The Sun Has Got His Hat On

Album: Me And My Girl (1937)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" is also known by its extended title "The Sun Has Got His Hat On (He's Coming Out Today)" - the brackets are optional. It's a happy sounding title and indeed a happy song. Co-written by Noel Gay and Ralph Butler - music and words respectively - it appeared in the second act of the 1937 musical Me And My Girl, not to be confused with the song "For Me And My Gal" or with the 1932 non-musical film Me And My Gal.
  • This song was written apparently in 1932 because that is when it was first recorded. It seems strange that a song of this nature should have fallen foul of the censor; although it didn't initially.

    The reason it did, in later years, was discussed in the first episode of a short BBC Radio 4 series Taboo Be Doo, broadcast in June 2011.

    The first line of the couplet:

    He's been tanning ni--ers out in Timbuktu
    Now he's coming back to do the same to you


    Was altered to:
    He's been canning peanuts
  • In 1971, Jonathan King recorded what might be called a compromise version with "He's been tanning Negroes out in Timbuktu." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3
  • BBC Radio Devon presenter David Lowe got in hot water when he played the original 1932 version of the song during his show on April 27, 2014. He didn't realize until he spun it that the recording contained the controversial n-word.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Andy McClusky of OMD

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.