- published: 26 Apr 2008
- views: 1827139
A rubber duck is a toy shaped like a stylised yellow-billed duck[citation needed], and it is generally yellow with a flat base. It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic. The yellow rubber duck has achieved an iconic status in Western pop culture and is often symbolically linked to bathing. Various novelty variations of the toy are produced.
Its history is linked to the emergence of rubber manufacturing in the late 19th century. The earliest rubber ducks were made from harder rubber.
Jim Henson popularized rubber ducks in 1970, performing the songs "Rubber Duckie" and "DUCKIE" as Ernie, a popular Muppet from Sesame Street. Ernie frequently spoke to his duck and carried it with him in other segments of the show. On a special occasion, Little Richard performed the song.
Besides the ubiquitous yellow rubber duck with which most people are familiar, there have been numerous novelty variations on the basic theme, including character ducks representing professions, politicians, or licensed individual celebrities. There are also ducks that glow in the dark, change colour, have interior LED illumination, or include a wind-up engine that enables them to "swim". In 2001, The Sun, a British tabloid newspaper reported that Queen Elizabeth II has a rubber duck in her bathroom that wears an inflatable crown. The duck was spotted by a workman who was repainting her bathroom. The story prompted sales of rubber ducks in the United Kingdom to increase by 80% for a short period.
Ernie: There's a brand new dance
And it's got a reggae beat
You do it in the bath
While you wash your hands and feet
Get in the tub
Hold your duckie in your lap
Tap your toes while you scrub
In the water from the tap
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Ernie: Come on everybody try
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't be left high and dry
(Yeah do de rubber duck!)
As you keep on getting wetter
(Do de rubber duck!)
You'll be feeling so much better
(Do de rubber duck!)
You'll be left without a care
(When you do de rubber duck!)
And you can even wash your hair
(While you do de rubber duck!)
It will have a healthy sheen
(If you do de rubber duck!)
Yeah you'll be squeaky clean
(When you do de rubber duck!)
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Telly: Don't get soap in your eye
(When you do de rubber duck!)
'Cause that'll make you cry
(When you do de rubber duck!)
Oscar: Hey all you grouches sing
(Now do de rubber duck!)
Yeah make the bathtub ring
(Do de rubber duck!)
Ernie: Everybody knows
(How to do de rubber duck!)
Scrub your flippers and your toes
(Do de rubber duck!)
The Count: And while you wash away your troubles
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't forget to count the bubbles
One, two, three, four!
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Biff: All around the woild
(Dey do de rubber duck!)
Whenever folks get soiled
(Dey do de rubber duck!)
Guy Smiley: Watch 'em splishin' and a-splashin'
(Do de rubber duck!)
It's the very latest fashion!
(Do de rubber duck!)
Gladys the Cow: Take at least one bath a day
(Do de rubber duck!)
And you'll moooove those germs away
(Do de rubber duck!)
Hoots the Owl: Come and be a bathtime bopper!
(Do de rubber duck!)
Don't pull out the stopper!
(Do de rubber duck!)
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One more time!
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