When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
Clean your teeth with bubble gum
(Clean your teeth with bubble gum)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
Clean your teeth with bubble gum
(Clean your teeth with bubble gum)
Fix the fence with sticky tape
(Fix the fence with sticky tape)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Oh, wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
Clean your teeth with bubble gum
(Clean your teeth with bubble gum)
Fix the fence with sticky tape
(Fix the fence with sticky tape)
Brush your hair with a toothbrush
(Brush your hair with a toothbrush)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Oh, wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
Clean your teeth with bubble gum
(Clean your teeth with bubble gum)
Fix the fence with sticky tape
(Fix the fence with sticky tape)
Brush your hair with a toothbrush
(Brush your hair with a toothbrush)
Fry an egg on a slippery dip
(Fry an egg on a slippery dip)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Wash your face in orange juice
(Wash your face in orange juice)
Clean your teeth with bubble gum
(Clean your teeth with bubble gum)
Fix the fence with sticky tape
(Fix the fence with sticky tape)
Brush your hair with a toothbrush
(Brush your hair with a toothbrush)
Fry an egg on a slippery dip
(Fry an egg on a slippery dip)
Belly flop in a pizza
(Belly flop in a pizza? Ooh!)
When Mr Clicketty Cane, plays his silly game
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
All the kids in the street, they like to do the same
Silly game
About This Song
"Mr Clicketty Cane" is a brilliantly subversive children's song that celebrates the power of imaginative rebellion and communal silliness. Beneath its playful surface lies a deeper exploration of how charismatic leadership can inspire collective action, even when that action is deliberately absurd and counterproductive. The titular character functions as a Pied Piper figure who leads children into joyfully rejecting conventional hygiene practices, transforming mundane daily routines into acts of creative defiance. The song's call-and-response structure mirrors both playground games and protest chants, creating an infectious participatory energy that makes listeners complicit in the delightful chaos. Peter Combe's theatrical vocal delivery and the song's building momentum capture the intoxicating feeling of group conformity, but here conformity means embracing the wonderfully illogical. The live recording adds authentic crowd participation that demonstrates the song's real-world power to unite audiences in shared absurdity. What makes this track particularly resonant is how it validates children's natural inclination to question adult rules while simultaneously teaching them about peer influence and social dynamics. The song became a beloved anthem because it gave young listeners permission to be gloriously, collectively silly while subtly exploring themes of leadership, conformity, and the appeal of doing exactly what you're not supposed to do.
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