I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

Mary Martin

About I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" is a song from the musical South Pacific, sung by Nellie Forbush, the female lead, originally played by Mary Martin in the 1949 Broadway production. Her character, fed up with a man (Emile De Becque) and singing energetically in the shower, claims that she will forget about him. The song was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in response to Martin's request. She had starred on Broadway for years and Martin suggested that she wash her hair on stage during the performance. "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" was adapted for a commercial jingle for Clairol hair coloring in the 1970s. PJ Harvey referenced the song in her 1992 single "Sheela-Na-Gig" with the repeated lyric "gonna wash that man right outa my hair". 50 Foot Wave's song "Bone China" also references this song in the lyric, "Gonna wash that man right out of my head / and soap him into my eyes". The song was used in a 1996 UK TV advert for Guinness entitled Fish on a Bicycle. The song was covered in the 2004 film Connie and Carla by the title characters (portrayed by Nia Vardalos & Toni Collette) and performed memorably by Reba McEntire in the 2005 Carnegie Hall concert version of South Pacific . 


Year:
2004
3:30
730 
#2

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I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
And send him on his way.

I'm gonna wave that man right outa my arms,

I'm gonna wave that man right outa my arms,
I'm gonna wave that man right outa my arms,
And send him on his way.

Don't try to patch it up

Tear it up, tear it up!

Wash him out, dry him out,

Push him out, fly him out,

Cancel him and let him go!

Yea, sister!

I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
I'm gonna wash that man right outa my hair,
And send him on his way.

If a man don't understand you,
If you fly on separate beams,
Waste no time, make a change,
Ride that man right off your range.
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams.

Oho! If you laugh at different comics,
If you root for different teams,
Waste no time, weep no more,
Show him what the door is for.
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams.

You can't light a fire when the woods are wet,

No!

You can't make a butterfly strong,

Hmm, hmm!

You can't fix an egg when it ain't quite good,

And you can't fix a man when he's wrong!

You can't put back a petal when it falls from a flower,
Or sweeten up a fellow when he starts turnin' sour

Oh no! Oh no!

If his eyes get dull and fishy,
When you look for glints and gleams,
Waste no time,
Make a switch,
Drop him in the nearest ditch!
Rub him out of the roll call,
And drum him out of your dreams
Oho! Oho!

I went to wash that man right outa my hair,
I went to wash that man right outa my hair,
I went to wash that man right outa my hair,
And sent him on his way.

She went to wash that man right outa my hair,
She went to wash that man right outa my hair,
She went to wash that man right outa my hair,

And send him on his way!

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Mary Martin

Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American actress, singer and Broadway star. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein she originated many leading roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989. She was also the mother of actor Larry Hagman. more »

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Written by: OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Creation
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" was created by the famous duo, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was intended for the Broadway musical "South Pacific".
Performer
The song was first performed by the American actress and singer, Mary Martin, on the Broadway stage in 1949. She played the lead role of Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific".
Theme
The song presents a theme of a woman determined to forget a man who she previously fell in love with. It signifies strength and resolution in the face of heartbreak.
Major Hit
The song became a major hit and is often considered as one of the standout songs from the show. It was instrumental in Mary Martin winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in "South Pacific".
Iconic Scene
The scene in which this song was performed on the Broadway stage involved Martin actually washing her hair on stage, which was considered quite an innovative and memorable performance at the time.
Film Adaptation
The song was also featured in the 1958 film adaptation of the musical "South Pacific". This time it was performed by Mitzi Gaynor, who played the lead role.
Popular Culture
The song's line "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" has become a pop culture phrase, appearing in various other media like advertisements and films, often as an empowering statement for women dealing with breakups.
Different Covers
The song has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald and Patti LuPone, underlining its enduring popularity.
Use in Advertisement
In the 1950s, the song was used in a television ad for shampoo. The commercial depicted a woman washing that "man right out of her hair", further popularizing the song and its catchy lines.
Revival
In 2008, a revival of "South Pacific" on Broadway featured Kelli O'Hara as Nellie Forbush. She also performed the iconic number "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair", introducing the song to a new generation.

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