Purple People Eater
View chords used in this chart
The Purple People Eater:Sheb Wooley.
#1 in 1958.
#1.(Original keys. Check it out on YouTube.)
D
Well, I saw the thing comin' out of the sky,
A D
it had one long horn, one big eye.
G
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee!",
A D
It looks like a purple people eater to me.
Chorus:
D
It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.
A
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
D
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.
A D
Sure looks strange to me. (One eye?)
#2.(Change keys.)
Eb
Well, he came down to earth and he lit in a tree.
Bb Eb
I said, "Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me."
Ab
I heard him say in a voice so gruff:
NC
"I wouldn't eat you cause you're so tough!"
Chorus:
Ab Eb
It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.
Bb
One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater.
Eb
One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.
Bb Eb
Sure looks strange to me. (One horn?)
#3.(Change keys.)
E
I said, "Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line?"
B E
He said, "It's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine.
A
But that's not the reason that I came to land..
B E
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band."
#4.
E
Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater.
B
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater.
E
(We wear short shorts) Flyin' purple people eater..
B E
Sure looks strange to me.
#5.
E
And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground,
B E
He started to rock, really rockin' around.
A
It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune..
B E
Sing a bop bop-a-boppa-loppa-lim-bam-boom.
#6.
E
Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater.
B
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater.
E
I like short shorts!..Flyin' little people eater.
B E
Sure looks strange to me. (Purple People?)
#7.(Change keys)
E F
And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know?
C F
I saw him last night on a TV show.
Bb
He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' 'em dead..
C F Bb C F
Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head.
F // Tequila!
A fifties smash from Kraziekhat.
How to play Purple People Eater
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.