If You're Happy and You Know It
"If You're Happy and You Know It" is a popular repetitive children's song, credited to Dr. Alfred B. Smith,[citation needed] midway through the 1900s. The song has been noted for its similarities to "Molodejnaya", a song appearing in the 1938 Soviet musical film Volga-Volga.[1]
History of the song
The song was published in various places through the decades following, including a volume of "constructive recreational activities" for kids,[2] a book of drama projects for disabled children,[3] and a nursing home manual.[4]
In 1971, Jonico Music filed for copyright on the song, crediting it to Joe Raposo.[5]
During the early part of the 2000s, the music Recording Industry Association of America actively prosecuted individuals for downloading music using file-sharing services. Widespread media attention was paid to one 12-year-old, whose downloads included "If You're Happy and You Know It" from Kazaa.[6][7][8][9]
Lyric variations
Like many children's cantations, there are many versions of the lyrics. A popular version goes like this:
- If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
- (clap, clap)
- If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
- (clap, clap)
- If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it;
- If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
- (clap, clap)
This verse is usually followed by three more, which follow the same pattern but say: "If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet!" (stomp, stomp); "If you're happy and you know it, shout 'hooray'! Hooray!" or "shout 'amen'! Amen!"; and, "If you're happy and you know it, do all three! (clap, clap, stomp, stomp) Hooray!/Amen!" Other versions of the song tend to say "then your face will surely show it" in place of "and you really want to show it"; the form "then you really ought to show it" has also been used. Many variations on the substance of the first three verses exist, including:
- "... say 'hooray'!"
- "... say 'amen'!"
- "... shout/say 'ha ha'!"
- "... shout/say, 'We are'!"
- "... slap your knees!"
- "... slap your legs!"
- "... turn around!"
- "... snap your fingers!"
- "... nod your head!"
- "... tap your toe!"
- "... honk your nose!"
- "... pat your head!"
References
- ↑ "If You're Happy and You Know It", Groove Kid Nation
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Sheet music
- "Molodejnaya" on YouTube, from Volga-Volga by Isaak Dunayevsky