The chant comes from Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, a 1969 pop hit by Steam that reached number one in the United States. In the late 1970s sports crowds adopted the hey hey hey goodbye refrain to taunt departing players and losing teams, and it became a stadium staple across baseball, basketball and other sports. The short sung refrain later spread online as a reaction sound for eliminations, bans, breakups and comedic exits, where its familiarity makes the farewell instantly understood.