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Home » Nursery Rhymes

Published: Dec 8, 2022 by Birute Efe · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

If You’re Happy and You Know It Lyrics, Origins, and Video

Who doesn’t like happy songs and rhymes? The Happy Song or “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is a world-favorite rhyme. You can find children and grownups humming it when they are happy. The nursery rhyme has been a part of recreational activities for children in many countries. 

The rhyme is relatively new and doesn’t belong to the traditional folksongs for kids. It became popular sometime in the 1950s and 60s and continued to be at the top of the list. Read on to get the full lyrics for the nursery rhyme and a few tidbits about its history. 

Written Lyrics

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, then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.
(clap clap)

Replace ‘clap your hand’ with the following to continue the rhyme: 

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, 'We are'!

Stomp your feet!

Shout, 'Ha, ha'!

Shout, 'Amen'!

Do all three!

Do all four!

Printable Lyrics 

Click on this link to download the printable PDF file with the lyrics of the nursery rhyme If You’re Happy and You Know It. 

Photo Lyrics 

Save the below image on your device. 

If You’re Happy and You Know It lyrics

Video Links

Check out this video with a slightly altered version of the lyrics: 

Watch this short animated video with the rhyme in a story format:

Origins and History

There aren’t much details about when and how the rhyme originated. It was published in numerous places during the 1960s. The following important publications contained the lyrics of this nursery rhyme: 

  • Constructive recreational activities for children in 1957
  • Nursing home manual in 1966
  • Drama projects for disabled children in 1967

Jonico Music, a music publishing company from New York, filed for the copyright of the rhyme in 1971. The company credited Joe Raposo, an American composer, singer, and songwriter, for the lyrics of ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’. Joe Raposo is famous for the children’s TV show Sesame Street. 

The song uses a melody similar to Molodejnaya from the movie Volga-Volga. It is a Soviet Union musical film from 1938 directed by Grigori Aleksandrov. Though we don’t fully know about the origins, many people tracked it back to different regions like Latin America, Spain, and the US. 

Here’s a small example of how the nursery rhyme was famous around the world. 

The Agency of Cultural Affairs and the National Congress of Parents and Teachers Associations of Japan compiled a list of 100 well-known folk songs from Japan. The list included nine international songs. If You’re Happy and You Know It was one of the nine songs in the Nihon no Uta Hyakusen in 2007. 

FAQs

Are people banned from downloading and using the nursery rhyme? 

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) prosecuted people who downloaded the song using file-sharing platforms. The news of a 12-year-old being mentioned on this list caught the media’s attention. You can get it from official sources. 

How does the rhyme help kids? 

The rhyme uses repetitions and actions to engage kids. It allows kids to quickly memorize the lyrics and remember the rhyme for years.  

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Hi, I'm Birute! I've created playtivites to eliminate boring afternoons and family gatherings. With hundreds of family activities and play ideas, and crafts both parents and kids will enjoy.

More about me →

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