Shave and a Haircut
Encyclopedia
Shave and a Haircut and the associated response "two bits" is a simple, 7-note musical couplet
popularly used at the end of a musical performance, usually for comic effect.
"Two bits
" is an archaism
in the United States for 25 cents, a quarter
. The final words may also be "get lost" or some other facetious expression. In England, it was often said as "five bob", although words are now rarely used to accompany the rhythm of the tune.
." Other songs from the same period also used the tune. The same notes form the bridge in the "Hot Scotch Rag", written by H.A. Fischler in 1911.
An early recording used the 7-note tune at both the beginning and the ending of a humorous 1915 song, by Billy Murray
and the American Quartet, called "On the 5:15
".
In 1939, Dan Shapiro, Lestor Lee and Milton Berle
released "Shave and a Haircut - Shampoo" which featured the tune in the closing bars, and is thought to be the origin of the lyric. Over time the phrase has gone through several variations. For example, the A-flat is sometimes replaced by an A-natural.
The rhythmic basis of "shave and a haircut", like the Charleston rhythm
and the Bo Diddley beat
, is the Latin American
clave
rhythm.
In Mexico, the tune is highly offensive, as it is associated with the seven-syllable insult in Spanish: «¡Chinga [a] tu madre, cabrón!», essentially meaning "Fuck your mother, asshole!"
The tune can be heard on customized car horns, while the rhythm may be tapped as a door knock.
or ending
in musical pieces performed through the years. It is strongly associated with the stringed instruments of bluegrass music
, particularly the 5-string banjo
. Earl Scruggs
often ended a song with this phrase
or a variation of it. On the television show The Beverly Hillbillies
, musical cues signifying the coming of a commercial break (cues which were in bluegrass style) frequently ended with "Shave and a Haircut."
The phrase has been incorporated into countless recordings. Some notable examples include:
Couplet
A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic...
popularly used at the end of a musical performance, usually for comic effect.
"Two bits
Two Bits
Two Bits is an American drama film. It was directed by James Foley, and stars Al Pacino, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Jerry Barone. It was released on November 22, 1995.The title refers to the American slang term two bits for a quarter dollar....
" is an archaism
Archaism
In language, an archaism is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately or as part of a specific jargon or formula...
in the United States for 25 cents, a quarter
Quarter (United States coin)
A quarter dollar, commonly shortened to quarter, is a coin worth ¼ of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796. The choice of 25¢ as a denomination, as opposed to 20¢ which is more common in other parts of the world, originated with the practice of dividing...
. The final words may also be "get lost" or some other facetious expression. In England, it was often said as "five bob", although words are now rarely used to accompany the rhythm of the tune.
History
The first known occurrence of the tune is from an 1899 Charles Hale song, "At a Darktown CakewalkCakewalk
The Cakewalk dance was developed from a "Prize Walk" done in the days of slavery, generally at get-togethers on plantations in the Southern United States. Alternative names for the original form of the dance were "chalkline-walk", and the "walk-around"...
." Other songs from the same period also used the tune. The same notes form the bridge in the "Hot Scotch Rag", written by H.A. Fischler in 1911.
An early recording used the 7-note tune at both the beginning and the ending of a humorous 1915 song, by Billy Murray
Billy Murray (singer)
William Thomas "Billy" Murray was one of the most popular singers in the United States in the early decades of the 20th century...
and the American Quartet, called "On the 5:15
On the 5:15
"On the 5:15" is a song written in 1915 and recorded by Billy Murray, along with the American Quartet, which featured a bass counterpoint to Murray's Irish tenor voice, probably William F...
".
In 1939, Dan Shapiro, Lestor Lee and Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
released "Shave and a Haircut - Shampoo" which featured the tune in the closing bars, and is thought to be the origin of the lyric. Over time the phrase has gone through several variations. For example, the A-flat is sometimes replaced by an A-natural.
