"Singing in the Bathtub" is a song written in 1929 by Michael H. Cleary, with lyrics by

Herb Magidson Herbert A. Magidson (January 7, 1906 – January 2, 1986) was an American popular lyricist. His work was used in over 23 films and four Broadway revues. He won the first Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1934. Life and career Magidson was ...

and

Ned Washington Ned Washington (born Edward Michael Washington, August 15, 1901 – December 20, 1976) was an American lyricist born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Life and career Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962. He won the Bes ...

for the film ''

The Show of Shows ''The Show of Shows'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical revue film directed by John G. Adolfi and distributed by Warner Bros. The all-talking Vitaphone production cost $850,000 and was shot almost entirely in Technicolor. ''The Show o ...

''. ''The Show of Shows'' was

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

' answer to

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

's ''

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 ''The Hollywood Revue of 1929'', or simply ''The Hollywood Revue'', is a 1929 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code musical comedy film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was the studio's second feature-length musical, and one of their earliest ...

'', and "Singing in the Bathtub" spoofs ''Hollywood Revue's'' song "

Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd Charis ...

". In ''Show of Shows'', the number features an enormous

bathtub A bathtub, also known simply as a bath or tub, is a container for holding water in which a person or animal may bathe. Most modern bathtubs are made of thermoformed acrylic, porcelain-enameled steel or cast iron, or fiberglass-reinforced ...

and is performed by

Winnie Lightner Winnie Lightner (born Winifred Josephine Reeves; September 17, 1899 – March 5, 1971) was an American stage and motion picture actress. Perhaps best known as the man-hungry Mabel in ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' (1929), Lightner was often typ ...

and a chorus of male performers (some dressed as women) wearing antiquated

bathing suit A swimsuit is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports, such as swimming, diving and surfing, or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing. Different types may be worn by men, wom ...

s. The song was recorded by many performers of the time, including

Guy Lombardo Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardo (June 19, 1902 – November 5, 1977) was an Italian-Canadian-American bandleader, violinist, and hydroplane racer. Lombardo formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and othe ...

Dorothy Provine Dorothy Michelle Provine (January 20, 1935 – April 25, 2010) was an American singer, dancer and actress. Born in 1935 in Deadwood, South Dakota, she grew up in Seattle, Washington, and was hired in 1958 by Warner Bros., after which she first ...

, Dick Robertson,

King Ben Nawahi King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

, Gracie Fields,

Vaughn De Leath Vaughn De Leath (September 26, 1894 – May 28, 1943) was an American female singer who gained popularity in the 1920s, earning the sobriquets "The Original Radio Girl" and the "First Lady of Radio." Although very popular in the 1920s, De Leath is ...

, The Georgians, and

Danny Kaye Danny Kaye (born David Daniel Kaminsky; yi, דוד־דניאל קאַמינסקי; January 18, 1911 – March 3, 1987) was an American actor, comedian, singer and dancer. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and ...

, and more recently by

Robert Crumb Robert Dennis Crumb (; born August 30, 1943) is an American cartoonist and musician who often signs his work R. Crumb. His work displays a nostalgia for American folk culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and satire of contem ...

John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. Lithgow studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his work on the stage and screen. He has been the recipient of numerous ...

Mic Conway Mic Conway (born 15 February 1951) is an Australian vocalist and with his brother, Jim Conway, was a co-founder of the 1970s humour, theatre and rock group, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band.McFarlane (1999). Encyclopedia entry for . Retrieved ...

and

Mandy Patinkin Mandel Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television and film. He is a critically acclaimed Broadway performer, having received three Tony Award nominations, winning ...

. In Vaughn DeLeath's rendition of the song, she sings the line "the ring around the bathtub is a rainbow to me" as "a rainbow ''from'' me", substantially changing its meaning.Vitaphone Varieties
/ref> The lyrics often include a quotation of the title air from "

I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is a popular American song written in 1918, released in late 1919, becoming a number one hit for Ben Selvin's Novelty Orchestra. It has been revived and adapted over the years, serving as the anthem of Premier Leag ...

Use in ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies''

"Singing in the Bathtub" is featured in the first-ever

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated comedy short film series produced by Warner Bros. starting from 1930 to 1969, concurrently with its partner series ''Merrie Melodies'', during the golden age of American animation.

animated short, " Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (1930). The song appeared in 20

animated shorts in total. Warner Bros.' ownership of the copyright saved royalty payments. The song is frequently sung by

Tweety Bird Tweety is a yellow canary in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of animated cartoons. The name "Tweety" is a play on words, as it originally meant "sweetie", along with "tweet" being an English onomatopoeia for t ...

