# I’m her eighth old man called Henry, Or: I was SURE I knew that line! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 7, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377 "2022-01-07T15:35:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/1 "2022-01-07T15:35:16Z")
The other day I heard Herman’s Hermits’ “I’m Henry VIII, I Am.” I was in my car alone, and this being a catchy (if silly) little ditty, I began to sing along. Though it had been many years since I’d heard it, I remembered all the words… except one. As I belted out the penultimate line, “I’m her eighth old man called Henry,” Peter Noone defied my expectations by instead singing “I’m her eighth old man _named_ Henry.” Huh, I thought. I was sure it was “called” and not “named.” Maybe he switches it up later in the song. Well, the second verse is, indeed, same as the first. But wait! After the guitar solo, the verse comes around again. I was confident, convinced, positive, certain even, that this time I was going to hear the line the way it had been indelibly burned into my memory all those years ago. “I’m her eighth old man named Henry…” DAMMIT! Where did “called” come from in my head, and how could I have been so sure and so wrong? I’ve been unable to find any cover versions or alternate recordings to back up my memory. I know there have been similar threads before, but they’re always fun. What’s a song lyric, or movie quote, or any other instance where you were absolutely, 100% certain you knew something, only to be proven wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/2 "2022-01-07T15:38:59Z")
I thought it was “I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry…” Wikipedia seems to agree that’s what Noone is singing in the Hermit’s version. No idea where “called Henry” came from in your memory. It’s obviously been covered and performed many times, so maybe one of those versions? The movie Ghost? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/3 "2022-01-07T15:47:17Z")
ISTM that in conversation, most Brits say “called” as opposed to “named”, so maybe, knowing this, you mentally substituted the word that seems “right” ? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/4 "2022-01-07T15:58:29Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I thought it was “I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry…” The various lyrics sites are split, but I think he’s singing “named.” > [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > ISTM that in conversation, most Brits say “called” as opposed to “named”, so maybe, knowing this, you mentally substituted the word that seems “right” ? This is what I’m thinking as well. Herman’s Hermits were _very_ British Invasion, and that’s the convention I expect to hear. I don’t believe any version actually exists with “called.” ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/5 "2022-01-07T15:59:08Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I thought it was “I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry…” Me, too. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/6 "2022-01-07T16:25:49Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I thought it was “I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry…” Ditto ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/7 "2022-01-07T16:29:44Z")
The thing about Peter Noone, is he is one of the rare Brits that sings with a British accent. So if he is singing “…named Henry” what’s actually coming out is “…ahm 'en ery”. Which sounds more like “I’m” than “named”. Fun fact: the 'ermans 'ermits song is merely the chorus of the original song. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/8 "2022-01-07T16:40:58Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I thought it was “I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henry…” This is objectively and unambiguously correct. By the way, Peter Noon lives in my area and I’ve seen him up close several times. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/9 "2022-01-07T16:41:44Z")
I had to go listen to it. My favorite line is Second verse, same as the first. Ah, times were more innocent back then ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/10 "2022-01-07T16:45:04Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The thing about Peter Noone, is he is one of the rare Brits that sings with a British accent. So if he is singing “…named Henry” what’s actually coming out is “…ahm 'en ery”. This. It has to En-er-ee to fit the rhythm. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/11 "2022-01-07T16:57:19Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Ah, times were more innocent back then My mom told the story of my brother playing this song over and over and over to the point the folks almost disowned him. I was four, so I don’t remember that at all. My wife agrees that would be sufficient reason. But I love the song. A minute fifty of pure fun ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/12 "2022-01-07T16:59:44Z")
Not that I hear this song a lot, but when I do it reminds me of the time this was performed on the Merv Griffin show. . . Sung by Arthur Treacher, wearing a crown. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/13 "2022-01-07T17:04:12Z")
Ok, I just listened again, and I admit it does sound like “I’m.” But it’s not as if he’s carefully enunciating; an argument can be made either way. Plus, “named” makes more sense contextually. Well, as much sense as this song _can_ make, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/14 "2022-01-07T17:37:17Z")
I wanna know - what he the last stop on the 'enery train, or is she up to Henry XXIII by now, 57 years later? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/15 "2022-01-07T19:43:48Z")
No, no, no, he the _88th_ Hen-er-y. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/16 "2022-01-07T20:03:02Z")
Practically every time I watch a YouTube video with captions, I find out that I had at least one thing wrong. The Spirit of Radio is a recent example. It is bristle with the energy not whistle with the energy. But usually, once I know the right words, I start to hear those instead of whatever I made up. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/17 "2022-01-07T20:21:10Z")
Curious. I could have _sworn_ it was “called” in the original music-hall version (by [Harry Champion](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Champion)\*) that I was brought up on - no doubt reflecting the usual British preference as mentioned above. But no - and if the man who wrote it sang “named”, who am I to argue? [https://youtu.be/AXD4y3jRf5o](https://youtu.be/AXD4y3jRf5o) \*Author of quite a number of songs that sound as though they ought to be somewhat risqué but somehow aren’t quite, such as _Cover It Over Quick Jemima_ _Don’t Do It Again Matilda_ _You Don’t Want To Keep Showing It_ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/18 "2022-01-07T20:46:38Z")
Apropos of misheard lyrics, this is the best thing I have read. Only minutes ago too. [Elvis Costello answers reader’s questions.](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/06/elvis-costello-the-obe-is-just-another-bauble-in-my-china-cabinet) > **For years, in** **Little Palaces, I heard: “** **The sedated homes of England** **/ Who does defend the lies?” instead of: “** **The sedated homes of England / Are theirs** **to vandalise.” Any other examples of this?** _peilefella_ > > I like that line and might use it from now on. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/19 "2022-01-07T20:54:48Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > By the way, Peter Noon lives in my area and I’ve seen him up close several times. Noone. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377/20 "2022-01-07T21:25:58Z")
Here’s my best example of stubbornly mis-hearing a lyric. From the Thread **What song hit you like a thunderbolt when you first heard it** , my post (#193, Oct 2020). I was _insisting_ that John’s response line in the Beatles “Getting Better” was “It can’t get _any_ worse.” After some back and forth, one of my adversaries posted: _I just relistened to it. The lyric is very clearly “it can’t get no worse.”_ My reply: _I first listened to SPLHCB the day it was released. I can’t even try to guess how many times I’ve listened to it since then, closely and carefully. Certainly many hundreds of times. Since the 90’s I’ve played around with the various isolated instrumental and vocal tracks, studying how the songs and sounds were put together. And Getting Better is one of my favorites. But “harrumphs” notwithstanding, my 70 year old mind isn’t completely closed to new shit coming to light._ _So, because of you heretics, I’ve just listened to the isolated vocal track for the bazillionth time, and heard “any worse” because it’s what I expected to hear. But a flicker of doubt made me listen again, trying to be more objective about it…and by god you’re right._ _It does sound like “no worse.” I still stubbornly think I hear the first syllable of “any” (“en”) but the second syllable is indeed a long “O” and there ain’t no such thing as “enno worse.”_ _It has to be “no worse.” I’m gobsmacked, humbled, and a little amused at myself._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-her-eighth-old-man-called-henry-or-i-was-sure-i-knew-that-line/957377.md?page=2)