Herman’s Hermits – No Milk Today
The origin of Herman’s Hermits’ “No Milk Today” dates back to when its writer, Graham Gouldman, was told a story by his dad. His dad noticed a house with a full bottle of milk on the doorstep with the sign “no milk today” posted. Apparently, that was supposed to signify to the milkman not to deliver any milk on that particular day. The milkman is someone who back around the time this song was released would deliver milk door-to-door to customers. And apparently that whole scenario of the full bottle of milk and the note is supposed to symbolize, according to the dad, some kind of dysfunction in the family living inside the house. More specifically concerning it usage in this song, that unused milk bottle is “a symbol”, as alluded to earlier, that the couple living in said home have broken up.
So basically, “No Milk Today” is one of those songs whereas the singer is lamenting a lost love. And you can see through the terminology used, which is actually quite advanced for the era in which this song was created, that his heart is indeed torn asunder. In fact as noted above, the untouched milk bottle actually points to the idea of the entire household, which was once “gay” and bustling with the excitement of fresh romance, now being a ‘dark and lonely place’. So in summation and simply put, this song is centered on the brokenheartedness of the singer.
Facts about “No Milk Today”
This song was penned by Graham Gouldman and produced by Mickie Most.
The labels behind this track are MGM Records and Columbia Records. It was released on 30 September 1966. And it is featured on Herman’s Hermits fifth album, “There’s a Kind of Hush All Over the World”.
“No Milk Today” was never released Stateside as a single per se but rather a B-side. However, it still managed to peak at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It also charted on the UK Singles Chart, in Herman’s Hermits’ homeland, peaking at number seven.
No explanation is needed, The lyrics tell the whole story. This song is a mini opera, a brilliant work that says so much about the time it was written.
The song is outstanding.