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The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Clean-o" by the artist "Woody Guthrie"

This simple and endearing song by Woody Guthrie, "Clean-o," uses a child's requests for help with washing up to convey a deeper meaning. The song is actually about the importance of cooperation and mutual support within a family.

Each verse features the child asking a different family member to help them get "nice and clean." Mom washes the face, Dad shines the shoes, Sister scrubs the back, Brother washes the hair, Grandma rubs the heels. Even "Honey," likely Mom or Sister, is involved in the process, appreciating the child's cleanliness.

This shared activity is not just a routine, but a meaningful ritual that strengthens family bonds and teaches children the value of cleanliness and orderliness. The repeated line "Nice and clean" emphasizes that cleanliness is not just a physical state, but also a symbol of neatness, order, and even moral purity.

There is no preaching in the song, but it nevertheless carries an important message that mutual assistance, caring for each other, and working together makes a family stronger and happier.

Mama Oh Mama come wash my face.

Wash my face come wash my face,

Mama oh Mama come wash my face,

And make me nice and cleano.

Daddy, oh Daddy, come fix my shoe,

Fix my shoe, come fix my shoe.

Daddy, oh Daddy come fix my shoe,

And polish it nice and cleano.

Sister, oh Sister, come bathe my back,

Bathe my back, come bathe my back

Sister, oh Sister, come bathe my back,

And make it nice and cleano.

Cleano clean, yes, cleano clean,

Cleano clean, yes cleano clean.

Scrubbity scrubbity and ruby-dub dubbity;

And make me nice and cleano.

Brother, oh Brother, come wash my hair,

Wash my hair, come wash my hair.

Brother, oh Brother, come wash my hair.

And make it nice and cleano.

Granny, oh Granny, come wash my feet,

Wash my feet, come wash my feet.

Granny, oh Granny, come wash my feet,

And make them nice and cleano.

Sweetie, oh Sweetie, come smell-a me now,

Smell-a me now, come smell-a me now.

Sweetie, oh Sweetie, come smell-a me now,

Don't I smell nice and cleano?

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