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.[1][2]

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"
Song
Published1949
Songwriter(s)Oscar Hammerstein II
Composer(s)Richard Rodgers

Adaptations

"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".[3] 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 and Toni Collette). It was performed memorably by Reba McEntire in the 2005 Carnegie Hall concert version of South Pacific.

Recordings

References
  1. "Mary Martin". Masterworks Broadway. It was Mary herself who suggested washing her hair on stage as she sang "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," which she did for over 1,000 performances.
  2. Mel Gussow (November 5, 1990). "Mary Martin, 76, First Lady of Musicals, Dies". The New York Times.
  3. Adams, Sam (February 11, 2011). "PJ Harvey | Music | Gateways To Geekery | The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
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