The Purple People Eater was written and performed by Sheb Wooley and released in 1958, reaching number one on the Billboard pop chart. Inspired by a joke, the song describes a creature that eats purple people, though later lyrics suggest it may itself be purple. Its sped-up vocal effect was novel for the era and helped it become a Halloween staple. The song inspired a 1988 film adaptation and remains widely sampled in seasonal playlists, novelty compilations, and meme soundboards for its instantly recognisable hook.