Wooley was born in Erick, Oklahoma and grew up on a farm. He learned how to ride horses at a young age, and was working cowboy and rodeo rider. He also played in a country-western band. During WWII, Wooley was turned down for service because of his rodeo injuries. He worked in the oil industry and as a welder. In 1946, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas and became a country and western musician.
Wooley appeared in dozens of western films from the 1950s through 1970s, most notably High Noon. He also appeared in The Outlaw Josey Wales and Giant. He also co-starred as Pete in the TV Western Rawhide.
In the late 1950s, he embarked on a recording career, and recorded the song that made him famous. Wooley followed up "People Eater" with a series of lesser-known novelty hits. Wooley also wrote the theme song for the long-running television show "Hee Haw".
He was a regular on Hee Haw as the drunken country songwriter Ben Colder. The Colder persona became popular and he released music and performed under that name as well as his own.
The Ben Colder persona was created after an incident in which Sheb Wooley was supposed to record the song Don't Go Near The Indians but was delayed due to an acting job. During the delay Rex Allen recorded the song and scored a hit, and so Sheb Wooley told people that he didn't mind - he would do the sequel. His version was Don't Go Near the Eskimos, about a boy who lives in Alaska, and as an extra joke he used the name Ben Colder (as in living in Alaska means he had never Been Colder). The single was so successful he continued using the persona for another forty years, with one of his last recording being Shaky Breaky Car (which parodies the song Achy Breaky Heart)
He is considered by many to be the most likely voice actor for the Wilhelm scream, having appeared on a memo as a voice extra for Distant Drums. This particular recording of a scream has been used by sound effects teams in over 80 films.
Wooley continued occasional television and film appearances through the 1990s. In 1996 he was diagnosed with leukemia, and died at the Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee in 2003.
Wooley is buried in Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
The Purple People Eater
Sheb Wooley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It had the one long horn, one big eye (ooh)
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple people 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
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 (ooh)
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-aboopa-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' purple people eater
What a sight to see (purple people?)
Well, 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
"Tequila"
Sheb Wooley's song The Purple People Eater is a novelty song that tells the story of a strange creature that has descended from the sky. The creature has only one eye, one horn, is purple in color, and is referred to as the purple people eater. The song starts with the singer shaking with fear after seeing the creature and exclaiming that it looks like the purple people eater. The singer then proceeds to engage with the creature, asking it not to eat him. The purple people eater responds with a gruff voice, saying that it wouldn't eat the singer because he is tough.
The singer then asks the purple people eater what it does, and instead of responding with a typical answer, the creature says that it eats purple people but that's not why it came to earth. The purple people eater then goes on to say that it wants to get a job in a rock and roll band. The song ends with the purple people eater rocking around and playing "Tequila" through the horn in his head.
Overall, the song is a lighthearted, playful tune that epitomizes the novelty genre of music. The purple people eater can be interpreted as a symbol for the bizarre and inexplicable things that happen in life, and the song encourages listeners to embrace these oddities and enjoy them for what they are.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
I personally witnessed an unidentified flying object in the sky.
It had the one long horn, one big eye (ooh)
The flying object had peculiar characteristics, such as a single long horn and one large eye.
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
I was filled with fear and trepidation upon seeing this strange object.
It looks like a purple people eater to me
The flying object resembled a creature that feasts on people and had a purple hue.
"Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me"
I begged the creature not to consume me due to its potential carnivorous nature.
"I wouldn't eat you 'cause you're so tough"
The creature assured me that it would not consume me since I am too resilient or formidable.
"Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line?"
I inquired as to what the creature's purpose or profession was.
"Eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
The creature stated that its primary activity is to consume purple people and that it is highly enjoyable.
But that's not the reason that I came to land
However, consuming people was not the creature's intention for landing on earth.
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band"
The creature expressed interest in joining a music group that plays rock and roll.
And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground
The creature moved from a tree to the ground with a rhythmic swing of its body.
It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune
The creature performed an unusual and lively musical piece.
Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
An expression of surprise or excitement regarding the creature's musical talents and appearance.
"Tequila"
The creature performs a cover of the song "Tequila" utilizing the horn on its body.
Lyrics © DOTSON-WOOLEY ENTERTAINMENT
Written by: Sheb Wooley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@allseasonsmusic
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
@whistlemanthatwhistles
YEAH!
@yvettedowney9022
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@daniellittle7503
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@jordanalmond9396
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@diego826_guy
Weewhoo!!
@rommix0
The guy who gave us the Wilhelm Scream also gave us this gem. For real.
@johngililland6166
And, he created the theme to Hee Haw. 😆👍
🤠 saaaalute!
@jaskiaz
He was also in one of my favorite western TV series Rawhide. Which I found out recently.
Had no clue he did the Wilhelm scream either.
@TheFlyingSailorYT
And to think he was just doing screams of a man being ate by a Alligator.