where you are.
And maybe, just maybe, we don’t always need to count any higher than that.
A screaming puppet parody of a 2000s metal hit shouldn’t work—but thanks to Psychostick’s musical chops, video genius, and fearless sense of humor, “I Can Only Count to Four” has become a cross-generational cult favorite. It’s more than a joke. It’s a headbanging, unforgettable anthem for anyone who needs a laugh—especially when they’re counting on it.
