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Song: Custard Pie
Album: Physical Graffiti [released Feb 24, 1975 (US) | Feb 24, 1975 (UK)]
Single: N/A
Credited to: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Related Songs:
Drop Down Mama - Sleepy John Estes (original)
Drop Down Mama - Big Joe Williams (previous cover)
I Want Some Of Your Pie - Blind Boy Fuller (original)
Custard Pie Blues - Sonny Terry (previous cover)
Shake 'Em On Down - Bukka White (reference)
Help Me, Baby - Sonny Boy Williamson (reference)

Lyrics:

Oooh yeah, drop down, baby
Let daddy see, yeah
Drop down, my lady
Just dream of me
Well, my mama allow me
I fool 'round all night long
Well, I may look like I'm crazy
I sure know right from wrong

See me comin', throw your man outdoor
Ain't no stranger, done been this way before
See me comin' mama, throw your man outdoor
I ain't no stranger, I've been this way before

Put on your nightshirt and your mornin' gown
You know by night, I'm gonna shake 'em on down
Put on your nightshirt, yeah
Mama, and your mornin' gown
Well you know, by night I'm sure gonna shake 'em on down
Shake it, shake it

Oooh, your custard pie, yeah, sweet and nice
When you cut it, mama, save me a slice
Your custard pie, yeah
I declare you're sweet and nice like your custard pie
When you cut it, mama, mama, please save me a slice

Oh, I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie
I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie
I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie
I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie

Drop down, drop down, drop down, drop down, drop down, drop down, drop down

I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie
I'm chewin' a piece of your custard pie

Influences: Custard Pie's influences involve a rather complicated history of blues songs. The bulk of the song is most likely largely inspired by a song by Sleepy John Estes titled Drop Down Mama (which I believe was recorded in 1935), as well as a song called Custard Pie Blues by Sonny Terry (which I believe was recorded in 1953). However, I have heard that Sonny Terry's Custard Pie Blues was a cover of Blind Boy Fuller's I Want Some Of Your Pie (which I believe was recorded in 1939). I have also heard that Big Joe Williams did a cover of Drop Down Mama.

Some of the lyrics from this song could also have been borrowed from Bukka White's Shake 'Em On Down ("I'm sure gonna shake 'em on down"), and Sonny Boy Williamson's Help Me, Baby ("put on your nightshirt and your morning gown").



I Want Some Of Your Pie - Blind Boy Fuller

Baby, I'm not joking, ain't gonna tell you no lie
I want a piece of your custard pie
You got to give me some of it, you got to give me some of it
You got to give me some of it, before you give it all away

I'm not bragging, but it's understood
Everything I do I try to do it good
You got to give me some of it, you got to give me some of it
You got to give me some of it, before you give it all away

Now, your custard pie smells good and nice
When you cut it, please save me a slice
You got to give me some of it, you got to give me some of it
You got to give me some of it, before you give it all away

Baby, I don't care, whenever I cross that street
You cut that pie, please save me a piece
You got to give me some of it, you got to give me some of it
You got to give me some of it, before you give it all away

Ah, it's good for a man, 83
You know good and well it's good enough for me
You got to give me some of it, you got to give me some of it
You got to give me some of it, before you give it all away

Unsolved Mysteries: (Please contact me if you have any information about the following)

• If you have any information about the songs listed above in the Influences section that contradicts or complements what I have already written, please let me know. Of course, it would be really helpful if you have a reliable source for your information.