album, although the title is shown on the front cover, where the title is actually spelled backward. The reverse version of the song is not included on the original Warner Bros. Only the label name, disclaimer, and record and recording master numbers were kept frontward. Most of the label affixed to the B-side was a mirror image of the front label (as opposed to simply being spelled backward), including the letters in the "WB" shield logo. B-side Ĭontinuing the theme of insanity, the flip or B-side of the single was simply the A-side played in reverse, and given the title "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" (or " Ha-Haaa! Away, Me Take to Coming They're") and the performer billed as " XIV NAPOLEON". Samuels also layered in siren effects that gradually rose and fell with the pitch of his vocals. Some tracks were treated with intermittent tape-based echo effects created by an Echoplex. He came up the idea for a song inspired by the rhythm of the old Scottish tune " The Campbells Are Coming". He first recorded the rhythm track, then overdubbed the vocal track while slowing the tape at the end of each chorus (and reciting the words in time with the slowing beat), so when it was played back at normal speed, the tempo would be steady but the pitch of his voice would rise. Samuels used a variable-frequency oscillator to alter the 60 Hz frequency of the hysteresis motor of a multitrack tape recording machine. At the time the song was written, Samuels was working as a recording engineer at Associated Recording Studios in New York. Īccording to Samuels, the vocal pitch shift was achieved by manipulating the recording speed of his vocal track, a multitrack variation on the technique used by Ross Bagdasarian in creating the original Chipmunks novelty songs. The vocal is spoken rhythmically rather than sung melodically, while the vocal pitch rises and falls at key points to create an unusual glissando effect, augmented by the sound of wailing sirens. The song is driven by a snare drum, bass drum, tambourine and hand clap rhythm. It worked." Song structure and technical background Said Samuels, "I felt it would cause some people to say 'Well, it's alright.' And it did. Samuels was concerned that the record would be viewed as a travesty of the mentally ill, and intentionally added the line so "you realize that the person is talking about a dog having left him, not a human". However, the final verse reveals that he is not addressing a woman, but instead a runaway dog: "They'll find you yet, and when they do, they'll put you in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt!" The lyrics consist of a man seemingly addressing his ex-girlfriend, describing his descent into madness after her leaving him and his impending committal to a "funny farm" (slang for a psychiatric hospital). 1 on the Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles charts, No.
3 on the Billboard Hot 100 popular music singles chart on August 13, No.
The song became an instant success in the United States, peaking at No. " They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" is a 1966 novelty record written and performed by Jerry Samuels (billed as Napoleon XIV), and released on Warner Bros.
"!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM ekaT oT gnimoC er'yehT" on YouTube
"They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" on YouTube
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