Charlie Brown

The Coasters

About Charlie Brown

"Charlie Brown" is a popular Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song that was a top-ten hit for The Coasters in the spring of 1959 (released in January, coupled with "Three Cool Cats," Atco 6132). It went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts, while Venus by Frankie Avalon was at #1. It was the first of three top-ten hits for the Coasters that year. It is best known for the phrase, "Why's everybody always pickin' on me?" According to Jerry Leiber, "After 'Yakety Yak,' I thought we could write every Coasters song in ten minutes. Man, was I wrong! When we tried to write a follow-up, Mike had lots of musical ideas, but I was stuck. … After nearly a week of agonizing, a simple name came to mind. 'Charlie Brown.' Then, 'He's a clown, that Charlie Brown.' Mike already had a skip-along melodic template in place. He helped me with the story and suddenly a character, played by Dub Jones, stepped out on stage."Towards the end of the bridge of the song, the words "Yeah, You!" were recorded at half speed, so the voices would play back at a higher pitch. King Curtis plays the tenor saxophone during the instrumental and the fade out of the record. 


2:19
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#2

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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?)

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The Coasters

The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood," their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller. Although the Coasters originated outside of mainstream doo wop, their records were so frequently imitated that they became an important part of the doo wop legacy through the 1960s. more »

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Written by: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, BELINDA ABERBACH STEVENSON AGAR REVOCABLE TRUST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Musician behind the song
"Charlie Brown" was performed by "The Coasters", an American R&B and rock and roll vocal group, who were popular in the late 1950s and mid-1960s.
Songwriter
The song was written by the famous songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Chart Performance
"Charlie Brown" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was number 1 on the R&B singles chart in the United States in February 1959.
Music Style
The song is noted for its style of humourous lyricism and distinctive musical elements, accurately reflecting the typical "Coasters" sound.
Famous Cover Version
"Charlie Brown" was covered by numerous artists, including King Curtis, an American saxophonist known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and soul music.
Song Theme
The song is about a high-school "class clown," with a shout of "why's everybody always pickin' on me?" after each two-stanza verse.
Other classifications
"Charlie Brown" was included in the film "American Graffiti," a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy film directed and co-written by George Lucas.
Song Success
"Charlie Brown" has been one of the most popular songs of its time and continues to be a staple of oldies radio.
Impact on King Curtis
King Curtis' cover of "Charlie Brown" had a great impact on his career and made him prominent in the music industry in the late 1950s and 1960s.
Connection to Pop Culture
The song was also used in the 1990 movie "Goodfellas", directed by Martin Scorsese, symbolizing a pivotal scene in the film.

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    Charlie Brown

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1959

    Billboard #2


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