I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair Explained

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair
Type:	song
Published:	1949
Lyricist:	Oscar Hammerstein II
Composer:	Richard Rodgers

"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]}

Pop associations

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]

Notable recordings

• Boyfriend released her cover simply titled "Wash That" in November 2018.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 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. News: Mel Gussow. Mary Martin, 76, First Lady of Musicals, Dies. The New York Times. November 5, 1990.
3. News: PJ Harvey Music Gateways To Geekery The A.V. Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20110219145932/http://www.avclub.com/articles/pj-harvey,51978/. dead. February 19, 2011. The A.V. Club. Adams. Sam. February 11, 2011. April 28, 2011.
4. News: Fierberg. Ruthie. 15 Listen to Boyfriend's New R&B Rendition of South Pacific's 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair' 2018. 16 August 2021. Playbill. November 1, 2018.