Custard Pie by Led Zeppelin

Album: Physical Graffiti (1975)

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Songfacts®:

This song is based on various American blues recordings, including Blind Boy Fuller's 1939 "I Want Some Of Your Pie" and Brown McGhee's 1947 "Custard Pie Blues." It's the first song on the double album Physical Graffiti.
An influence on this song is "Drop Down Mama," a 1935 blues song by Sleepy John Estes with Hammie Nixon, which goes:

Drop down, baby, let your daddy see
Drop down, my lady, just dream of me
Well, my mama allow me to fool around all night long

These lines are very similar to the opening verse of "Custard Pie":

Drop down, baby, let your daddy see
Drop down, mama, just dream of me
Well, my mama allow me to fool around all night long
Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones played the electric clavinet on this track; Robert plant played the harmonica break.
Actual custard pie involves a pie shell filled with custard and other ingredients. You might not think of it this way, but both pumpkin and banana cream are custard pies.

It is speculated that "custard pie" is a euphemism for female sexuality and/or genitalia. Other songs which associate pie and women include The Beatles' "Wild Honey Pie," The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," and of course Warrant's "Cherry Pie."
Led Zeppelin hardly ever played this song live. According to their official site, there's only one documented performance: in Rotterdam on January 11, 1975.

In 1990, the three living members of the band got together at the wedding for John Bonham's son Jason and they all played it as part of a jam session - that's quite a wedding band!
This song is from the album Physical Graffiti, which sold 16x platinum for Led Zeppelin... in the US alone.
"Custard Pie" was recorded at Headley Grange, long about January-to-February 1974.
This includes a snippet from "Shake 'em On Down" by the blues musician Bukka White. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Jimmy Page joined The Black Crowes briefly and covered this song on their album Live at the Greek.

Comments: 67

Adrian Cooke from StevenageActually there is a live recording of Custard Pie on YouTube
Tim S from HampshireThe riff is borrowed from Mickey's Monkey by the Miracles
Zosoboy from Bayonne Nj Custard pie also seems to borrow its' familiar beat from Bo Diddley!
Sr from UsaThe song is based on Sleepy John Estes "Drop down Mama", NOT the two songs listed above
Jordan Posnik from Massachusetts I always thought the lyrics were “just want a piece of your custard pie”
Barry from Gagetown NbMom was an excellent part time baker and she made a delicious Custard Pie ...
Hy from Usa And Totally Cool With ItLast line is "Sure want a piece of your custard pie," not "I chew on a piece..."

Other than that, the lyrics listed are correct

Hard to hear the lyrics on that whole album, as they get drowned out by the music
Tony from San DiegoAnd it's very clear to me: Tell all the people your custard's mine. Clear as day , case settled now get on wif yer friggin' lives!
Tony from San DiegoSo when you cut it momma save me a slice!
Patrick Aloysius from Hell,caYep this song contains lyrics from Bukka White and Fred McDowell, another Zep re-write!
For more insight into Zeps songs go to "Turn Me on dead Man " site.
Jim from Novi, MiOf course it's sexual innuendo. Me thinks it more of the allure of sexual offers... fantasy, etc.

