I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

Song

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"
Song
Published	1949
Composer(s)	Richard Rodgers
Lyricist(s)	Oscar Hammerstein II

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" is a song from the musical South Pacific, sung by Nellie Forbush, the female lead, originally played by Mary Martin in the 1949 Broadway production. Her character, fed up with a man (Emile De Becque) and singing energetically in the shower, claims that she will forget about him. The song was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in response to Martin's request. She had starred on Broadway for years and Martin suggested that she wash her hair on stage during the performance.

PJ Harvey referenced the song in her 1992 single "Sheela-Na-Gig" with the repeated lyric "gonna wash that man right outa my hair".

Boyfriend released her cover simply titled "Wash That" in November 2018.

Clairol created an ad campaign in the 1980's using the song with the alternative line "I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair."

References

"Mary Martin". Masterworks Broadway. It was Mary herself who suggested washing her hair on stage as she sang "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," which she did for over 1,000 performances.
Mel Gussow (November 5, 1990). "Mary Martin, 76, First Lady of Musicals, Dies". The New York Times.
Adams, Sam (February 11, 2011). "PJ Harvey | Music | Gateways To Geekery | The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
Fierberg, Ruthie (November 1, 2018). "15 Listen to Boyfriend's New R&B Rendition of South Pacific's 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair' 2018". Playbill. Retrieved 16 August 2021.

v t e Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II
Stage musicals	Oklahoma! Carousel Allegro South Pacific The King and I Me and Juliet Pipe Dream Flower Drum Song The Sound of Music A Grand Night for Singing State Fair Cinderella
Productions	I Remember Mama Annie Get Your Gun Happy Birthday John Loves Mary Show Boat The Happy Time Burning Bright
Films	State Fair (1945) Oklahoma! Carousel The King and I (1956 film) South Pacific Flower Drum Song State Fair (1962) The Sound of Music The King and I (1999 film)
Television	Cinderella Carousel Cinderella (1997) The Sound of Music Live! The Sound of Music Live
Songs	"Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" "Kansas City" "I Cain't Say No" "Many a New Day" "It's a Scandal! It's a Outrage!" "People Will Say We're in Love" "Lonely Room" "The Farmer and the Cowman" "All Er Nuthin'" "Oklahoma" "If I Loved You" "Soliloquy" "You'll Never Walk Alone" "It Might as Well Be Spring" "That's for Me" "A Fellow Needs a Girl" "So Far" "Some Enchanted Evening" "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" "Bali Ha'i" "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" "Younger Than Springtime" "Happy Talk" "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" "I Whistle a Happy Tune" "Hello, Young Lovers" "Getting to Know You" "We Kiss in a Shadow" "Something Wonderful" "I Have Dreamed" "Shall We Dance?" "No Other Love" "I Enjoy Being a Girl" "The Sound of Music" "Maria" "My Favorite Things" "Do-Re-Mi" "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" "The Lonely Goatherd" "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" "So Long, Farewell" "No Way to Stop It" "Edelweiss"
Related articles	"Something Good" The Sound of Music (1965 soundtrack) The Sound of Music: Music from the NBC Television Event

v t e James A. Michener's Tales of the South Pacific
Characters	Bloody Mary
Adaptations	South Pacific (1949 musical) Awards and nominations South Pacific (1958 film) South Pacific (2001 film)
Songs	"Some Enchanted Evening" "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" "Bali Ha'i" "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" "Younger Than Springtime" "Happy Talk" "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"
Albums	South Pacific (1958 soundtrack)
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