With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm
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"With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm" is a darkly humorous song, written in 1934 by R. P. Weston and Bert Lee, originally performed by Stanley Holloway.
The song tells of how the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunts the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her beheaded.[1]
It was later covered by The Kingston Trio, with a few changes in the lyrics.
Changes include:
- "Gadzooks, she's going to tell him off for having spilt her gore." to "Gadzooks, she's going to tell him off. She's feeling very sore."
- "And when they've had a few they shout 'Is Ars'nal going to win?'/They think it's Alec James, instead of poor old Ann Boleyn" to "And when they've had a few they shout 'Is Army going to win?'/They think that it's Red Grange, instead of poor old Ann Boleyn"
The Kingston Trio version also cut a verse:
Along the draughty corridors for miles and miles she goes
She often catches cold, poor thing, it's cold there when it blows
And it's awfiilly awkward for the Queen to have to blow her nose
With her head tucked underneath her arm
