The Purple People Eater

Album: Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection (1958)
Charted: 12 1
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  • Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
    It had the one long horn, one big eye
    I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
    It looks like a purple people eater to me

    It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
    (One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
    A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
    Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)

    Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree
    I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me
    I heard him say in a voice so gruff
    I wouldn't eat you cuz you're so tough

    It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
    One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
    One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
    Sure looks strange to me (One horn?)

    I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line
    He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
    But that's not the reason that I came to land
    I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band

    Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
    Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater
    (We wear short shorts!)
    Friendly little people eater
    What a sight to see

    And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground
    He started to rock, really rockin' around
    It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune
    Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom

    Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
    Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater
    (I like short shorts!)
    Flyin' little people eater
    Sure looks strange to me (Purple People?)

    And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know
    I saw him last night on a TV show
    He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' em dead
    Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head Writer/s: Sheb Wooley
    Publisher: DOTSON-WOOLEY ENTERTAINMENT
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

  • George Pope from Vancouver BcWhy is it confusing? The lyrics clearly say:
    I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line?
    And he said, "Eatin' purple people and it sure is fine" ** see?
  • George Pope from Vancouver BcColleen, if you want people to leave you alone, just say there's no horn, because you're not "horn-y". . . or, if you are, put two on the costume!
  • George Pope from Vancouver BcRandy, B-side was: "I Can't Believe You're Mine"
  • George Pope from Vancouver BcThat's going to be one hungry critter -- not a lot of purple people about -- 'most any other colour, but not purple. . . I think he'd have to find some actors stained as Smurfs, then make them really angry (red) so the red & blue make a nice purple & CHOMP!!! Lunch.
  • Colleencanuck from Vancouver, Bc, CanadaI always thought it was an ear, not a horn! Gotta change my Halloween costume!
  • Randy from TexasAnyone know what the b side of flying purple eater?
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 9th 1959, the television western series 'Rawhide' had its premiere on the CBS-TV network...
    The series ran for eight seasons with 217 episodes...
    Sheb Wooley*, who played cowpoke Pete Nolan, appeared in 110 episodes...
    Eight months earlier on May 25th, 1958 Sheb Wooley's "The Purple People Eater" became the Best Selling record in the U.S. according to Billboard Magazine, and remained the best seller for six consecutive weeks...
    As stated above he reached #1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart with "That's My Pa"; that was for one week on March 11th, 1962...
    Shelby F. 'Sheb' Wooley passed away on September 16th, 2003 at the age of 82...
    May he R.I.P.
    * He also released records under the name Ben Colder; and in 1962 his "Almost Persuaded No. 2" reached #6 on the Country Singles chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 27th 1958, Sheb Wooley performed "The Purple People Eater" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    It peaked at #1 (for 6 weeks) on Billboard's Best Selling in Stores chart on May 25th, 1958, and it was only its second week on the chart...
    And the week it reached #1 there was another novelty song on the Top 10; "Witch Doctor" by David Seville was at #3 on the Best Sellers chart...
    R.I.P. Shelby F. Wooley (1921 - 2003) and David Seville, aka Rostom Sipan 'Ross' Bagdasarian, (1919 - 1972).
  • Zabadak from London, EnglandVal Doonican's version was a big hit in Finland!
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