I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

Rodgers & HammersteinSouth Pacific

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I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

Lyrics By Oscar Hammerstein II  Music By Richard Rodgers

Out by the showers, Nellie declares her independence, vowing to end her relationship with Emile de Becque.

This playful tune was inspired by Mary Martin’s notion of actually shampooing her hair while singing a song – something she’d never seen anyone do. Eight times a week, before a paying audience, that’s exactly what she did. An anthem of independence and empowerment, “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” became a smash hit and a standard of the American Songbook.

COVERS & POP CULTURE
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“I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” LYRICS

Nellie:
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—

Nurses:
Tear it up, tear it up!

Nellie:
Wash him out, dry him out—

Nurses:
Push him out, fly him out!

Nellie:
Cancel him and let him go—

Nurses:
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!

Nellie:
If the 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 outa the roll call
And drum him outa your dreams!

Nurses:
Oh-ho!

Dinah:
If you laugh at different comics—

2nd Nurse:
If you root for different teams—

Nellie, Dinah and 2nd Nurse:
Waste no time!
Weep no more!
Show him what the door is for!

Nurses:
Rub him outa the roll call
And drum him outa your dreams!

Nellie:
You can’t light a fire when the wood’s all wet—

Nurses:
No!

Nellie:
You can’t make a butterfly strong—

Nurses:
Uh-uh!

Nellie:
You can’t fix an egg when it ain’t quite good—

Nurses:
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 feller
When he starts turning sour.

Nurses:
Oh no, oh no!

Nurses:
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 outa the roll call
And drum him outa your dreams!
Oh-ho! Oh-ho!

Nellie:
I went and washed that man right outa my hair,
I went and washed that man right outa my hair,
I went and washed that man right outa my hair,
And sent him on his way!

Nurses:
She went and washed that man right outa her hair,
She went and washed that man right outa her hair,
She went and washed that man right outa her hair,

All:
And sent him on his way!