I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair

"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"
Song
Published	1949
Composer(s)	Richard Rodgers
Lyricist(s)	Oscar Hammerstein II

"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]

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]

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

Clairol created an ad campaign in the 1980's using the song with the alternative line "I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair."

References

1. "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. Mel Gussow (November 5, 1990). "Mary Martin, 76, First Lady of Musicals, Dies". The New York Times.
3. Adams, Sam (February 11, 2011). "PJ Harvey | Music | Gateways To Geekery | The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
4. Fierberg, Ruthie (November 1, 2018). "15 Listen to Boyfriend's New R&B Rendition of South Pacific's 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair' 2018". Playbill. Retrieved 16 August 2021.