My Boomerang Won't Come Back

Album: Hello My Darlings! (1961)
Charted: 14 21
Play Video
  • In the bad bad lands of Australia many years ago
    The Aborigine tribes were meeting, having a big pow-wow

    We've got a lot of trouble Chief
    On account of your son Mac
    My boy Mac, why? What's wrong with him?
    My boomerang won't come back
    Your boomerang won't come back?
    My boomerang won't come back
    My boomerang won't come back
    I've waved the thing all over the place
    Practiced 'til I was black in the face
    I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race
    My boomerang won't back
    I can ride a kangaroo (yeah, yeah)
    Make kangaroo stew (yeah, yeah)
    But I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race
    My boomerang won't back
    They banished him from the tribes' lair and sent him on his way
    He had a backless boomerang, so here he could not stay

    This is nice, isn't it?
    Getting banished at my time a life
    What a way to spend an evening
    Sittin' on a rock in the middle of the desert
    With me boomerang in me hand
    I should very likely get bushwhacked
    Get out of here
    Nasty bushwhackin' animal
    Think I'll make a nice cup of tea
    Good gracious
    There goes a kangaroo
    I must have practice with me boomerang
    Hey, right behind the left elbow, then slowly back
    If you throw that thing at me
    I'll jump right on your head
    Ain't it marvelous?
    Got a land full of kangaroos
    And I'd a pick that one

    For three long months he sat there, or maybe it was four
    Then an old old man in a kangaroo skin came a-knockin' at his door

    I'm the local witch doctor, son
    They call me Joe Joseph Black
    Now tell me, what's your trouble, boy?
    My boomerang won't come back
    Your boomerang won't come back?
    My boomerang won't come back
    My boomerang won't come back
    I've waved the thing all over the place
    Practiced 'til I was black in the face
    I'm a big disgrace to the Aborigine race
    My boomerang won't back
    Don't worry, boy
    I know the trick and to you I'm gonna show it
    If you want your boomerang to come back
    Well, first you've got to throw it
    Oh yes, never thought of that, daddy will be pleased
    Must have a girl, hmm
    Excuse me
    Now then, slowly back and throw

    Oh my God
    I've hit the flying doctor
    Can you do firt aid?
    Don't talk to me about first days, boy
    You owe me fourteen chickens
    You know what I mean?
    Learnt you to throw the boomerang
    You know, first things first
    Yes, I know that, but I mean
    I think, on this occasion, you know you could be a bit more Writer/s: Charles Drake, Max Diamond
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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).
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Graduation Songs

Graduation SongsFact or Fiction

Have you got the smarts to know which of these graduation song stories are real?

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."