The sound comes from the SpongeBob SquarePants episode Squeaky Boots, first aired in 1999, where Mr. Krabs gives SpongeBob a pair of boots that squeak with every step and slowly drive Mr. Krabs insane. The gag became one of the show's most quoted running jokes, shared online alongside the spongebob sad song and the My leg! Fish sound as fans turned short episode noises into reaction clips. Its simple, looping squeak has kept it popular for edits, remixes and soundboards long after the original broadcast.