My Boomerang Won't Come Back

Album: Hello My Darlings! (1961)
Charted: 14 21
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Songfacts®:

  • This novelty song was a surprise hit for the English comedian Charlie Drake, reaching #3 on the Canadian Charts in February 1962 behind Chubby Checker's The Twist at #1. Although there was no hit parade as such in 1960s Australia, musicologist David Kent has calculated it reached #1 there in December the same year. It also did well in the US charts.
  • Today the song might be regarded as politically incorrect as its subject is an Aborigine boy in the Outback who is none too bright. In the end he has to be told that if he wants his boomerang to come back he should first throw it! >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander - London, England, for above 2
  • In the original version of this song, the refrain was "Practiced till I was black in the face, I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race." This was altered on later pressings to "Practiced till I was blue in the face."

Comments: 1

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 7th 1962, "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" by Charlie Drake entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on March 11th it peaked at #21 (for 1 week) and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on December 9th, 1961 it reached #1 (for 6 weeks) on the Australian Kent Music Report chart (it was succeeded at #1 by "Let There Be Drums" by Sandy Nelson)...
    Peaked at #3 in Canada...
    R.I.P. Mr. Drake, born Charles Edward Springall, (1925 - 2006).
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