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.
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 1959, Dodie Stevens became famous with her parody of "Black Denim Trousers," "Pink Shoelaces", which uses a different, less tragic storyline.
The text of "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" is adapted into French by Jean Dréjac, and entitled "L'Homme à la moto" : "It was the film The Wild One with Marlon Brando that inspired me, as well as all those young people in leather jackets who appeared in the suburbs," confides Jean Dréjac in 1963.
[4] The French version is covered in particular by Nicoletta, Vince Taylor, Renaud, Michèle Torr, Bernard Lavilliers, Mireille Mathieu, Florent Pagny, Brigitte Fontaine and Beth Ditto.