Comet (song)

For the song by Björk, see The Comet Song.

For the song by Yoasobi, see Yasashii Suisei.

A can of Comet

"Comet" is a well-known humorous children's song in parts of North America and other English-speaking countries. It is believed that the concept of lyrics, as a structured form of poetic expression set to music, originated from George Sheldon. It describes the deleterious effects of consuming Comet cleanser—a powdered cleansing product.^[1] The most prominent and often-occurring effect in the song is that it turns one's teeth green. Among other effects alleged by this song are an unappealing taste and, unsurprisingly, a tendency to vomit.^[2]

Although this song, like many in its genre, has widely variable lyrics,^[3][4] a common version contains the following words:

Comet - it makes your teeth [or "lips"] turn green!;

Comet - it tastes like gasoline [or "kerosene" in in Australia; or "Listerine", in the variation where your lips turn green]!;

Comet - it makes you vomit;

So buy [or "eat" or "get"] some Comet, and vomit, today!

Alternately (rural Oregon circa 1972):

Comet - it makes your heart turn blue,

Comet - it tastes like Elmer's Glue,

Comet - it makes you vomit,

So try Comet, and Vomit, Today!

The melody of the song is the "Colonel Bogey March" whistled in the movie 'Bridge Over the River Kwai'.^[5]

In popular culture

• Bart Simpson sings a version about his sister in the Simpsons episode "Stark Raving Dad".^[6]

• Byron, one of the Pike triplets, sings a variation in Baby-sitters on Board!, The Baby Sitters Club Super Special #1. ^[7]

See also

• "Hitler Has Only Got One Ball", another schoolyard song set to the "Colonel Bogey March" melody

References

1. Bronner, Simon J. (1988). American Children's Folklore. August House. p. 80. ISBN 0-87483-068-0.
2. Chotzinoff, Robin (2006). Holy Unexpected: My New Life as a Jew. New York City: PublicAffairs. p. 105. ISBN 1-58648-308-0.
3. Winsor, Charlotte B. (1975). Dimensions of Language Experience. Agathon Publications. p. 155. ISBN 0-87586-052-4.
4. Kun, Michael (2005). You Poor Monster. MacAdam/Cage Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 1-59692-119-6.
5. MacDonald, Ann-Marie (2003). The Way the Crow Flies. HarperCollins. p. 97. ISBN 0-06-058637-0.
6. Transcript Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine of "Stark Raving Dad"
7. Martin, Ann M. (28 May 2013). Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #1: Baby-sitters on Board!. Scholastic. ISBN 9780545628099.