With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm
"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. It tells of how the ghost of Anne Boleyn haunts the Tower of London, seeking revenge on Henry VIII for having her beheaded.
It has been covered by many performers, including:
- The Kingston Trio,[1] with a few changes in the lyrics, including:
- "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 Barron Knights, who also changed a few lyrics including:
- "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 Team going to win?'/They think that it's Brian Clough, instead of poor old Ann Boleyn"
- Rudy Vallee in the late 1930s with "The Old Sow Song" on the reverse.
- Bobby Clancy, who recorded it twice under the title "Ann Boleyn," once with the Clancy Brothers on their 1982 Live album, and again on his 2000 solo album, Make Me a Cup.
- Caryl P. Weiss, whose 1981 recording has been a mainstay on Dr. Demento's Halloween show since.
It has appeared in many shows, including:
- The song was used in the serial Spin and Marty on the Micky Mouse Club TV show in the late 1950s.
- During the episode "Whine Club" of the TV series Frasier, Daphne Moon sings the song at a brunch that Frasier is hosting in an attempt to get to know Niles' new girlfriend, Mel.
- During the episode "They do it with Mirrors" of the TV series Marple. The convicts sing together an excerpt of the song before the theater play.
Original recording by Roy Barbour in 1934 on Rex Records 8342 A with The Lion and Albert on the b side (http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/8342)