I always liked the clavinet played by JPJ. Along with the stunning effects of Bonzo & Jimmy we have an EPIC song.
Dc from Cincinnati, OhThis song is nearly a straight cover of Fred McDowells "Mama Don't Allow", with strong influences from Bukka White and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=7uG0Zqo5zrg&NR=1
Thomas from Roswell, NmAs with The Lemon Song, I wondered why anybody would write a song about custard pie. Then I read the lyrics and listened to the track was blown away by Bonham's drumming and Page's guitar work.
Nate from New York, NyThis is a very...screwed up song lyrically. But still AWESOME!
Nathan from St. Louis, MoThe words have similarities to "Hats Off to Roy Harper" from the third album.
Barry from Austin, TxIt's pretty obvious what this jamming piece of Led Zep art is all about!!
Tara from Petoskey, MiI have a question for Jeanette from Irvine, CA and Blake from Fullerton, CA: Why does this song make you think of doing an old lady?? Because old ladies are known for making custard pie?? haha
Jim from Long Beach, CaI love the wah-wah effect on Page's guitar. This song is about the thrills of oral sex. Great song,great album.....
J from Cherry Hill, NjJust wondering who actually has the lyrics. I want to know what it says for when everyone else thinks he is saying "throw your man out the door" because I disagree with those :).. You know you can basically make words up if you want since you are not exactly sure what Robert is saying. Soo,, does ne1 actually have the sheet music? with lyrics?
Rahul from Chennai, Indiahah.....wat as asskicking song to lead into the rest of the album
Alex from Orlando, FlLet's end this debate once and for all! The last line is "I'D SURE LOVE A PIECE OF YOUR CUSTARD PIE"
Rod from Brisbane, Australia"Sure wanna piece of your custard pie"

