"If You're Happy and You Know It" is a popular traditional repetitive children's song, folksong, and drinking song. The song has been noted for its similarities to "Molodejnaya", a song appearing in the 1938 Soviet musical film Volga-Volga.
History
The origin of the melody is not known, but numerous sources trace it back to Spain, Latin America, Latvia or the United States of America.
The song was published in various places through the decades following the late 1960s, including a volume of "constructive recreational activities" for children (1957), a book of drama projects for disabled children (1967), and a nursing home manual (1966).
In 1971, Jonico Music filed for copyright on the song, crediting it to Joe Raposo.
During the early part of the 2000s, the music Recording Industry Association of America sued 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.
In 2007, the song was included as part of the Nihon no Uta Hyakusen, a list of the 100 most well-known folk songs in Japan. It is one of nine songs from foreign countries included on the list. It was selected by the Agency of Cultural Affairs and the National Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations of Japan.
In 2020, Granger Smith recorded a version that relied on alcohol drinking called "Country and Ya Know It".
Lyric variations
Like many children's songs, there are many versions of the lyrics. A popular version goes as follows:
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 more 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!", "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:
- "... stomp/stamp your feet!"
- "... wave your arms!"
- "... say, "hooray!", "amen!", "we are!""
- "... do all three, four, five, etc.!"
Oh Be Careful Little Eyes
Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes is a very popular Christian children's song. It is sung to the tune of If You're Happy and You Know It, and it teaches children to be careful about what they see, hear, say, and do. This song is about living a life that pleases God. The song is rooted in the biblical principle of living a life pleasing to God, particularly in line with verses such as Proverbs 4:23, which encourages guarding the heart, and Psalm 101:3, which advises not to set wicked things before people's eyes.
Lyrics
Each verse of the song addresses a different part of the body with a sense, to encourage children to be careful with what they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, trust with their mind, etc.
Meaning
"Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes" is a reminder to children that God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, so to be mindful. It is satisfying for children and adults alike.
Melody
There is a notable variation from the 5th measure (including pick-up note) to the 6th measure, attested in Japan.
References
- "If You're Happy and You Know It" Archived 2015-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, Groove Kid Nation
- 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.
- 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.
- Jacobs, H. Lee; Morris, Woodrow Wilbert, eds. (1966). Nursing and retirement home administration. Iowa State University Press. p. 153. ISBN 9780813811758. Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
- "Music: current and renewal registrations, January-June 1971". Catalog of Copyright Entries. 3rd Series, Volume 25, Part 5, Sections 1-2. Washington DC: Copyright Office, The Library of Congress: 348. 1972. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
- "Music firms target 12-year-old". BBC News. 10 September 2003. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Granger Smith's 'Country & Ya Know It' Is a Play on a Popular Children's Song" by Lauren Jo Black, Country Now, 2 September 2020
- If You're Happy and You Know It on YouTube
- Digital Songs and Hymns https://digitalsongsandhymns.com/songs/7900
- Proverbs 4:23, English Standard Version of the Bible https://www.esv.org/Proverbs+4:23/
- Psalm 101:3, English Standard Version of the Bible https://www.esv.org/Psalm+101:3/
- https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/c/157 Hymnal.net: Oh Be Careful Little Eyes
- Burleson Church of Christ https://burlesonchurchofchrist.com/luke-11-o-be-careful-little-eyes-what-you-see/
External links
- Sheet music
- "Molodejnaya" on YouTube, from Volga-Volga by Isaak Dunayevsky
- "If You're Happy and You Know It" at MusicBrainz (information and list of recordings)
