She Wears Red Feathers (And A Huly-Huly Skirt)

Album: The Definitive Guy Mitchell (1952)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • After his suicide in 1998, Bob Merrill was branded the worst songwriter of all time; his 1953 hit "(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window?" undoubtedly bears much responsibility for that unkind epitaph, but the song that Lita Roza famously branded "rubbish" wasn't even his first UK number one of the year.

    Although not as sickening as his doggie song, this is if anything even sillier; "She Wears Red Feathers..." is about a London bank worker who makes out with a South Sea island girl (in his dreams?). Mitchell's recording held the number one spot for four weeks. Prior to that, Merrill had co-written a million seller. Not a bad run for the worst songwriter of all time!
  • The sheet music for "She Wears Red Feathers (And A Huly-Huly Skirt)" is credited Words and Music by Bob Merrill, Recorded by Guy Mitchell, published by Oxford Music Corporation, New York, Copyright 1952 at 40c; it was distributed in the UK by Campbell Connelly of London. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2
  • Mitchell once said, "I've always liked songs that have a story to them and most of all, I like something that people can sing along to."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Linda Perry

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Millie Jackson

Millie JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Outrageously gifted and just plain outrageous, Millie is an R&B and Rap innovator.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.