"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is a song that is sung to congratulate a person on a significant event, such as a promotion, a birthday, a wedding (or playing a major part in a wedding), a wedding anniversary, the birth of a child, or the winning of a championship sporting event or in general being a good mate who always pays his debts. The melody originates from the French song "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre (Marlborough Has Left for the War). The traditional children's song The Bear Went Over the Mountain is sung to the same tune.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is the second-most popular song in the English language, following "Happy Birthday to You" and followed by "Auld Lang Syne." It is frequently used instead of "Happy Birthday to You" in films and television to avoid possible copyright issues.
Read more about For He's A Jolly Good Fellow: History, Lyrics, Variations
Famous quotes containing the words jolly and/or fellow:
“Troll the bowl, the jolly nut-brown bowl,
And here, kind mate, to thee!
Let’s sing a dirge for Saint Hugh’s soul,
And down it merrily.”
—Thomas Dekker (1572?–1632?)
“The knave of a thousand years ago seems a fine old fellow full of spirit and fun, little malice in his soul; whereas, the knave of to-day seems a sour-visaged wight, with nothing to redeem him.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)