Polly Wolly Doodle
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"Polly Wolly Doodle" is a song first published in a Harvard student songbook in 1880.
"Polly Wolly Doodle" appears in the existing manuscript for Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years exactly as it is used in the published version. It is sometimes credited to Dan Emmett. The melody of this song as it is usually sung formed the basis for Boney M.'s hit Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday in 1979, and also for Alexandra Burke's song Start Without You, and is common in children's music, appearing in a Sunday school song called "O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E", the German group die Lollipops' "Radio Lollipop", and is the tune of the Barney & Friends song "Alphabet Soup" (though only using the first verse's tune) as well as "If I Had One Wish" (which uses both verses).
Recordings
Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded the song on their album The Chipmunk Songbook in 1962. Leon Redbone recorded the song on his album On the Track in 1975. It was performed by the Jukebox Puppet Band on Shining Time Station's third season episode "Schemer's Alone". VeggieTales recorded it on their CD Bob and Larry's Backyard Party 2002.
The Cedarmont Kids recorded the song on their 1996 album "Silly Songs," and the album's DVD features a music video.
The song has also been recorded by Burl Ives and Larry Groce.
The song has been adapted in French by Francis Blanche under the title Le gros Bill and interpreted by Lily Fayol and Lucille Dumont.
Appearances in film and television
Shirley Temple sings "Polly Wolly Doodle" in the 1935 film The Littlest Rebel.
The song is featured prominently in the 1938 Academy Award for Best Picture recipient You Can't Take It With You directed by Frank Capra.
The song is the theme of the 1938 Donald Duck short film Good Scouts where it is played over the opening credits and sung by Donald and his nephews on their march.
The Kidsongs kids sing this song in the 1986 video "A Day at the Circus".