"If You're Happy and You Know It" is a popular repetitive children's song from the United States. The song has been noted for its similarities to "Molodejnaya", a song appearing in the 1938 Soviet musical film Volga-Volga.
The song was published in various places through the decades following the late 1950s, 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 actively prosecuted 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.
Like many children's cantations, there are many versions of the lyrics. A popular version goes like this:
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, then your face will surely show it;
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!
This verse is usually followed by three more, which follow the same pattern but say: "If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet!", "If you're happy and you know it, shout/say 'hooray'!" or "shout/say 'amen'!"; and, "If you're happy and you know it, do all three!" Other versions of the song tend to say "then your face will surely show it" in place of "and you really wanna 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:
"... 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/say, 'We are'!"
