The Cheers - “Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots“ (1955)

“Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots“ is a teenage tragedy song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Recorded by The Cheers, it went to #6 on the Billboard Best Selling singles chart in the fall of 1955, becoming Leiber and Stoller’s first top ten pop hit. Veteran performer Vaughn Monroe covered the record, going to #38 on the Billboard charts; the song also rose to a top-10 chart appearance on the Cash Box chart (which counted songs, not records, and thus counted all cover versions of a song as one). In 1956, French chanteuse Edith Piaf recorded a French translation of the song entitled “L’ Homme à la Moto,“ which became one of her biggest selling singles. The song tells the story of a motorcycle rider, described as “the terror of Highway 101,“ and his loyal but oft-neglected girlfriend Mary Lou. In the song she pleads with him not to ride one night: “I’ve got a feeling if you ride tonight I’ll grieve“ she tells him, but he ignores her and “hit a screamin’ diesel that was California bound.“ When investigators arrive at the scene of the collision, they find no trace of the motorcycle or rider except for his clothes. Featuring a catchy tune and the chorus of “He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots and a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back,“ the song was the second big hit for the Cheers, after “Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin’).“ It was also the first song to chart about motorcycles and the “new“ motorcyclists, earning it the reputation as the first biker song. Its popularity coincided with the death of teen idol James Dean in an automobile crash in the week following the record’s release. This song was also recorded by Canadian group The Diamonds for the Coral Records label; the Diamonds achieved fame later with “Little Darlin’.“ In 1994, Chris Spedding recorded a new version of the song. It has also been recorded by Joan Morris and William Bolcom, and has become a staple of their concert repertoire. In 1959, Dodie Stevens became famous with her parody of “Black Denim Trousers,“ “Pink Shoelaces.“ Originally released as Capitol single F3219 in the fall of 1955. LYRICS: He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back He had a hopped-up ’cycle that took off like a gun That fool was the terror of Highway 101 Well, he never washed his face and he never combed his hair He had axle grease embedded underneath his fingernails On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo A picture of a heart saying “Mother, I love you“ He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou But he treated her just like he treated all the rest And everybody pitied her ’cause everybody knew He loved that doggone motorcycle best He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back He had a hopped-up ’cycle that took off like a gun That fool was the terror of Highway 101 [Instrumental Interlude] Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave She said “I’ve got a feeling if you ride tonight I’ll grieve“ But her tears were shed in vain and her every word was lost In the rumble of his engine and the smoke from his exhaust Then he took off like the Devil and there was fire in his eyes He said “I’ll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise“ But he hit a screamin’ diesel that was California-bound And when they cleared the wreckage, all they found Was his black denim trousers and motorcycle boots And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back But they couldn’t find the ’cycle that took off like a gun And they never found the terror of Highway 101.