I have listened to this a million times (not sick of it yet, never will be) I truly believe in the studio, at the time, this is what the lyric was.
Besides, easier to sing along with.
Possibly the sexiest song ever written - in a dirty-sexy kind of way.
Chad from Bath, PaMy favorite song. It's really a fun song to play on guitar. It's a shame they never (allegedly) played this live.
Melanie from Seattle, WaThis song is pretty awesome, I love the intro part. Peter Griffin from RI, I actually do hear this on the radio sometimes :P
Albert from Haaren, NetherlandsFor over more than three decades is very hard to understand the lyrics and it's because of the fact that i am Dutch also the production isn't that good (the whole Led Zeppelin is supposed to be remastered now,thank God!) But all the songs Zeppelin made are masterpieces! despite bad production mastering.
Still Custard Pie sounds really exciting!
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiNot a bad song, but, GEE, I wonder why they don't air this on the radio.
Dennis from Anaheim, CaI have the way early version by Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee & actually requested & had them do it live in concert back in 1982.
The title says Custard pie -but the lyrics say
CRUSTY PIE.
Tell ya something baby,tell ya no lie, ol sonny still beggin for some o dat crusty pie, please give me some of it--fore you give it all away!!
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiI'm confident it's "Just wanna piece of your custard pie."
Ed from York, Pathis WAS played live, once
Maria from Athens, GreeceI really like this song.I like that is full of sexual innuendo=)robert plant sings at the last line:'Chew on a piece of your custard pie...'and I have to say that this song is about oral sex(especially at the second part-after the guitar solo).Physical Graffity album has many songs with that kind of content(sex,sex and sex)=]
Chris from Whitesboro, NyThe official ending line, as sung by Plant during the '96 Page/Plant tour is "I just wanna piece of your custard pie."
Phil from Baltimore, MdThe line at the end says " sure want a piece of your custard pie "
David from Youngstown, OhI've loved this song since it was released. The lyrics are incredibly dirty, but Plant sings them "Jagger-style," meaning you have little idea about the words. The opening guitar rift is one of the best of all-time. This is probably the best song on one of the greatest albums of all time.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI get why after listening to it. The lyrics are sort of hard to understand though.
Andy from Rochester, NyJohn from connecticut was right on what it is about. The last line is "chewin' a piece of your custed pie" it would be hard to believe that this song didn't have a sexual reference.
John from Hartford, CtIts about how good Plants girlfriend tastes when he gos down on her. Also refers to the slang "tearring of a piece" as in getting laid.
Jeanette from Irvine, Cathis song is slowly growing on me more and more. but then all led zeppelin is slowly growing on me more and more...so hard to pick favorites.
Kurt from Flemington, NjThis site has very accurate Led Zep lyrics...supposedly its 100% accurate lyrics...anyway check it out at http://www.angelfire.com/nm/zeppelin/ This site says the last line is "I'm chweing on a piece of your custard pie"
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI haven't heard the song in a while, so I'm not sure what the last line is. I have it on my computer though. I could listen to it and see if I can figure it out.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScYeah that's it. But it is about doing somebody.
Jeanette from Irvine, Cai love the rover. it brings back memories of my childhood...(well young childhood anyway i'm still only 13) whenever those guitar chords are played. don't ask me why. i just think of my childhood.
Jeanette from Irvine, Cadoing an old lady...thats what i thought of too. disturbing. anyway...why is this about cheating? o i get it...the person singing it IS the cheating wife's...partner.
Ernie from KranjThe building does in fact exist, however, I believe the shop appeared after the release of the album. It's still there today.
Scott from Charlotte, NcThe last line is definitely "Chewin a pizza that's stuffed with lye"......It's an ad-lib folks! I think we all suffer from Chronic Lyricosis.... :-)
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScActually, this song is probably about sex and cheating. I don't remember though. i'd have to listen to it again. haven't listened to physical Grafiti in a while.
Rob from Vancouver, CanadaIve got a copy of "Off the Record" which includes
copywritten sheet music and the lyric reads "i'd do anything for your custard pie". Not to say that thats a sure-fire guide as to whats on the record, but if you listen again knowing thats the lyric, it sure sounds right.
Mike from Emmaus, PaHow positive our we on that last line? I always heard it as "cut me a piece of your custard pie."
Matt from Trenton, CanadaTowards the end of Robert Plant's song "Tall Cool One", you can faintly hear the opening guitar section on Custard Pie.
Gil from Westland, Netherlands"I'm a hardrock lover!"
Nobody mentioned Mothers Finest sampled this LZ song on the 'Another Mother Further' album. Or didn't they?
Katheren from Augusta, MeI make a mean Custard Pie
Rob from Vancouver, CanadaThe line is "i'd do anything for your custard pie"
Robin from Tokyo, United StatesAnother fabulous gtr solo on this one
Blake from Fullerton, Cait sounds like a song about doing an old lady
Brittany from Baltic, SdThe line is "Chewin a piece of your custard pie"
-Brittany, Baltic, SD
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScIf it's not about sex, then it definitely seems to have some sexual references. Just curious.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScIs it just me? or is this song about sex?
Mark from London, EnglandFred - the line is actually "Chew on a piece of your custard pie"
Rob from Santa Monica, CaJimmy Page also played this in concert during his collaboration with the Black Crowes -- the result is astounding and really makes you wish you could have heard him play it with Bonham back there.
Andrew from Illinois, Ilreally wished that they could have played this live it would have been really cool.
Fred from San Jose, CaHey, Matt...it's "Save me a piece of your custard pie."
Nate from Lincoln, NeWell you better throw Bukka White into the mix of Blues artists that influenced this. His song "Shake 'em on down" is represented a little in this song too (Put on your night shirt and your morning gown. You know by night I'm gonna shake 'em down). Zeppelin used alot of Blues artists' lyrics and rarely gave credit. I love Zep though...they actually turned me on to Blues in the first place.
Frankie from St. Louis, Moit sounds like the last line is show me a piece of your custard pie but..im probably wrong but he is making a sh sound
Blackdog from New Milford, NjThe building on the album cover of Physical Graffiti is real and located on St. Mark's Place in New York City. There was a store in the basement that was called Physical Graffiti and thusly became the name of the double album that was mostly made of Zep songs that didn't make the cut for ealier albums.
Matt from Durham, NhWhat is that last line? Gimme a piece of your custard pie? Just want a piece of your custard pie? Can't get enough of your custard pie? Can I get a ruling on this?
Anders from Cph, DenmarkA wierd favorite of mine... I don't know why, but it is certanly one of the best on Physical Graffiti...
Dennis from Toledo, OhThis song is about cunnilingus, making it sort of humourous and simultaneously not too radio-friendly. How often do you hear it on the radio?
Jimmy from Philadelphia, PaPlayed live at Jason Bonham's wedding reception with Jason filling in for his Father.

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