The rhythmic basis of "shave and a haircut", like the Charleston rhythm
Charleston (dance)
The Charleston is a dance named for the harbor city of Charleston, South Carolina. The rhythm was popularized in mainstream dance music in the United States by a 1923 tune called "The Charleston" by composer/pianist James P. Johnson which originated in the Broadway show Runnin' Wild and became one...
and the Bo Diddley beat
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
, is the Latin American
Latin American music
Latin American music, found within Central and South America, is a series of musical styles and genres that mixes influences from Spanish, African and indigenous sources, that has recently become very famous in the US.-Argentina:...
clave
Clave (rhythm)
The clave rhythmic pattern is used as a tool for temporal organization in Afro-Cuban music, such as rumba, conga de comparsa, son, son montuno, mambo, salsa, Latin jazz, songo and timba. The five-stroke clave pattern represents the structural core of many Afro-Cuban rhythms...
rhythm.
In Mexico, the tune is highly offensive, as it is associated with the seven-syllable insult in Spanish: «¡Chinga [a] tu madre, cabrón!», essentially meaning "Fuck your mother, asshole!"
The tune can be heard on customized car horns, while the rhythm may be tapped as a door knock.
Popularity
The tune has been used innumerable times as a codaCoda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
or ending
Cadence (music)
In Western musical theory, a cadence is, "a melodic or harmonic configuration that creates a sense of repose or resolution [finality or pause]." A harmonic cadence is a progression of two chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music...
in musical pieces performed through the years. It is strongly associated with the stringed instruments of bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, particularly the 5-string banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
. Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs
Earl Eugene Scruggs is an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music...
often ended a song with this phrase
Phrase (music)
In music and music theory, phrase and phrasing are concepts and practices related to grouping consecutive melodic notes, both in their composition and performance...
or a variation of it. On the television show The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for nine seasons on CBS from 1962 to 1971, starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer, Jr....
, musical cues signifying the coming of a commercial break (cues which were in bluegrass style) frequently ended with "Shave and a Haircut."
The phrase has been incorporated into countless recordings. Some notable examples include:
- Dave BrubeckDave BrubeckDavid Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
's "Unsquare DanceUnsquare Dance"Unsquare Dance" is an iconic musical piece written by the American jazz composer Dave Brubeck in 1961.Written in 7/8 time, the piece is a typical example of Brubeck's exploration of time signatures. According to Brubeck, it was written during a single trip from his home to the recording studio,...
" incorporates the phrase into the song's unorthodox 7/8 time signature, and includes a musical twist by inserting it twice in rapid succession, taking advantage of the fact that it begins and ends on the same note. - Les PaulLes PaulLester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
and Mary FordMary FordMary Ford , born Iris Colleen Summers, was an American vocalist and guitarist, comprising half of the husband-and-wife musical team Les Paul and Mary Ford. Between 1950 and 1954, the couple had 16 top-ten hits...
's CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
recording of "Magic Melody" concluded with the phrase minus the last two notes ("two bits"). Responding to complaints from disc jockeyDisc jockeyA disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s, Capitol in 1955 released "Magic Melody Part 2"—consisting solely of the missing notes—on a 45, said to be the shortest tune on record.
In popular culture
- Former Prisoner of WarPrisoner of warA prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
and U.S. Naval Seaman Doug HegdahlDoug HegdahlSeaman Apprentice Douglas B. Hegdahl is a former United States Navy sailor who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. After his early release by North Vietnam, upon returning to the United States, he was able to provide the names and personal information about 256 other POWs as well as...
reports fellow American captives in the Vietnam war would authenticate a new prisoner's American identityShibbolethA shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
by tapping the first 5 notes of "Shave and a Haircut," against a cell wall, waiting for the appropriate response. American POWs were then able to communicate securely with one another via the quadratic alphabet code. - "Shave and a Haircut" featured in many early cartoons, played on things varying from car horns to window shutters banging in the wind. Decades later, the couplet became a plot device in the film Who Framed Roger RabbitWho Framed Roger RabbitWho Framed Roger Rabbit is a 1988 American fantasy-comedy-noir film directed by Robert Zemeckis and released by Touchstone Pictures. The film combines live action and animation, and is based on Gary K. Wolf's novel Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, which depicts a world in which cartoon characters...
, the idea being that ToonCartoonA cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
s cannot resist finishing with the "two bits" when they hear the opening rhythm.