Bill Cosby’s 1970 Spoken-Word Hit ‘Grover Henson Feels Forgotten’ Climbed to No. 70
Long earlier than podcasts and audio storytelling grew to become mainstream, Bill Cosby launched some of the uncommon hits of his profession. In 1970, his spoken-word single “Grover Henson Feels Forgotten” told the haunting story of a lonely soldier struggling with isolation and heartbreak. Released as a 7-inch 45 RPM record on UNI Records, the track unexpectedly resonated with listeners and climbed to No. 70 on the Billboard chart, reaching its peak 56 years ago today.
In 1970, spoken-word records rarely broke through on mainstream radio, which made “Grover Henson Feels Forgotten” quite rare. Rather than following the typical structure of a pop single, for example, Cosby’s track is more like a short, cinematic monologue—with the Vietnam War as its backdrop.
The lyrics inform the story of Grover Henson, a soldier who hasn’t acquired any mail—aside from his income tax Bill. He decides to write himself a letter, and, within the course of, reveals that he is by no means identified the love of a mom and a father. He goes on to ask God to ship him one letter earlier than his time on earth is up.
Cosby, who was greatest identified for his comedy within the Seventies, launched various spoken-word and music tracks over the course of his profession. For instance, he launched “Funky North Philly” in 1968 and “I Luv Myself Better Than I Luv Myself” in 1976.
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This story was initially printed by Parade on May 16, 2026, the place it first appeared within the Entertainment part. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
