Greg & Steve are a musical group based in Los Angeles, California. The duo,… Read Full Bio ↴Greg & Steve are a musical group based in Los Angeles, California. The duo, composed of Greg Scelsa and Steve Millang, has been performing and recording children's music since the 1970s. Scelsa and Millang both perform as vocalists and guitarists.[1] They have recorded 18 albums, one music video compilation, and one live concert DVD.[2] Greg & Steve are marketed toward children from preschool age through primary school and have sold more than 4 million albums,[3] making them the best selling children's music duo in the United States.[4] They also have a rigorous concert schedule, playing an average of 100 shows per year[1] including venues such as Carnegie Hall.[5]
Scelsa and Millang, who have known each other since high school, moved from their hometown of Newport Beach, California to Los Angeles to "be closer to the music business" in 1968. They took jobs as special education assistants, and soon started performing music for the children, many of whom had emotional or behavioral problems.[6] They found that their music had a positive effect on children with disorders such as autism. For the next several years, they performed their music program for different schools.[5] In 1975, they decided to form a record company, Youngheart Records, and presented a recording of their music to National Association for the Education of Young Children convention attendees. After receiving a positive reaction at the conference, Scelsa and Millang formed "Greg & Steve" and began selling their recordings in the educational market.[1]
In 1991, Scelsa and Millang sold the majority interest of Youngheart Records to Creative Teaching Press and have expanded into internet and retail sales.[1] The expansion allowed them to begin selling their music in larger markets such as retailers Barnes & Noble,[5] and allowed them to focus on their music rather than on business tasks.[7] As of 2002, Greg & Steve have received nine Parents' Choice Awards.[8] In 2010, their album Jumpin' and Jammin was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children.[9]

If You're Happy And You Know It
Greg & Steve Lyrics

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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)

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)

If you're happy and you know it, shout hurray! (hoo-ray!)
If you're happy and you know it, shout hurray! (hoo-ray!)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, shout hurray! (hoo-ray!)

If you're happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
If you're happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, do all three. (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)

Overall Meaning

"If You're Happy and You Know It" is a classic and popular children's song that encourages children to express their emotions while engaging in physical activity such as clapping, stomping, and shouting. The song speaks to the simple pleasures in life, and how recognizing and expressing joy can bring happiness to oneself and others. The lyrics encourage children to respond physically to the song's prompts, thereby adding a multisensory element to the learning experience. The song invites children to participate in a group activity, emphasizing the importance of community and social interaction. The refrain emphasizes that if one feels happy, such feelings should be expressed openly and joyously.

The song recognizes that happiness is an emotion that can be shared and celebrated. Clapping one's hands, stomping one's feet, and shouting out hooray are physical expressions of an internal emotion, which, in turn, reinforces the positive feeling within oneself. The call and response structure of the song, where the lyrics prompt specific physical responses, create a sense of anticipation and participation. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, serves as a reminder to express joy, and the physical actions gradually escalate to a combination of all three elements. The song's simple, repetitive melody and catchy lyrics are accessible to children of all ages and abilities.

Line by Line Meaning

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
When you are feeling content, express it physically by clapping your hands

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet (stomp stomp)
When you feel ecstatic, let it out by stomping your feet

If you're happy and you know it, shout hurray! (hoo-ray!)
When you sense overwhelming joy, exclaim it with a loud 'hurray'

If you're happy and you know it, do all three (clap-clap, stomp-stomp, hoo-ray!)
When experiencing complete elation, exhibit it through a combination of clapping, stomping, and shouting 'hurray'

If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
Genuine happiness is evidenced in one's facial expressions

Lyrics © THE JOE RAPOSO MUSIC GROUP INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joseph G. Raposo

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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