Napoleon XIV

NAPOLEON XIV
http://www.videoarchief-hoorn.nl/Muziek/VideoArchief_M012.htm

This is the original artist filmed from a television screen back in 1966 .

In 1966 a Dutch version was made, titled:

Ze nemen me eindelijk mee,
hi,hi, ha, ha

1966: Floris VI - Ze nemen me eindelijk mee

[ http://www.videoarchief-hoorn.nl/Muziek/VideoArchief_M025.htm ]

Music video made by some Dutch guys in 1983.

[ http://www.videoarchief-hoorn.nl/Muziek/VideoArchief_M012.htm ]

[ http://www.videoarchief-hoorn.nl ]

Napoleon XIV

Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of American songwriter and record producer Jerry Samuels (born 1938, New York), who achieved one-hit wonder status with the Top 5 hit novelty song "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" in 1966.

Biography

In 1966, Samuels concocted "They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!". The public found out the true identity when Cousin Brucie of WABC in New York outed him.

Napoleon XIV continued to release music after the success of his one hit, including a Warner Bros. album of the same name in 1966 (reissued by Rhino in 1985), most of which continued with the mental illness theme (for example: "Bats In My Belfry"; and "Split Level Head," which features different vocal parts in each stereo speaker). While he did not achieve any further mainstream success, based upon the relatively recent cover versions of his hit song (see:"They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"), Napoleon XIV has remained a cult favorite to this day.

Samuels still writes songs and presently runs a business that books entertainment primarily for retirement homes.

NOTE:
The backwards version of the album title track does not appear on either the original or reissue albums, although the backwards title is listed on the front cover

They're Coming to Take me Away, Ha-Haaa!

They're Coming to Take me Away, Ha-Haaa!
Napoleon XIV

Remember when you ran away
And I got on my knees
And begged you not to leave
Because I'd go beserk

Well you left me anyhow
And then the days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind

And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa
To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa

You thought it was a joke
And so you laughed
You laughed when I said
That losing you would make me flip my lid

Right? You know you laughed
I heard you laugh. You laughed
You laughed and laughed and then you left
But now you know I'm utterly mad

And they're coming to take me away ha haaa
They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa

I cooked your food
I cleaned your house
And this is how you pay me back
For all my kind unselfish, loving deeds
Ha! Well you just wait
They'll find you yet and when they do
They'll put you in the A.S.P.C.A.
You mangy mutt

And they're coming to take me away ha haaa
They're coming to take me away ha haaa ho ho hee hee
To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see those nice young men
In their clean white coats

And they're coming to take me away
To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds
And basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes
And they're coming to take me away ha haaa