With his small stature, curly red hair and liking for slapstick he was a popular comedian with children in his early years, becoming nationally-known for his "Hello, my darlings" catchphrase.
He recorded a remarkable number of records, the first of which, Splish Splash, a cover version of a rock and roll number originally recorded by Bobby Darin, got into the UK Top 10, but the rest were mostly novelty songs. One of these, My Boomerang Won't Come Back, became a modest hit in the United States, where for the most part his work was otherwise not known.
In 1975, Drake recorded a very unusual single for Charisma, unusual in that it is a novelty record with connections to the world of progressive rock. Written by Peter Gabriel and Martin Hall (who also co-wrote the light-hearted Excuse Me from Gabriel’s first solo album), the record has long been rumored to feature Genesis members and has been a source of great confusion for Genesis & Peter Gabriel collectors. Recently, in response to a post in the forum at www.philcollins.co.uk, Phil Collins offered the following recollection of the sessions for this single....
''....the post about Charlie Drake and his recording session brought back many memories. It did indeed feature Robert Fripp, Percy Jones, Keith Tippett, me and Peter G. A friend of Pete's, Martin Hall wrote the song, or possibly co-wrote it with Peter, called You Never Know. Apparently Charlie Drake who was a huge comedy star of the 50's and 60's wanted to make a record. How he ended up with this line up I have no idea !!! It seems the most obscure set of people to make a comedy record. On the day Charlie, who was quite small, turned up with a brand new denim outfit for his rock debut....it was quite touching to see him at it. Percy Jones and I were already in Brand X by then. The whole session was one of life's interesting snapshots !!!!''
Mr. Custer
Charlie Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(That famous day in history)
(The men of the 7th cavalry went riding on)
(And from the rear a voice was heard)
(A brave young man with a trembling word rang loud and clear)
What am I doing here?
Please Mr.Custer, I don't wanna go
Eh, er, Mr.Custer? Please don't make me go
I had a dream last night about the comin' fight
Somebody yelled "Attack!"
And there I stood with an arrow in my back
Please Mr.Custer, I don't wanna go
Oh-oh, oh.
SPOKEN:
Look at 'em bushes out there, they're movin'
There's an Indian behind every one of 'em
Er, um, Mr.Custer
May I be excused for the rest of the afternoon, please?
Wanna change my library book
OY, WATCH OUT, DUCK YOUR HEAD!
Oo-er, bit late on that one, son
God, I bet that don't half hurt
(They were sure of victory)
(The men of the 7th Cavalry as they rolled on)
(When from the rear a voice was heard)
(That same great voice with a trembling word rang loud and clear)
What am I doing here?
Please Mr.Custer, I don't wanna go
Er, listen, er, Mr.Custer? Please don't make me go
There's a redskin waitin'out there, waitin' to cut my hair
A coward I've been called
But I don't wanna wind up dead or bald
Please Mr.Custer, I don't wanna go
Oo-errr, err-oo
SPOKEN:
Now, let's see, what's the Indian word for 'friend'?
Oh yes, I know? manyarna, yeah that's it
Oy, you lot out there 'Manyarna'
(Arrow whizzes by) Ooo!
Oooh! No, that ain't it
Look at 'em out there
Running around like a bunch of wild Indians
Bunch of wild Indians! Ha-ha-ha-ha
Now this is no time for joking
(Sound of many arrows whizzing by)
Oo? oh? oo? help!
Mr Custer?
Oh my God!
(Fades)
The lyrics to Charlie Drake's "Mr. Custer" are a humorous take on the infamous events of June 25th, 1876, at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, in which General George Armstrong Custer and his troops of the 7th cavalry were defeated by a confederation of Native American tribes. The song depicts a soldier who is terrified and begging not to join the fight. The lyrics play on the stereotype of soldiers being brave and fearless on the battlefield, as this particular soldier is afraid of being killed or having his hair cut by the Native Americans. The soldier's nervous rambling and pleas to be excused build a comical tension in the song, as the rest of the troops march on.
The background noises of "red Indian sounds" and "shrieks" add to the comedic and lighthearted tone of the song, as they are not realistic portrayals of Native American culture. The song also challenges the typical narrative of the brave and heroic soldiers fighting against the "savage Indians," by portraying a soldier who is scared and would rather not participate in the conflict. Overall, the lyrics to "Mr. Custer" use humor and satire to poke fun at historical events and stereotypes.
