Their best known songs include "Summer In The City", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Darling Be Home Soon", and "Daydream". The band reunited in 1991 and continue to perform without Sebastian, who has declined to participate, and Yanovsky, who died in 2002.
The band's name was inspired by lyrics from Mississippi John Hurt's "Coffee Blues" and drew influence from contemporary folk and psychedelic music while also inspiring later rock bands.
A more complete history of this seminal New York band can be found on their official site: lovinspoonful.com
Henry Thomas
The Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thru the door one fine morn
On its back ears hung
Forty pounds of feet and tongue
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Dig the dog the cat dragged in
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Can't fight won't bite
Has bugs eats rugs
Smells flowers sleeps hours
Growing like a dinosaur
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Dig the dog the cat dragged in
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Dig the dog the cat dragged in
The Lovin' Spoonful's "Henry Thomas" is a song about a dog who unexpectedly shows up at the door one morning, with his ears hanging and forty pounds of feet and tongue weighing him down. Despite the dog's odd appearance and behavior, the singer, addressed as "Henry," finds the dog charming and endearing. The song goes on to describe the dog's quirks, such as having bugs, eating rugs, smelling flowers, and sleeping for hours. The dog is also described as growing like a dinosaur, adding to his oddity.
The lyrics of "Henry Thomas" can be interpreted as a celebration of the unexpected and unconventional. The dog's appearance and behavior may be odd, but the singer finds him lovable nonetheless. The song is also a nod to the joys of pet ownership, as the singer accepts the dog's quirks and embraces him as a member of the family. As a whole, the song is a lighthearted and fun tribute to the joys of the unexpected and the ups and downs of pet ownership.
Line by Line Meaning
My cat dragged in
My cat brought in someone new
Thru the door one fine morn
One beautiful morning, they came in
On its back ears hung
The newcomer had heavy ears that drooped over its back
Forty pounds of feet and tongue
The new guest was very big and physically active
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Oh my Goodness! Henry!
Dig the dog the cat dragged in
Look at the new guest who came in with the cat
Can't fight won't bite
The guest is friendly and peaceful
Has bugs eats rugs
The new guest enjoys eating and has a playful nature
Smells flowers sleeps hours
They sleep for extended periods and seem to enjoy the fragrance of flowers
Growing like a dinosaur
The guest is becoming very big just like a dinosaur! It's growing very fast
Ooh-wee my dear Henry
Oh my Goodness! Henry!
Dig the dog the cat dragged in
Look at the new guest who came in with the cat
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BENSON SEBASTIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rorick Sellers
on 4 Eyes
4 Eyes: After "Mister up in middle classes" is the line: LET YOUR BABY CHOOSE HIS GLASSES ... [for some reason, this line in all caps is omitted ON EVERY WEBSITE that has the lyrics to this song. Weird.]