-the # 24 song of the 1955-1959 rock era
-was # 1 for 6 weeks in 1958
NOTE:< words of the PPE> highly reminiscent of the Chipmunks' "voices"


THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER
Words and music by Sheb Wooley
As recorded by Sheb Wooley, 1958.

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 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 'cause 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: "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.
And he started to rock, really rockin' around.
It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune:
"Sing a bop bap aloopa lappa loom 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
What a sight to see. (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.

[clarinet solo]

(Tequila!)