Song Video
Lyrics
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was as nervous as she could be
She was afraid to come out of the locker
She was afraid that somebody would see
One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore.
[It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today.
An itsy bitsy teentie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini]
So in the locker she wanted to stay.
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more.
She was afraid to come out in the open
And so a blanket around she wore
She was afraid to come out in the open
And so she sat bundled up on the shore
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
[repeat].
So in the blanket she wanted to stay.
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more
Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And I wonder what she's gonna do
Now she is afraid to come out of the water
And the poor little girl's turning blue
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
[repeat].
So in the water she wanted to stay.
From the locker to the blanket
From the blanket to the shore
From the shore to the water
Yes there isn't any more.
Information About Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini
Paul Vance, one of the song's writers, got the idea from seeing his toddler daughter wear her new bikini at the beach. Lee Pockriss was the other songwriter.
Brian Hyland recorded the song. Released in June 1960, the song reached number one on Billboard Hot 100 chart two months later.
Different versions of this song appeared after "Itsy Bitsy" emerged in the 1960s. They included two French versions, both named "Itsi Bitsi Petit Bikini", and another one by a German banjo act called "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Honolulu Strand-Bikini".
Timmy Mallet, a British children's performer, released a 1990 version of this song named "Bombalurina," after a cat from the musical Cats. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the musical's producer, also produced Mallet's cover.
Two well-known ad campaigns included this song. The first was a late 1980s/early 1990s commercial presenting Van De Kamp's canned beanie-weeniesline (although with different lyrics sung by children). The latest one was a series of Yoplait commercials featuring a woman trying to slim down so she may wear her bikini.
The filmsRevenge of the Nerds 2 and Sister Act 2 featured this song.