I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am
Encyclopedia
"I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am" (also "I'm Henery the VIII, I Am" or "I'm Henry VIII, I Am"; spelled "Henery" owing to the Cockney pronunciation normally used to sing it) is a 1910
British music hall
song by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston
. It was a signature song of music hall star Harry Champion
and became the fastest-selling song in history to that point when revived in 1965
by Herman's Hermits
, becoming the group's second number-one on the Billboard Hot 100
chart. The lead solo on the Hermits' version was played by the group's lead guitarist Derek "Lek" Leckenby.
In the well-known chorus, Henery explains that his wife had been married seven times before:
in Britain.
The song is often sung in a Cockney
accent.
This song was recorded (in 1961) and extensively performed live by the British star Joe Brown
, who revived the song and made it largely known in the pop world. His version has two choruses either side of his guitar solo. He performs it live still today.
The Herman's Hermits
version consists of the chorus sung three times. Between the first two choruses, Peter Noone
calls out, "Second verse, same as the first!"
Earlier sources usually spell the name "Henery" (as do some old sources when referring to the historical King of England
), and the music requires the name "Henery" to be pronounced as three syllables. The sheet music for the 1965 Herman's Hermits
revival, however, presented the name as "Henry", as do sources referring to this version.
, the ghost Sam (Patrick Swayze
) pesters Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg
) into taking a message to his girlfriend by singing this song over and over again in a bad English accent all night long, keeping her awake. His girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore
) later reveals that Sam used this tactic to get her to agree to go out with him.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for their 1965 album Chipmunks à Go-Go
.
Homer Simpson
sings this song in the Simpsons episode Margical History Tour
, but with very different lyrics. Homer is playing King Henry VIII
of England and substituting many words to state he is eating multiple course meals.
In the comic book Spike vs. Dracula, Spike
threatens to haunt Dracula with an endless singing of the song.
Ryan Stiles
often referenced this song on Whose Line Is It Anyway during the game "Song Titles".
1910 in music
-Events:*March 19 - Béla Bartók's String Quartet No. 1 is premiered in Budapest*June 25 - Igor Stravinsky's ballet, The Firebird, is premiered in Paris*September 12 - Gustav Mahler's Symphony No...
British music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
song by Fred Murray and R. P. Weston
R. P. Weston
Robert Patrick Weston was an English songwriter. He was born and died in London. Among other songs, he co-authored , "With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm", a macabre little ditty about the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunting the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her...
. It was a signature song of music hall star Harry Champion
Harry Champion
William Crump , better known by the stage name Harry Champion, was an English music hall composer, singer and Cockney comedian, whose onstage persona appealed chiefly to the working class communities of East London...
and became the fastest-selling song in history to that point when revived in 1965
1965 in music
-Events:*January 4 – Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is sold to CBS for $13 million.*January 12 – Hullabaloo premieres on NBC. The first show included performances by The New Christy Minstrels, comedian Woody Allen, actress Joey Heatherton and a segment from London in which Brian Epstein...
by Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
, becoming the group's second number-one on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. The lead solo on the Hermits' version was played by the group's lead guitarist Derek "Lek" Leckenby.
In the well-known chorus, Henery explains that his wife had been married seven times before:
I'm Henery the Eighth, I am,
Henery the Eighth I am, I am!
I got married to the widow next door,
She'd been married seven times before.
And every one was an Henery
It wouldn't be a Willie or a Sam
I'm her eighth old man named Henery
Henery the Eighth, I am!
Background
According to one source, Champion "used to fire off [the chorus] at tremendous speed with almost desperate gusto, his face bathed in sweat and his arms and legs flying in all directions." In later versions recorded by Champion, "Willie" is changed to "William" because the former is a slang term for the penisPenis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
in Britain.
The song is often sung in a Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
accent.
This song was recorded (in 1961) and extensively performed live by the British star Joe Brown
Joe Brown
Joe Brown may refer to:*Joe Brown , British singer*Joe David Brown , American novelist*Joe E. Brown , American actor and comedian*Joe L. Brown , Major League Baseball front office executive...
, who revived the song and made it largely known in the pop world. His version has two choruses either side of his guitar solo. He performs it live still today.
The Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
version consists of the chorus sung three times. Between the first two choruses, Peter Noone
Peter Noone
Peter Noone is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist and actor, best known as "Herman" of the successful 1960s rock group Herman's Hermits.-Early life:...
calls out, "Second verse, same as the first!"
Earlier sources usually spell the name "Henery" (as do some old sources when referring to the historical King of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
), and the music requires the name "Henery" to be pronounced as three syllables. The sheet music for the 1965 Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits
Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1963 as Herman & The Hermits. The group's record producer, Mickie Most , emphasized a simple, non-threatening, clean-cut image, although the band originally played R&B numbers...
revival, however, presented the name as "Henry", as do sources referring to this version.
Cultural references
In the 1990 movie GhostGhost (film)
Ghost is a 1990 romantic drama film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. It was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker.-Plot:...
, the ghost Sam (Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
) pesters Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg is an American comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won...
) into taking a message to his girlfriend by singing this song over and over again in a bad English accent all night long, keeping her awake. His girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore
Demi Moore
Demi Guynes Kutcher , known professionally as Demi Moore, is an American actress. After minor roles in film and a role in the soap opera General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St...
) later reveals that Sam used this tactic to get her to agree to go out with him.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered the song for their 1965 album Chipmunks à Go-Go
Chipmunks à Go-Go
Chipmunks à Go-Go is an album by The Chipmunks and David Seville, released by Liberty Records in 1965, again in 1982, and on compact disc in 1990....
.
Homer Simpson
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
sings this song in the Simpsons episode Margical History Tour
Margical History Tour
"Margical History Tour" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons fifteenth season. The episode was first broadcast on February 8, 2004. This is one of several Simpsons episodes that features mini-stories.-Plot:...
, but with very different lyrics. Homer is playing King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
of England and substituting many words to state he is eating multiple course meals.
- "I'm Henery the Eighth, I am,
- I'm Henery the Eighth, I am, I am,
- I've been eating since six a.m.
- For dessert I'll have dinner again,
- My name's synonymous with gluttony
- I'll always eat a turkey or a ham."
In the comic book Spike vs. Dracula, Spike
Spike (Buffyverse)
Spike, played by James Marsters, is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Spike is a vampire and played various roles on the shows, ranging from villain to anti-hero. For Marsters, the role as Spike began a career in science...
threatens to haunt Dracula with an endless singing of the song.
Ryan Stiles
Ryan Stiles
Ryan Lee Stiles is an American actor, comedian, director, and voice actor whose work is often associated with improvisational comedy. He is best known for his improv and co-production work on the American and British versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and the role of Lewis Kiniski on The Drew...
often referenced this song on Whose Line Is It Anyway during the game "Song Titles".
External links
- I'm Henery the Eighth MP3 download of Harry Champion’s 1911 recording at Archive.org
- I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am lyrics at Wikisource