Mr. Custer

Album: Mister Larry Verne (1960)
Charted: 1
Play Video
  • (that famous day in history the men of the 7th cavalry went riding on)
    (and from the rear a voice was heard)
    (a brave young man with a trembling word rang loud and clear)
    What am I doin' here?

    Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go
    Hey, Mr. Custer, please don't make me go
    I had a dream last night about the comin' fight
    Somebody yelled "attack!"
    And there I stood with a arrow in my back.

    Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go (forward ho!) aw
    Look at them bushes out there
    They're moving and there's a injun behind every one
    Hey, Mr. Custer-you mind if I be excused the rest of the afternoon?
    Hey charlie, duck yer head!
    Hm, you're a little bit late on that one, charlie
    Ooh, I bet that smarts!

    (they were sure of victory, the men of the 7th cavalry, as they rode on)
    (but then from the rear a voice was heard)
    (that same brave voice with the trembling word rang loud and clear)
    What am I doin' here?

    Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go
    Listen, Mr. Custer, please don't make me go
    There's a redskin a-waitin' out there, just fixin' to take my hair
    A coward I've been called 'cause I don't want to wind up dead or bald

    Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go (forward ho) aw
    I wonder what the injun word for friend is
    Let's see friend kemo sabe, that's it
    Kemo sabe!
    Hey out there, kemo sabe!
    Nope, that itn't it
    Look at them out there
    They're runnin' around like a bunch of wild Indians
    Heh, heh, heh
    Nah, this ain't no time for jokin' Writer/s: A. DELORY, F. DARIAN, J. VANWINKLE
    Publisher: SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Sam Burkes Lll from Phila, Miss.One of the most hilarious, brow-raising songs from that early 60's era!! Would be extremely offensive amongst all the Karen PC'ers, specially here in E. Miss, with the heavy Choctaw Nation inhabitants!! Started working it up on acoustic guitar, thought I'd chk. the lyrics, forgot there was a couple of narratives within..Loved it!!
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaThe first time I heard this song I almost fell over laughing. Sadly now days it seems like no one can laugh at anything because it isn't PC. Come on folks , it was done as a joke, don't get all upset.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 12th 1960, Larry Verne performed "Mr. Custer" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #4 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and a little under a month later on October 10th, 1960 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week}...
    {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny*** "Please Mr. Custer, I don’t wanna go!" ***
    On August 29th 1960, "Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #65; and on October 10th, 1960 it peaked at #1 {for 1 week} and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #9 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    He had one other Top 100 record, "Mister Livingston", it stayed on the Top 100 for 3 week, peaking at #75...
    R.I.P. Mr. Verne {1936 - 2013}.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.