Beat

The song “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits is a fine example of British sixties music. In 1963 British singer-songwriter Trevor Peacock wrote a song for The Lads, a popular BBC TV show. The song was “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” and told a lighthearted tale of an adolescent’s heartbreak over losing his girl. Introduced on the show by actor Tom Courtenay, it was released a single on UK Decca and achieved moderate sales in the UK.

In 1964, producer Mickie Most was looking for a song to complete Herman’s Hermits’ first album for MGM Records and friend Trevor Peacock suggested using “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.” By this time the song was part of British popular culture where it was played by bands at girls’ birthday parties, substituting the name of “Mrs. Brown” with the last name of the birthday girl, i.e. “Mrs. Smith” or “Mrs. Jones.” The recording took only two takes and featured Keith Hopwood playing a muted rhythm guitar (to simulate a banjo) and backing vocals by Karl Green and Keith Hopwood.

The song was intended for what was called an “album cut” and never intended to be a single. It achieved the lowly position of last cut on the album. However, after an American DJ started giving it airplay in 1965, MGM Records issued it as a 45 and became the bands first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it remained for three weeks. In 1968 Herman’s Hermits starred in the film Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.

Herman’s Hermits were Peter Noone, Keith Hopwood, Karl Green, Derek Leckenby, and Barry Whitwam.

Here are the lyrics for “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits:

“Mrs. Brown, you’ve got a lovely daughter
Girls as sharp as her are something rare
But it’s sad, she doesn’t love me now
She’s made it clear enough, it ain’t no good to pine

She wants to return those things I bought her
Tell her she can keep them just the same
Things have changed, she doesn’t love me now
She’s made it clear enough, it ain’t no good to pine

Walkin’ about
Even in a crowd, well
You’ll pick her out
Makes a bloke feel so proud

If she finds that I’ve been ’round to see you (’round to see you)
Tell her that I’m well and feelin’ fine (feelin’ fine, ooh)
Don’t let on, don’t say she’s broke my heart
I’d go down on my knees but it’s no good to pine

Mrs. Brown, you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown, you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown, you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter)
Mrs. Brown, you’ve got a lovely daughter (lovely daughter

If you would like to read about and listen to another song by Herman’s Hermits, please click here for their version of “Silhouettes.”
Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ commercial free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” by Herman’s Hermits.