♫ Charlie Brown ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I’ve only played this once before, back in 2018, but I was in the mood for something fun tonight, and this one came to mind …

Tonight I just wanted to have a bit of fun, and this one will make you smile … I guarantee it.  This one goes back a ways … 1959 … maybe before some of you were even on this earth.  Don’t ask why it popped into my head tonight … but it happened as I was taking fish sticks out of the oven for me ‘n Miss Goose.

Like most Coaster’s songs, this was written by the songwriting team of Leiber And Stoller. They wrote hits for many artists, including Elvis Presley, The Drifters, and Ben E. King. The songs they wrote for The Coasters were usually more comical.

Leiber and Stoller made up the story of Charlie Brown, a kid who is always getting in trouble and wonders why everyone’s always picking on him. It has nothing to do with the character in the Peanuts comic strip.

Jerry Leiber, of Leiber and Stoller fame, reports that the phrase “He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown” occurred to him after a long creative dry spell. Their previous Coasters hit was “Yakety Yak,” which almost wrote itself when Mike Stoller was fooling around on the piano and Leiber yelled from the kitchen, “Take out the papers and the trash!”

The BBC banned this song because of the bad behavior Charlie Brown demonstrated, especially throwing spitballs. This ban was soon lifted.

Charlie Brown

The Coasters

Fe-fe, fi-fi, fo-fo, fum
I smell smoke in the auditorium

Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown
He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown
He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see
(Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?)

That’s him on his knees, I know that’s him
Yellin’ “seven-come-eleven” down in the boys’ gym

Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown
He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown
He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see
(Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?)

Who’s always writing on the wall?
Who’s always goofin’ in the hall?
Who’s always throwin’ spit balls?
Guess who (who, me?) Yeah, you!

Who walks in the classroom, cool and slow?
Who calls the English teacher Daddy-O?

Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown
He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown
He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see
(Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?)

Who walks in the classroom, cool and slow?
Who calls the English teacher Daddy-O?

Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown
He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown
He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see
(Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?)

Writer/s: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
Publisher: Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, IMAGEM MUSIC INC, BELINDA ABERBACH STEVENSON AGAR REVOCABLE TRUST
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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27 thoughts on “♫ Charlie Brown ♫ (Redux)”

  1. Pingback: ♫ Runaway ♫ (Redux) | Filosofa's Word

  2. Jill, this is such a fun song punctuated by the end of the chorus question asked by all of us Charlie Browns. We went to one of those firefighter fundraising concerts and the remnants of The Coasters were on the ticket. This song got everyone to their feet. Keith

    PS – the other thing I remembered about this concert is Del Shannon was the headliner and the mic was turned up as his voice was weakened by age. It made “Runaway” a too loud a version to enjoy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Awww … I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, it is just pure fun! We need more like this! And we shall have more … this morning, in fact!

      Wow … when was that concert? I can certainly understand how “Charlie Brown” would bring everyone to their feet! ‘Tis sad that Del Shannon’s “Runaway” was ruined though … I wonder how old he was then? Hmmmm … that’s a song I haven’t played yet, too! Thanks for sharing your memories … I always enjoy hearing about the concerts you have been to!

      Like

    • Er … no, but then … I’ve never thought to look for a pattern. Interesting question, though … and especially since you’re asking ‘for a friend’! Hugs and cheers to you, dear Michael!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I remember listening to this on the Saturday morning radio show Children’s Favourites, presented by ‘Uncle Mac.’ Nowadays the BBC would be more concerned about banning a name like that than an innocent record like this. Lots of fun!

    Liked by 1 person

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