On This Day in 1965: Herman’s Hermits Reached #1 in the US with a Silly Song, Beating The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
via Three Dot Records / YouTube
A Surprise Hit in the U.S.
On August 7, 1965, British band Herman’s Hermits topped the U.S. charts with a playful and unexpected hit, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am.” Oddly, the song never charted in their home country, the UK. Still, American audiences loved it enough to push it all the way to number one, even knocking The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” down to second place.
Originally written in 1910, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” was first made popular by Cockney comedian Harry Champion in 1911. The original version included multiple verses and was more traditional in style. However, Herman’s Hermits gave it a new twist.
View this post on Instagram
A New Spin on an Old Tune
In the band’s version, the song was shortened to just the chorus, which is repeated three times. This stripped-down and bouncy version made it catchy and easy for fans to sing along. The humor in the lyrics and the fast pace gave it a unique place in the pop scene of the 1960s, especially compared to the more serious rock tunes coming out at the time.
Peter Noone, lead singer of Herman’s Hermits, once said, “We did it as a joke on stage, and people just loved it. So we recorded it.” That playful attitude might explain the song’s charm and why it caught on so well in the U.S., even if it confused listeners back in Britain.
Outselling the Stones
While The Rolling Stones were gaining attention for their gritty, blues-inspired sound, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” offered something totally different—light, fun, and silly. It was the kind of song that stuck in your head after just one listen. Despite—or maybe because of—that, it climbed the Billboard Hot 100 quickly.
The competition between these two songs highlighted how diverse music tastes were in the mid-’60s. From rebellious rock to comedic pop, audiences were open to a wide range of sounds. On this particular day, silly won out over serious, and Herman’s Hermits claimed the top spot.
