They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa turns 60

There was a one-hit wonder recording in 1966 titled "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"The song made it to number 3 on Billboard's top 100 chart, but in today’s cancel culture might be considered inappropriate.

Mental illness is viewed differently six decades later, but please don't take offense. The song was written by Jerrold "Jerry" Samuels, who was born on May 3, 1938. The singer, songwriter, and producer used the pseudonym Napoleon XIV for his novelty recording.

There is no singing, only spoken rhyme, and musical instruments, a snare drum, tambourine, and hand claps. The B side of the record is simply the A side played in reverse. My youngest brother loved to sing the song and often played both sides.

Today, any sound can be made on a recording by simply touching a button. In the 1960s, Samuels went to a lot of trouble to create his signature sound. He said the vocal glissando was achieved by manipulating the speed of his vocal track.

To create the effect, he utilized a multitrack variation on the technique that Ross Bagdasarian used in creating the novelty songs by the original Chipmunks.

Samuels was working as a recording engineer at the time for Associated Recording Studios in New York. He discovered he could use a Variable Frequency Oscillator to alter the frequency of the hysteresis motor of a multitrack tape recorder to raise or lower the pitch of a voice without ever changing the tempo.

This gave Samuels the idea for his hit song based on the rhythm of the old Scottish tune "The Campbells Are Coming". He recorded a percussion track at the standard speed, then played it back through headphones while recording the vocals on a different track.

He gradually adjusted the VFO and the pace of his vocals to produce his desired effect. Samuels also layered in siren effects that gradually rose and fell with the pitch of his vocals, adding to the song's intensity.

They’re Coming to Take Me Away went to No. 1 on the Cash Box Top 100 charts, No. 2 in Canada, and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The lyrics at first glance appear to be about a man's mental anguish after a woman breaks up with him.

It describes his descent into madness, which leads to his being committed to a "funny farm" which was once slang for a mental facility. In the last line of the third verse, it’s revealed that he is being driven insane by the loss of a dog that ran away, and not a female.

"They'll find you yet and when they do, they'll put you in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt".

Samuels admitted he was concerned the recording could be considered as making fun of those who struggle with mental illness, which is why he added that line. The adjustment worked, and the song became a hit.

Today, with more sensitivity to mental illness, such a song, even about a canine, probably would not be recorded. In 1966, things were different. Those who grew up listening to this record may have enjoyed it and not understand what all the fuss is about.

Jerry Samuels has occasionally revisited his Napoleon XIV character to record other songs, which were usually comedy recordings with an insanity theme.

Those who struggle with mental illness and or their loved ones might be offended by the songs that Samuels has recorded. Fans, however, may accept the song in its context as they have fond memories attached to it.

In 1996, Napoleon XIV recorded a compilation album The Second Coming, to celebrate 30 years since They're Coming to Take Me Away was released. Jerrod Samuels died in an assisted living center from complications of Parkinson's disease/Dementia on March 10, 2023, at age 84.