Henry The Eighth I Am-A closer look

Okay, a lot of colleges take songs and analyze them. Especially the song by Don McLean ‘American Pie’. I wanted to be the first before these big wigs try to analyze one of my favorite songs, ‘I’m Henry The 8th I Am’ by that intellectual hippy group; Herman’s Hermits. I could probably do a post analyzing that name, but we will save that for later.

I’m Henry the 8th I am
Henry the 8th I am, I am- This is showing that he is indeed the 8th Henry that she has married. This would indicate psychological scars. Not only on the woman next door, but also this poor man who just happened to be named, Henry.

I got married to the widow next door. – or as I like to refer to her; “The black widow”. Just like the spider who kills her mate after childbirth. You will notice that Henry never mentions how many kids she actually has. Very peculiar indeed.
She’s been married 7 times before. – This is stating that she has indeed been married 7 times before. And since she is referred to as a widow, well we can just assume the rest can’t we?

And everyone was an Henery, (Henery)- I find this peculiar on two levels. First incorrect placement of ‘an’ showing that this ‘Henery’ was not very bright, leading one to believe that this is what the good widow looks for in a man. Also, the mispronunciation of his own name which is supposed to be: Henry. This also shows a slight possible speech impediment, but only on his own name. Could this be a Freudian slip suggesting that he would rather not put himself in the same category as the Henry’s, or Henries?

She wouldn’t have a Willy or a Sam. (No Sam)- Isn’t this a little bias? Notice the emphasis on Sam. She really does not like Sam for some unknown reason. We can only speculate that this is a deep ceded trauma probably experienced in childhood.

I’m her eighth old man, I’m Henery- Notice the repeated mispronunciation of Henry again separating himself from all the others. Yet with the way that this verse is stated he is unconsciously saying that there will probably be more. Looking at this from a legal perspective, how many times can a person be married under the law?

Henery the 8th I am- We notice here that this latest victim is very proud to be the 8th Henry that this lady has picked. How old is she? How young is he? How long did the past marriages last? These are questions that we have to ask to get to the center of this very destructive relationship.

Second verse same as the first – This indicates that he does not have much to say about the subject except to brag a little bit on being the 8th Henry, or ‘Henery’ as he is referred to in much of the song.

The song goes on the same with two repeats of the first verse, and then with a peculiar twist he begins to spell his name as Henry, but pronounces it still as ‘Henery’ as if he wants a certain association at first, but feels like he still has the need to separate himself.

H-e-n-r-y – Yes that is the spelling of Henry, not Henery.
Henery (Henery)
Henery (Henery)
Henery the 8th I am, I am – Again recanting the fact that he is indeed the 8th.
Henery the 8th I am- One last time for emphasis.

-Then peculiarly enough Henry adds a final, ‘Yeah!’ as in saying, “Yes, I am the 8th Henry and we have been married for a whole week now, which is the longest this lady has been married. I hope that I am the final one, and this time maybe I will outlive her.”