"Crazy Man, Crazy" was the title of an early rock and roll song written by, and first recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets in April 1953. It is notable as the first recognized rock and roll recording to appear on the national American musical charts, peaking at #12 on the Billboard Juke Box chart for the week ending June 20, 1953, and #11 for two weeks on the Cash Box chart beginning for the week of June 13. It is also believed to be the first rock and roll recording to be played on national television in the US. The use of a comma in the title varies from source to source, but is present on the original single release, which is credited to "Bill Haley with Haley's Comets," an early variant of the band's name.
The song was written by Bill Haley. Haley said in a 1967 interview with Vancouver, British Columbia DJ Red Robinson that he got the idea for the song from hearing popular catchphrases used by teenagers at school dances where he and his band performed. One of these phrases was "Crazy Man Crazy" while another was "Go, go, go, everybody!" (the latter also featured in a song called "Go Go Go" by The Treniers which music historian Jim Dawson suggests may have been an influence). Haley (and Marshall Lytle) incorporated both phrases into the song. He is said to have written it sitting at the kitchen table while his wife prepared lunch.
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Oh man that music's gone, gone
(I said) Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Oh man that music's gone, gone
When I go out and I want a treat
I find me a band with a solid beat
Take my chick and we dance about
When they start rockin
Boy we start to shout (we shout)
Go, go, go everybody
Go, go, go everybody
Go, go, go everybody
Go, go, go,.go, go, go, go
They play it soft, they play it strong
They play it wild and they play it long
They just keep playin till the break of day
To keep them rockin all you gotta say is
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Oh man that music's gone, gone
(I said) Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy
Crazy man crazy