The Clapping Song
Shirley Ellis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Three six nine, the goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
(And) they all went to heaven in a little rowboat

Clap pat
Clap pat
Clap pat
Clap slap
Clap pat
Clap your hand, pat it on your partner's hand
Right hand
Clap pat
Clap pat clap your hand, cross it with your left arm
Pat you partner's left palm
Clap pat
Clap your hand, pat your partner's right palm
With your right palm again
Clap slap
Clap your hand, slap your thighs
And sing a little song, go

My mother told me
If I was goody
That she would buy me
A rubber dolly
My aunty told her
I kissed a soldier
Now she won't buy me
A rubber dolly

Three six nine, the goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
(And) they all went to heaven in a little rowboat

Clap clap (clap your hands and prepare to pat)
Pat (take your right arm put your partner's right palm with your right palm)
Clap (take your hand back and clap)
Pat (take your right arm, cross your right arm with your left arm
Pat your partner's left palm with your left palm)
Clap (take your hand back and clap)
Pat (take your right arm, cross your left arm
Pat your partner's right palm with your right palm)
Clap (now back, with a clap)
Slap (take the pats of your palms and slap your thighs
And watch the fun materialize
As you sing this little song)

My mother told me
If I was goody
That she would buy me
A rubber dolly
My aunty told her
I kissed a soldier
Now she won't buy me
A rubber dolly

Clap pat
Clap pat
Clap pat
Clap slap
Clap pat
Clap pat




Clap pat
Clap slap

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shirley Ellis's song "The Clapping Song" are a combination of a nonsensical rhyme and a hand-clapping game, popular with children. It starts with a simple counting rhyme "Three six nine, the goose drank wine, the monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line", before breaking into a hand-clapping game. The verses of the song are sung while two people stand facing each other, clapping their hands in a specific pattern.


The song's lyrics and the hand-clapping game that accompanies them have become iconic with its catchy beat, rhythm, and melody. The lyrics seem nonsensical but have become one of the defining classics of 1960s pop music. The song is a mix of traditional folklore, children's games, and a 1960s pop song, making it an interesting mix of old and new.


The lyrics also include a story about a girl trying to convince her mother to buy her a rubber doll. She's worried that her aunt's rumor that she kissed a soldier may prevent her mother from buying it for her. The song's playful, sing-song melody makes it a fun way for kids to play, dance, and sing together.


Line by Line Meaning

Three six nine, the goose drank wine
A drinking game is being played where someone recites numbers, and every time a multiple of three or a number that ends in three is reached, everyone drinks. In this instance, the goose drinks wine.


The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
A monkey is chewing tobacco on a streetcar line, possibly hinting at an urban setting where even animals are behaving like humans.


The line broke, the monkey got choked
The streetcar line broke and the monkey choked on his tobacco due to the sudden movement.


(And) they all went to heaven in a little rowboat
The monkey, goose and all the other players of the drinking game went to heaven in a little rowboat, symbolizing death and spirituality.


Clap pat
Get ready to start the clapping sequence.


Clap your hand, pat it on your partner's hand
A simple clapping pattern where the hands are clapped and patted with the partner's hand.


Right hand
Use your right hand for the next round of claps and pats.


Clap pat
A repetition of the second line, but now with a different hand and partner.


Clap pat clap your hand, cross it with your left arm
A more complicated series of clapping and patting, involving crossing the right hand with the left arm.


Pat you partner's left palm
A continuation of the previous line, patting the left palm of your partner while crossing your right arm.


Clap pat
Another repetition, this time with the previous partner and hand.


Clap your hand, pat your partner's right palm
Clap your hand and pat your partner's right palm with your right hand.


With your right palm again
Use your right hand again for the next round of claps and pats.


Clap slap
Clap your hands together and then slap your thighs.


And sing a little song, go
The clapping sequence is now over, and it's time to sing a little song.


My mother told me
The singer is now telling a story about what her mother and aunty told her.


If I was goody
The singer's mother promised to buy her a rubber dolly if she was good.


That she would buy me
The mother promised to buy her daughter a rubber dolly as a reward for good behavior.


A rubber dolly
A type of toy, a doll made of rubber.


My aunty told her
The singer's aunt apparently spoke to her mother about something the singer did that was not good.


I kissed a soldier
The singer kissed a soldier, which apparently caused her mother to retract her offer of a rubber dolly.


Now she won't buy me
Because the singer kissed a soldier, her mother changed her mind and will not buy her a rubber dolly.


Clap pat
The sequence starts over.


Clap pat
Repeat of the second line.


Clap pat
Another repeat of the second line.


Clap slap
Another series of claps and slaps.


Clap pat
Repeat of the second line.


Clap pat
Another repeat.


Clap pat
Another repetition, signalling the end of the sequence.




Lyrics Β© MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kay Werner, Sue Werner, Lincoln Chase

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@mshibbertstou7594

All together now movie brought me here 2020

@sarawaheed8827

Same hhhhh

@akia8015

Same

@peterselane9549

Literally watching the movie as im typing this...lol.

@debbieh.6861

Yup😁....tune was so catchy

@zahranaser2129

Me too hahahah

128 More Replies...

@balior88

Took my parents to see Ghostbusters Afterlife, they are seniors. My Mother was sitting next to me. This song came on and she got the biggest grin on her face and her arms were moving and her legs shaking and just away she went singing the song. I never heard it before, and didn't know she could sing so fast. It was great!

@Robbtheplace

Just watching ghostbusters now and haven't heard this tune in over 30 years. Thanks ghostbusters

@MCGofukyerself

Im a 46 year old guy who is all about rap from 87 to 95 and I busted out a massive grin as well!

@mystic7splace

67 here, the same reaction. I have absolutely not heard this song since around 1965 and it just dragged me back to Elementary school. I remember all the black girls in the school used to get together at recess and lunch time and sing this. Shirley Ellis is also the same girl who sang "The Name Game".

More Comments

More Versions