On The Good Ship Lollipop

Album: America's Sweetheart Vol. 1 (1934)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • A child star, Shirley Temple sang "On The Good Ship Lollipop" in the 1934 movie Bright Eyes, for which she was honored with a special "pint-sized" Academy Award for her contributions on nine feature films and two shorts. In the film, her father, who was a pilot, has died and she's singing the song on an airplane to an audience of his friends.
  • Temple was just 6 years old when this song was released. Her films were very popular and often included songs she performed that permeated the culture, which is the case with "On The Good Ship Lollipop." This was 1934, so it was mostly disseminated through sheet music - many families had pianos and would play tunes like this for entertainment. It became her signature song, and the next year she sang another popular number, "Animal Crackers In My Soup," in the movie Curly Top.
  • One of the most popular versions of the song is by Mae Questel, the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl. Others to cover it include Tiny Tim, Margaret Whiting and The Persuasions, who released it on an album of children's music titled On The Good Ship Lollipop (Music For Little People) in 1999.
  • This was composed by Richard Whiting ("Ain't We Got Fun?") with lyrics by Sidney Clare ("Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"). Whiting was the father of popular singer Margaret Whiting, known by modern listeners for her wintry duet with Johnny Mercer, "Baby It's Cold Outside."
  • The lyrics are basically a list of sugary treats, including Crackerjack, Tootsie Rolls and devil's food cake. The song imagines this kind of candyland where the only thing to worry about is the bellyache the next morning.
  • The song shows up in lots of movies and TV shows, often for comic relief or parody. It's been in episodes of The Simpsons, That '70s Show, Ray Donovan, Family Guy, Full House, The Brady Bunch and The Jeffersons. Movies to use it include The Crossing Guard, Shrek The Third and Margaret.

Comments: 7

  • Lydia from United StatesI luv movies of Shirley temple
  • Samantha from Monroe County, Pai love this song shes my idol!
  • Mike from Franklin County, Pa(from Wikipedia ):Shirley Jane Temple ( born April 23 , 1928 )is an Academy Award - winning actress and tap dancer , who is best known for being an iconic American child actress of the 1930s , and enjoyed a notable career as a diplomat as an adult . ..She rose to fame at the age of six in "Bright Eyes" in 1934 , and starred in a series of films which won her positive critical reception and saw her become the top grossing star at the American box - office during the height of the Great Depression. ..In later life, she became a United States ambassador and diplomat. ...She was born in Santa Monica , California to George Francis Temple (1888 - 1980), a businessman and a banker , and Gertrude Amelia Krieger (1893 - 1977)a retired dancer. ..She had two brothers , Jack (1915 - 1985)and George Jr.(1919 - 1996). .. Her mother loved dancing , which directed Temple toward performing. ..Gertrude was a constant presense on the lot during Temple's childhood acting years , helping her learn her lines and controlling her wardrobe. ..She modeled the "Shirley Temple Curls" off another actress known for her little girl roles , Mary Pickford . ..The curls were also under the control of Alex , who ensured that they were exactly 56 ringlets in her hair for each take. .. Temple remade several of Pickford's silent films including "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm". .. Temple would later sign with Pickford's company "United Artist". ..Pickford thought highly of Temple , asking her to portray herself in a biopic about Mary and her mother , Charlotte Hennessy in 1940. ..Temple declined and the film was never made. ... At age 17 , Temple was married to soldier - turned - actor John Agar (1921 - 2002)on September 19 , 1945. ..They had daughter (Linda)Susan Agar (sometimes known as Susan Black or Susan Falaschi) on January 30 ,1948; She is now a librarian at Woodside Priory School. ..Temple filed for divorce in late 1949, with the divorce becoming final on December 5 , 1950. ... In early 1950, while vacationing in Hawaii, Temple met with California business man Charles Alden Black(1919 - 2005). ..They married on December 16 that year. ..Together, they had two children:Charles Alden Black Jr.(born April 29 , 1952)and Lori Black(born April 9 ,1954). ..They remained married until Charles's death from myelodysplastic syndrome (a bone marrow disease), on August 4 , 2005; he was 86. ...Temple has one grandaughter , Teresa Falaschi Caltabiano (born 1980), who is Susan's daughter , and one great - granddaughter , Lily Jane Caltabiano (born 2007). ...Shirley Temple received a special miniature Academy Award Oscar "in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment of the year" (1934), the Life Achievment Award of the American Center of Films for Children, and a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award, 1985. ... Today , Shirley is living in Woodside , Clifornia. ...In April of 2008 , Shirley Temple Black broke her arm just before her 80th birthday in a fall at her suburban San Mateo County home of Woodside. (her website is : http://www.shirleytemple.com/ ).
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesYou'd be surprised how many people think this is from Captain January. Her big song in that was "Codfish Ball".
  • Andy from Hunterdon, NjCorrect, Wes! Very few people know that The Good Ship Lollipop was actually an airplane - or, as they were commonly known back then, an airship. "Bright Eyes" is an adorable film, but many people today might be appalled at certain scenes that were intended to be amusing back in the 1930s when the movie was made - little Shirley hitch-hiking alone by the side of the road, then riding on the back of a motorcycle without a helmet, and then getting to operate a commercial aircraft just for fun, and also the spoiled rich girl getting slapped around by her mother.
  • Wes from Springfield, VaThe Good Ship Lollipop, in the film, was an airplane and not a boat.
  • Mike from Mountlake Terrace, Washingtonmusic by R. Whiting and words by S. Clare
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.