Line by Line Meaning
That famous day in history
Referring to a notable moment in history
The men of the 7th cavalry went riding on
The members of the 7th cavalry were on horseback
And from the rear a voice was heard
Someone from the back spoke up
A brave young man with a trembling word rang loud and clear
A courageous soldier spoke up, though perhaps nervous or scared
What am I doing here?
Questioning their involvement in the situation
Please Mr.Custer, I don't wanna go
Asking to be excused from the mission
Eh, er, Mr.Custer? Please don't make me go
Continuing to plead to be relieved of the duty
I had a dream last night about the comin' fight
Describing a dream they had about the upcoming battle
Somebody yelled 'Attack!'
Someone shouted to initiate the attack
And there I stood with an arrow in my back
Imagining being injured during the confrontation
SPOKEN: Look at 'em bushes out there, they're movin'
Speaking out loud, observing the surroundings
There's an Indian behind every one of 'em
Expressing paranoia and fear of the surrounding Indigenous people
Er, um, Mr.Custer May I be excused for the rest of the afternoon, please?
Asking again to leave the task at hand
Wanna change my library book
Intending to read instead of participating in battle
OY, WATCH OUT, DUCK YOUR HEAD!
Exclaiming for someone to avoid danger
Oo-er, bit late on that one, son
Acknowledging being too late to avoid the harm
God, I bet that don't half hurt
Commenting on how painful it must be
They were sure of victory
Believing that they were certain to win
When from the rear a voice was heard
Another comment coming from the back of the group
That same great voice with a trembling word rang loud and clear
The same soldier from earlier spoke up again, being brave despite their fear
There's a redskin waitin'out there, waitin' to cut my hair
Using a derogatory term to describe the Indigenous people and expressing the fear of being scalped
A coward I've been called
Admitting to being labeled a coward
But I don't wanna wind up dead or bald
Not wanting to be killed or scalped
Oo-errr, err-oo
An exclamation of nervousness and fear
Now, let's see, what's the Indian word for 'friend'?
Wondering about the translation for a word
Oh yes, I know? manyarna, yeah that's it
Remembering the translation for 'friend'
Oy, you lot out there 'Manyarna'
Calling out to the surrounding Indigenous people
(Arrow whizzes by) Ooo!
Exclaiming in reaction to an arrow flying by
Oooh! No, that ain't it
Realizing the mistake in the translation
Look at 'em out there Running around like a bunch of wild Indians
Mocking and demeaning the Indigenous people
Bunch of wild Indians! Ha-ha-ha-ha
Laughing and continuing the mockery
Now this is no time for joking
Realizing the situation is not a laughing matter
(Sound of many arrows whizzing by) Oo? oh? oo? help!
Reacting to the danger and needing help
Mr Custer?
Calling out for help from their superior
Oh my God!
Reacting to the situation with shock and fear
(Fades)
The audio fades out and the song ends
Writer(s): F. Darian, A. Delory, J. Vanwinkle
Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jamesmclaughlin9894
I was in a pub recently and this song came on the music machine. The whole pub, (about 30 people), was moaning. I sat there laughing to myself and remembering when I had the vinyl in 1960, aged 9. 62 years ago!
@philt7123
Me too.
@philt7123
Can you remember what was on the B side?
@johnwilliams2479
Ignorant no sence of humour, "my boomerang won't come back" was another his for Charlie or in later life wanted to be addressed as Charles
@georgebuller1914
I'd have put it on again, just to p*ss them off a bit more! LOL
@dividfungusun2211
@Phil T Mr Custor was the B side. A side was 'My boomerang won't come back'.
@aidanflood7979
My Gran bought this for me as a child, I absolutely loved it
@helenhortin7059
My mummy in law found this for me 😁 I loved this song as a child so much 🥰
@theflyinghamster8442
Charlie Drake had an amazing life 😀😀😀😀 talk about living it to the full !!!! Really worth reading about , hope I can live the rest of my life like that !!!!!! 😀😀😀😀 RIP a Charlie , a good sort !!
@grimTales1
Brings back memories - I had this version on an old cassette.