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WHEN IS HENRY 'GONNA GET HERE?
00:00 / 03:14

(Starts at 0:04) The scene. Flamboyant narcissist and family clown Uncle Henry has agreed to drive Richard to the train station.  As usual, he's late, most likely trying to draw attention to himself, as family and friends nervously await his "grand entrance." Mother is also insisting that she sings her favorite hymn, "I Found Jesus," before Richard leaves. Characters: Mother, Punch (Richard's sister), Sadie (family nanny), and Mrs. McKenzie (next-door neighbor).

WHEN IS HENRY 'GONNA GET HERE?, LYRICS

PUNCH

(0:08) MAMA, WHEN IS HENRY GONNA’ GET HERE?

(0:13) IF HE’S LATE THEN RICH WILL MISS HIS TRAIN.

RICHARD

(0:18) SISTER DON’T YOU WORRY, I COULD WALK THERE.
(0:24) DONE IT MANY TIMES, WHY NOT AGAIN?

MOTHER

(0:29) WHO ‘YA THINK THAT HENRY WILL BE COURTIN’?
(0:34) WHO ‘YA THINK THE GIRL WILL BE TODAY?

RICHARD

(0:39) OH, PROB’LY LITTLE PEACHES OR MAGNOLIA.
 

MOTHER

(0:45) BUT SURELY NOT MISS SUZIE, TOO RISQUE’.
 

SADIE

(0:50) WHAT ‘YA THINK THAT HENRY WILL BE WEARIN’?
(0:54) CAN’T BELIEVE THE SUIT HE WORE LAST YEAR.

RICHARD

(0:57) PATENT LEATHER SADDLES AND A BOW TIE,
(1:01) TWO FEET WIDE AND GRINNIN’ EAR TO EAR.

MOTHER

(1:04) RICHARD LET’S GET GOING.

SADIE

(1:06) RICHARD, TAKE YOUR SUITCASE.

PUNCH

(1:08) MAMA SING “SWEET JESUS.”

SADIE

(1:09) YOU’LL MISS THE TRAIN IN MEMPHIS.

MRS. MCKENZIE

(1:11) MISS THE TRAIN IN MEMPHIS.

 

FATHER

(1:13) MISS THE TRAIN IN MEMPHIS.

(sax "Miss the train in Memphis" lick)

MOTHER and MRS. MCKENZIE

(simultaneously with RICHARD, below)

(1:18) WHEN IS HENRY GONNA’ GET HERE?
(1:25) WHEN IS HENRY GONNA’ COME?

RICHARD

(simultaneously with MOTHER and Mrs. McKenzie, above)

(1:18) COME ON NOW WE’VE GOT A LITTLE TIME LEFT.
(1:26) SETTLE DOWN LET MAMA SING HER SONG.

SADIE and PUNCH

(1:29) BETTER HURRY UP, THE TRAIN’S A’ COMIN’,
(1:32) AND “I FOUND JESUS” MAY JUST BE TOO LONG.

SADIE and PUNCH

(with Mother and Mrs. McKenzie, below)

(1:36) (stretched out) WHEN IS HENRY EVER GONNA’ GET HERE?
(1:48) IF HE’S LATE THEN RICH WILL MISS HIS TRAIN.

MOTHER and MRS. MCKENZIE
(with Sadie and Punch, above)

(1:36) WHEN IS HENRY EVER GONNA GET HERE?
(1:41) DON’T HE KNOW THAT RICHARD’S GOING TO WAR?

(1:47) IF HE’S LATE THEY’LL THROW HIM IN THE BRIG THERE.
(1:52) PEANUTS, BREAD AND WATER, NOT MUCH MORE.

(brief sax and instrumental interlude)

ALL

(2:05) HENRY GO STICK YOUR CAR IN GEAR

(2:08) AND GET YOUR ASS ON OVER HERE!

ALL (except RICHARD)

(2:16) WHEN IS HENRY EVER GONNA’ GET HERE?
(2:23) IF HE’S LATE THEN RICH WILL MISS HIS TRAIN.
(2:29) IF HE’S LATE THEY’LL THROW HIM IN THE BRIG
(2:34) AND HE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

ALL

(2:39) HENRY, HENRY, HENRY OH HENRY OH
(2:43) HENRY, HENRY, HENRY OH HENRY OH
(2:47) HENRY, HENRY, HENRY OH HENRY OH

(2:53) HENRY!

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