The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)
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"The Wallflower" (also known as "Roll With Me Henry" and "Dance with Me, Henry") is a popular song. The song was written as one of several answer songs to "Work With Me Annie" and has the same 12-bar blues melody.
It was written by Johnny Otis, Hank Ballard, and Etta James. Etta James recorded it, with uncredited vocal responses from Richard Berry, under the title "The Wallflower" and it became a rhythm and blues hit, popularly known as "Roll With Me Henry".
In 2008, Etta James received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for her 1955 recording.[1]
The song is a dialogue between "Henry" and the singer:
- Hey baby, whatta I have to do to make you love me too?
- You've got to roll with me Henry.
The context is the dance floor. The Midnighters also recorded an "answer to the answer": "Henry's Got Flat Feet (Can't Dance No More)".
The song was covered for the pop market, with the title, "Dance With Me Henry", as sung by Georgia Gibbs. Under that title, it charted in 1955.
The song was featured in the Abbott and Costello film Dance with Me Henry,Sister Act and also Back to the Future. Etta James no longer performs the song.
