For He's a Jolly Good Fellow facts for kids

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is a popular song that is sung to congratulate a person on a significant event, such as a promotion, a birthday, a wedding (or playing a major part in a wedding), a wedding anniversary, the birth of a child, or the winning of a championship sporting event. The melody originates from the French song "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre" ("Marlborough Has Left for the War").

Lyrics

As with many songs that use gender-specific pronouns, the song can be altered to agree with the gender of the intended recipient, "he" being replaced with "she" or "they". If the song is being sung to two or more people (e.g. twins or triplets) it is altered to use plurals (i.e. "For They are Jolly Good Fellows.")

British version

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow (pause), and so say all of us
And so say all of us, and so say all of us
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow (pause), and so say all of us!

American version

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow (pause), that nobody can deny that nobody can deny, that nobody can deny
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow (pause), that nobody can deny!

Pause length

The last syllable of the third iteration of "For he's a jolly good fellow" is often sung with an exaggerated fermata or pause before going on, making it difficult for groups or crowds to sing the next line in unison. This is evident, for example, when sung as a crowd chant in a football stadium or at a birthday party. Typically the note is extended an additional half measure, though it is acceptable to have no addition or extend the note for a full measure.

Variations

• In Spain, it is sometimes sung at birthdays instead of "Happy Birthday to You". This is also the case in America on television and in movies, because Warner/Chappell Music claimed copyright to "Happy Birthday To You" until 2016, while "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" has long been in the public domain.
• "Nobody" is sometimes replaced by "no one".
• Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961)
• In the Porridge episode "Disturbing the Peace", all the prisoners greet Mr Mackay to this song, having successfully eliminated Mr. Wainwright.
• A children's version called The Bear Went Over the Mountain is a famous campfire song.

See also

In Spanish: Es un muchacho excelente para niños