The “Flying Purple People Eater” is a novelty song written by Sheb Wooley and first recorded by him in 1958. The song is a humorous, nonsensical tale about a purple monster who terrorizes people and eats them. Despite its bizarre lyrics, the song became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958. It has since been covered by numerous artists, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Aerosmith.
The song’s lyrics are full of colorful imagery and playful language. The monster is described as having “ten-foot wings” and “big purple eyes” and is said to “swoop down from the sky” and “grab you up in his claws.” The song’s chorus is particularly catchy, with its repetitive refrain of “He’s a-coming to get you, so you’d better run!”
