♫ I’m Henery the Eighth, I Am ♫

Posted on by under music

Well, my morning post was a bit dour, but the one bright thing it did was remind me of this song!  It is not my favourite of Herman’s Hermits, but I have to admit it is a fun song with an upbeat melody and lyrics, so let’s start this new year, such as it is, with this, shall we?

Herman’s Hermits are an English beat rock and pop group formed in 1964 in Manchester, originally called Herman and His Hermits and featuring lead singer Peter Noone. Produced by Mickie Most, they charted with number ones in the UK and in America, where they ranked as one of the most successful acts in the Beatles-led British Invasion.

I’m Henery The Eighth, I Am was first published in 1910, and was the signature tune of the great music hall star Harry Champion; the title is a reference to Henry VIII, the much married King of England; the twist is that here the narrator ties the knot with a much married widow.

The original I’m Henery The Eighth, I Am has a bunch of verses, but the Herman’s Hermits rendition has just one, repeated three times (“second verse, same as the first”, which is where I got my idea for the title of my a.m. post). That’s because the band only knew the one verse, which is actually the chorus.

According to Peter Noone …

“I have the original Harry Champion recording of that, on wire.  It’s from a time when people were just lucky enough to be in the music business. If you were at my house you’d get Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Fats Waller and a lot of that hymn stuff that my grandfather liked. Because of the BBC we were exposed to multiple types of music, and rock ‘n’ roll was only 30 minutes a day.”

I’m Henry the 8th
Herman’s Hermits

I’m Henry the eighth I am
Henry the eighth I am, I am
I got married to the widow next door
She’s been married seven times before

And every one was an Henry (Henry)
She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam (no Sam)
I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry
Henry the eighth I am

Second verse same as the first

I’m Henry the eighth I am
Henry the eighth I am, I am
I got married to the widow next door
She’s been married seven times before

And every one was an Henry (Henry)
She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam (no Sam)
I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry
Henry the eighth I am

I’m Henry the eighth I am
Henry the eighth I am, I am
I got married to the widow next door
She’s been married seven times before
And every one was an Henry (Henry)
She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam (no Sam)

I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry
Henry the eighth I am
H-E-N-are-why
Henry (Henry) Henry (Henry)
Henry the eighth I am, I am
Henry the eighth I am yeah

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Fred Murray / R P Weston
I’m Henry the 8th (Re-Record) lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

39 thoughts on “♫ I’m Henery the Eighth, I Am ♫”

  2. They’re such a cool band, all their songs are upbeat and fun. My favs are “End of the World”, “The Angels Are Crying in Heaven Tonight”, “I’m Into Something Good”, too many classics to list. Peter Noone is dreamy~! ❤

    Happy New Year!!

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  3. My man Peter! I was so thrilled to see him in concert in early 2000’s at a casino in Louisiana. I met him and he signed our cd and tee shirt. He is such a lovely man. My sister and a friend saw the Hermits in concert in the 60’s and actually walked past them in the alley but her friend told her no way. She said they looked at them oddly as they passed and when they saw them onstage they had on the same clothes! My sister wanted to pummel her friend. Moment lost. These days my favorite of his songs is The Angels Are Crying which he often sings with his daughter. Happy New Year Jill.

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    • What an awesome memory!!! I don’t recall “The Angels Are Crying” … I’m sure I’ve likely heard it and my old, calcified brain is just refusing to recall, so I will check it out shortly. I’m so glad you liked this song and that it brought back fun memories! Happy and Peaceful New Year to you also, dear friend!

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      • Thanks Jill. We have had a health scare for my husband over the holiday but thanks to the excellent and prompt care we have gotten here, he is on his way to recovery. The song I mentioned is from his years long after the hippie days. It was sung often by he and his daughter at the fundraiser for children’s causes. You should look it up. I have used it as a post on a couple of occasions . The message is very pertinent at this time. Hugs

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  6. Not one of British pop music’s finest moments! He was also responsible for a poor cover of Bowie’s ‘Oh You Pretty Things,’ which has been criticised as being one of the least empathetic performances of a song.

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  7. Jill, they were a fun group and this is a fun song. David mentions one of their better songs. Another I liked was called “Leaning on the lamp post,” which I believe came from a play. Keith

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    • That was a good one too, Keith. I don’t know that it was a fave of mine, but I do like Listen, People from that era when they were trying to shed their Pretty Boy image. O5her seldom remembered groups from that era were The Hollies, Them, Dave Clark Five, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and more even I can no longer remember though I had their names just a few seconds ago, like Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. We definitely grew up in the best musical era of the world, and No, I am not at all biased.
      Meanwhile, does anyone out there remember a comedy song called something like Leroy, the Second Fastest Gunman in the West, possibly by someone like William Shatner, or Ben Cartright from Bonanza.

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    • I’m not sure I recall either of those two, but will check them out later today. I’ve likely heard them and my old, calcified brain just isn’t making the connection. Glad you enjoyed this one … I thought it was time to have a bit of fun.

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      • Thanks Jill. Rawgod, I loved The Hollies. Graham Nash was a big part and left the band to join David Crosby and Stephen Stills. As I recall, he wrote Marakesh Express for The Hollies, but they passed and he took it with him. I agree on the era. Keith

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  9. Good Evans, where did you dig that up from, and more to the point WHY? Actually, I shall forgive you because I liked the Hermits in their ‘No milk today’ heyday. Did I ever mention that Peter Noone was a child actor in Coronation Street that Chris watches?
    Cwtch

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    • Heh heh … as to where I dug it up, that one line … “second verse, same as the first” just popped into my head as I was finishing my a.m. post and pondering a title, and that line, naturally, led my mind to this song. I thought about it, and thought, “Why not?”. As to the ‘Why’ part of your question … just to have some fun, to try to rinse the bleak thoughts out of my head. No, I don’t think you did tell me that! Interesting … I shall tell Chris … when she wakes up from her nap!
      Cwtch

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      • ‘Corr Strewff ‘….. a translation
        ‘Corr’: An exclamation usually denoting a enthusiastic affirmation, sometimes one of awed disbelief. Can also be written as ‘Corrr’ or ‘Corrrr’. Mostly used in the southern eastern regions of England.
        ‘Strewff’ (or Strewth): An abbreviation used by folk of (for American comparison) blue collar status. The original phrase being ‘It’s The Truth’. Normally associated with surprise, and acceptance of the circumstance confronting the user. (although though some sources state it can be used an indication of disappointment too).
        Thus when the two are put together the user is expressing a particular affirmation or opinion, normally in the positive although this would depend on the tone of the voice and other body language.
        As this is of the ‘definitive colloquiums’ category visitors to the region are strongly advised not to use it as they will inevitably mispronounce and risk hostility.

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