If You're Happy and You Know It

"If You're Happy and You Know It" is a popular repetitive children's song. 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 the late 1950s, including a volume of "constructive recreational activities" for children (1957),[2] a book of drama projects for disabled children (1967),[3] and a nursing home manual (1966).[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] In 2020, Granger Smith recorded a version that relied on alcohol drinking called "Country and Ya Know It".[10]

Lyric variations

Like many children's songs, there are many versions of the lyrics. A popular version goes like this:

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
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!

This verse is usually followed by three more, four more, etc. which follow the same pattern but say: "If you're happy and you know it, stomp/stamp your feet!", "If you're happy and you know it, shout/say 'hooray'!" or "shout/say 'amen'!", "If you're happy and you know it, do all three!" and "If you're happy and you know it, do all four!". 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:[11]

"... shout/say, 'Hooray'!"
"... slap your knees!"
"... slap your legs!"
"... turn around!"
"... snap your fingers!"
"... nod your head!"
"... tap your toe!"
"... honk your nose!"
"... pat your head!"
"... shout/say, 'We are'!"
"... stomp/stamp your feet!"
"... shout/say, 'Ha, ha'!"
"... shout/say, 'Amen'!"
"... do all three!"
"... do all four!"

Melody
Musical scores are temporarily disabled.

There is a notable variation from the 5th measure (including pick-up note) to the 6th measure, attested in Japan.

References
  1. "If You're Happy and You Know It" Archived 2015-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, Groove Kid Nation
  2. Kraus, Richard G. (1957). Play Activities for Boys and Girls, Six Through Twelve: A Guide for Teachers, Parents. McGraw-Hill. p. 168. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  3. Schattner, Regina (1967). Creative Dramatics for Handicapped Children. John Day Company. p. 75. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  4. Jacobs, H. Lee; Morris, Woodrow Wilbert, eds. (1966). Nursing and retirement home administration. Iowa State University Press. p. 153. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  5. "Music: current and renewal registrations, January-June 1971". Catalog of Copyright Entries. Washington DC: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress. 3rd Series, Volume 25, Part 5, Sections 1-2: 348. 1972. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  6. "Music firms target 12-year-old". BBC News. 10 September 2003. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  7. Barrow, Becky (10 September 2003). "Girl, 12, sued for download of tunes". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  8. Palfrey, John; Gasser, Urs (25 November 2013). Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives. Basic Books. p. 141. ISBN 978-0465013838. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. Sparrow, Andrew Peter (2006). "Protecting and exploiting IPR". Music Distribution and the Internet: A Legal Guide for the Music Business. Gower Publishing, Ltd. p. 40. ISBN 056608709X. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  10. https://www.countrynow.com/granger-smiths-country-ya-know-it-is-a-play-on-a-popular-childrens-song/
  11. "If You're Happy and You Know It".
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