. * Sinkin' in the Bathtub (1930) * Porky & Daffy (1938) * Polar Pals (1939) *

Little Blabbermouse Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of Vic Chesnutt * ''Little'' (film), 2019 American comedy film *The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John P ...

(1940) *

Porky's Pooch ''Porky's Pooch'' is a 1941 Warner Bros. '' Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. The short was released on December 27, 1941, and stars Porky Pig. This is the last short Bob Clampett directed that used his old unit, which would ultim ...

(1941) *

The Aristo-Cat ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

(1943) *

Hop and Go ''Hop and Go'' is a 1943 Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' animated cartoon directed by Norman McCabe and animated by Cal Dalton. The short was released on March 27, 1943. It stars the voices of Pinto Colvig (Claude Hopper) and Mel Blanc Melvin ...

(1943) *

Daffy Dilly ''Daffy Dilly'' is a 1948 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The cartoon was released on October 30, 1948, and stars Daffy Duck. "Daffy Dilly" is notable for being an early example of a greedy, self-centered Daffy ...

(1948) *

I Taw a Putty Tat ''I Taw a Putty Tat'' is a 1948 Warner Bros. ''Merrie Melodies'' animated cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on April 1, 1948, and stars Tweety and Sylvester. Both Tweety and Sylvester are voiced by Mel Blanc. The uncredi ...

(1948) * The Pest That Came to Dinner (1948) * Which Is Witch? (1949) *

Wise Quackers ''Wise Quackers'' is a 1949 Warner Bros. '' Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. The film was released on January 1, 1949, and stars Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd. The short's title should not be confused with the 1939 Bob Clampett sho ...

(1949) *

Homeless Hare ''Homeless Hare'' is a 1950 Warner Bros. '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoon short directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on March 11, 1950, and stars Bugs Bunny. Some television broadcasts omit the shot of Bugs dropping a brick on Hercules' hea ...

(1950) * Terrier Stricken (1952) *

Forward March Hare ''Forward March Hare'' is a 1952 Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on February 14, 1953, and stars Bugs Bunny. Plot The mailman has delivered a letter to "B. Bonny" (Bertram Bonny), but when the ...

(1953) *

Sahara Hare ''Sahara Hare'' is a 1955 Warner Bros. '' Looney Tunes'' theatrical cartoon short directed by Friz Freleng. The short was released on March 26, 1955, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. Plot This is another classic battle between Bugs Bunny ...

(1955) * A Witch's Tangled Hare (1959) * Tweet and Lovely (1959), sung by

From Hare to Heir ''From Hare to Heir'' is a 1960 Warner Bros. '' Merrie Melodies'' theatrical cartoon short directed and written by Friz Freleng. The short was released on September 3, 1960, and stars Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam. Plot In Bedlam Manor, Sam, Duke ...

(1960) *

Compressed Hare ''Compressed Hare'' is a 1961 '' Merrie Melodies'' cartoon directed by Chuck Jones. The short was released on July 29, 1961, and stars Bugs Bunny and Wile E. Coyote. This is the final first-run Golden Age short in which Wile E. Coyote speaks, a ...

(1961), sung by

Bugs Bunny Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon character created in the late 1930s by Leon Schlesinger Productions (later Warner Bros. Cartoons) and voiced originally by Mel Blanc. Bugs is best known for his starring roles in the '' Looney Tunes'' and '' ...

The Looney Tunes Show ''The Looney Tunes Show'' is an American animated sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Animation that ran from May 3, 2011, through November 2, 2013, on Cartoon Network. The series consists of two seasons, each containing 26 episodes, and features ch ...

(2011), sung by Tweety Bird

''Cheap Suit Serenaders'' album

''Singing in the Bathtub'' is also the 1993 re-release title of an album by R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders. The album was originally released in 1978 as ''R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders No. 3''.

John Lithgow album

''Singin' in the Bathtub'' is additionally the title of a children's album released in 1999 with songs performed by

. It was released by Sony Wonder two years after '' All Aboard!'' Track listing: # Everybody Eats When They Come to My House (Adaptation) # At the Codfish Ball # Singin' in the Bathtub # A-You're Adorable # The Gnu Song # You Gotta Have Skin # Triplets # No One Loves You Any Better Than Your M-O-Double-M-Y (Adaptation) # Swinging on a Star # I Had A Rooster # From the Indies to the Andes in His Undies # Big Kids # The Hippopotamus Song # The Inchworm

References

{{reflist 1929 songs Songs with lyrics by Ned Washington Songs with lyrics by Herb Magidson Looney Tunes songs Guy Lombardo songs