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)
Where Were You When I Needed You
Herman's Hermits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't bother calling
It's all over now
There's no use in stalling
The love I once felt
I don't feel anymore for you
This time I'll even open the door for you
You walked out when I was downWell now I'm well off
And look, look who's comin' round
Where were you when I needed you
Where were you when I wanted you
Where were you when I need you
Where
You're looking good, it's hard to fight it
But no use explain'
I've already decided
That goin' with you
Is worse than without you
I won't spend a lifetime worryin' about you
When things got bad
You disappeared
But I'm back on my feet
And look, look who's standin' there
Where were you when I neeed you
Where were you when I wanted you
Where were you when I needed you
Where
You were so young
And you were so wild
That first day I saw you
You really got to me
I thought I could change you
What could you do to me
When times got rought
Ah, you would't wait
Well now you're trippin' back
And babe, babe it's too late
Where were you when I needed you
Where were you when I wanted you
Where were you when I needed you
Where
Herman’s Hermits’ “Where Were You When I Needed You” is a song about a past relationship gone awry. The singer in the song is frustrated with an ex-partner who left them during tough times, only to come back when the singer has moved on and is doing well. They address their ex-partner directly in the lyrics, saying that it is pointless for them to come back now that they are doing okay without them. The singer goes on to reflect on the relationship, recalling their initial optimism that they could change their partner, who was wild and not innocent, but who left them when they were down. The chorus repeats a refrain of “Where were you when I needed you?” emphasizing the betrayal and disappointment the singer feels, and underscoring the ex-partner’s inconsistency and inconstancy, as they now show up when things are going better for the singer.
The song’s lyrics, while specific to a romantic relationship, could also be relatable to other circumstances where someone experiences abandonment or rejection during difficult times, only for that person to reappear when things have improved. The tone of the song is somewhat bitter, as the singer seems resentful of the return of their ex-partner, and protected against any advances they might make. The song’s lyrics are delivered in a pop/rock style that is upbeat and catchy, with a prominent electric guitar riff driving the melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't bother crying
Crying or pleading won't change anything.
Don't bother calling
Calling won't fix anything either.
It's all over now
Our relationship has ended.
There's no use in stalling
Delaying the inevitable won't make any difference.
The love I once felt
I used to be in love with you.
I don't feel anymore for you
I've fallen out of love with you.
This time I'll even open the door for you
I'm letting you go.
You walked out when I was down
You left me when I needed you the most.
Well now I'm well off
I'm doing well now.
And look, look who's comin' round
You've come back around.
Where were you when I needed you
I needed you in the past, but you weren't there for me.
Where were you when I wanted you
I wanted you in the past, but you weren't there for me.
Where were you when I need you
I needed you in the past, but you weren't there for me.
You're looking good, it's hard to fight it
You look attractive, but it won't change anything between us.
But no use explain'
It's pointless to try to explain things to you.
I've already decided
I've made up my mind.
That goin' with you
Being with you.
Is worse than without you
I'm better off without you.
I won't spend a lifetime worryin' about you
I don't want to spend my life worrying about you.
When things got bad
When the situation was difficult.
You disappeared
You left without a trace.
But I'm back on my feet
I'm doing well again.
And look, look who's standin' there
You're back in my life.
You were so young
You were very young.
And you were so wild
You were carefree and unpredictable.
I knew you were nobody's innocent child
I knew you weren't innocent or naive.
That first day I saw you
The first time I saw you.
You really got to me
I was captivated by you.
I thought I could change you
I believed I could change your behavior or personality.
What could you do to me
I thought you couldn't hurt me.
When times got rough
When things were difficult.
Ah, you wouldn't wait
You didn't stick around.
Well now you're trippin' back
You've come back to me.
And babe, babe it's too late
But it's too late for us to have a happy ending.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter
A great and classic song by Herman's Hermits.