Their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good", was produced by Mickie Most, reaching #1 in the UK (1963) and #13 in the US (1964). Other hits followed such as "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (1965) and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am". The last was said at the time to be "the fastest-selling song in history". The band played on these singles but many of their subsequent singles employed session musicians, including Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, with contributions from the band. The band's singles were written by top songwriters of the day. Regardless of how the records were made, the guitar player, Lek Leckenby, was a gifted guitarist. Indeed, all the other members were capable players and Peter Noone was a charismatic front man. The band was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1965, both for "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter". Noone and the band deliberately emphasized their Manchester accents on the record, which was never intended to be a single.
Born in Manchester, England, Noone was a child TV star in Coronation Street and in other TV work. He was still only 15 when he achieved international fame as teenage heart-throb as leader of the Hermits.
Herman's Hermits, whilst hugely successful in the mid-1960s, never topped the British charts again after their first hit, "I'm Into Something Good". However, they had two US No. 1's with "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am". The band disliked both songs, and never released them as singles in Britain. They appeared in several movies, including When The Boys Meet The Girls (1965) and Hold On! (1966). They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show and The Jackie Gleason Show.
They enjoyed consistent success in Britain throughout the rest of the decade but they were even more popular in America for a while. Their hits continued until 1967's "No Milk Today". Soon, however, the Monkees had replaced Herman's Hermits as the simple pop rock act, and the Hermits' career declined. "There's a Kind of Hush (All Over the World)" engendered a revival, but the Hermits never again cracked the top 10 in the U.S. This song was, however, successfully covered by The Carpenters in their album "A Kind of Hush", released in 1976. The band continued releasing records throughout the 1970s with little success. In the end, Herman's Hermits were a band which were both blessed and cursed by the 'niche' in which originally they found success.
(Adapted from Wikipedia)
A Must To Avoid
Herman's Hermits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A complete impossibility
She's a must to avoid
Better take it from me
You'll think she's a prize at the start
But take my advice, play it smart
She's nothin' but trouble
Before she gets into your heart
She's a must to avoid
A complete impossibility
She's a must to avoid
Better take it from me
When you stare into her pretty blue eyes
There's no way to see through her disguise
But don't try to love her 'cause you'll quickly discover
You're trapped in the web of her lies
She's a must to avoid
A complete impossibility
She's a must to avoid
Better take it from me
Her lips look inviting it's true
But lots of other guys have felt like you do
She'll build up your hopes and when you need her the most
That's when she'll say goodbye to you
She's a must to avoid
A complete impossibility
She's a must to avoid
Better take it from me
In Herman's Hermits's hit song "A Must to Avoid," the singer warns about a woman who is "a complete impossibility" and advises listeners to stay away from her. Though he acknowledges that she might seem like a "prize" initially, he cautions that she's "nothing but trouble," and urges his audience to "cut out on the double" before she can get "into [their] heart." According to the lyrics, the woman is skilled at deception and will "build up your hopes," only to abandon you when you most need her. The song reinforces the idea that love can be risky and that not every potential partner is worth pursuing.
"A Must to Avoid" was released in 1965 and was a hit for Herman's Hermits, a British Invasion band known for their upbeat pop sound. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo belie its somewhat cynical subject matter, but its lyrics contain a warning that still resonates with listeners today. The song's popularity helped cement Herman's Hermits's place in the pantheon of 1960s pop groups.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a must to avoid
The girl in question is someone to stay away from.
A complete impossibility
She is not someone with whom you'd want to get involved.
Better take it from me
I am warning you to avoid her.
You'll think she's a prize at the start
You might be initially attracted to her.
But take my advice, play it smart
But I advise you to be cautious.
She's nothin' but trouble
She is a problematic person.
Better cut out on the double
It's best to leave before things get worse.
Before she gets into your heart
Before you develop strong feelings for her.
When you stare into her pretty blue eyes
When you look into her eyes.
There's no way to see through her disguise
You cannot tell what her true intentions are just by her looks.
But don't try to love her 'cause you'll quickly discover
However, do not fall in love with her because it won't end well.
You're trapped in the web of her lies
She will deceive you and trap you with her lies.
Her lips look inviting it's true
She might seem physically attractive.
But lots of other guys have felt like you do
But many other men have also been fooled by her looks.
She'll build up your hopes and when you need her the most
She will likely give you false hope and then abandon you just when you need her most.
That's when she'll say goodbye to you
That's when she'll leave you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: P. F. SLOAN, STEVE BARRI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chrisbacos
This band should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Fergie Beadle
Peter Noone still tours. I saw him a few years back, and what a great show! He's so personable and talented. If you get a chance to see him, do it!
Ben Kleschinsky
I'm seeing him on April Fools. Can't wait!
Oscar 🖤
Was born in 87 but absolutely love this era and music
Lida Cartel
Oh! How i loved these guys... they're great... herman's hermits is my number 1 band eversince... luv u guys!
Mary Hood
A couple of years ago I went to see Peter Noone's show in NC. He is even better now in his 70s and his show was so entertaining. I think just one of the original Hermits was in this band, but the band was really good.
Robert Jeffrey Hill
Shit. I was 11-years-old the year this song hit the local radio. How old is Peter? Like 18 when this song released? He looks 15. Mostly novelty songs. Fun. Cheeky. A little corny but the ladies loved his boyish charm. This makes my point about how unique and ruggedly charming appearance that imperfect teeth can evoke. His oversized canine teeth gave him his dog-toothed charm.
Rene Censurado
La música de mi juventud
Ben Hallums
HERMAN'S HERMITS' "SHE'S A MUST TO AVOID (HE'S A MUSCULAR BOY)" Hits No. 8 for 8 Weeks on New Year's Day 1966 on MGM RECORDS, PICTURES & TELEVISION-Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the forthcoming film called "HOLD ON!"
Robert Jeffrey Hill
I'm glad that I wasn't the only one that thought that's what they were singing. True story. First time I heard this song was in the family car waiting for the rain to let up so we could duck inside. Anyway, Gaylen, a very boyish-looking young neighbor girl, was wearing a white cotton short-sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up, cigarette behind the ear, a man's wristwatch, men's dungarees, and some heavy black work boots. She was leaning against the lightpost waiting for a friend to pick her up. The perceived lyric, "She's a muscular boy!" fit the scene so perfectly it was burned into our recollection and sung thusly from thence forward. Even though we eventually found out we had the lyrics all wrong. For years I sang Bee-Gees hit, "More Than a Woman" erroneously "Bald-Headed Woman...Bald-Headed Woman to me!"