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"The Clapping Song" is an American song, written byLincoln Chase, originally arranged byCharles Calello and recorded byShirley Ellis in 1965.[citation needed]
The single sold over a million copies, and peaked at number eight in the United States[1] and number six in the UK.[2]
The song was released shortly after Ellis had released "The Name Game". "The Clapping Song" incorporates lyrics from the song "Little Rubber Dolly",[3] a 1930s song recorded by theLight Crust Doughboys, and also features instructions for aclapping game.
| Chart (1965) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| CanadaRPM[4] | 10 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company) | 6 |
| USBillboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| USBillboardHot Rhythm & Blues Singles[5] | 16 |
The song and partial lyrics is mentioned in To The Last Ridge by W. H. Downing, a memoir of an Australian soldier in WW1 published in 1920, referring to an incident in 1916, thus implying that it pre-dates the 1930’s reference above. Page 11 of the 2002 reissue by Grub Street.
"The Clapping Song" has been featured in the soundtracks of the moviesScratch,Because of Winn-Dixie,Private Life,Stuber,Poms,All Together Now,Ghostbusters: Afterlife,Maestro as well as the trailer forDie My Love.
InFlatliners, the song is sung by children on the playground.
On television, it was featured in Round Six of the 2009 season ofDancing With the Stars.
