# Origin of "shave and a haircut" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943 "2003-04-02T12:53:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/1 "2003-04-02T12:53:19Z")
Everybody knows the tune associated with the words, “shave and a haircut – two bits!” Does anybody know where the tune originated? How about the words? And which came first, the tune or the words? I’m guessing the tune was around for awhile before somebody put words to it, but I could be wrong. Barry ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/2 "2003-04-02T13:24:16Z")
This has been asked a few times: [Shave and a Haircut - Two Bits!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=152978) [Shave and a haircut - two bits](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=53554) [“Shave and a Haircut” song](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=38661) [Origin of the ‘Shave and a Haircut’ thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=26968) [What is the origin of this tune?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=23970) ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/3 "2003-04-02T13:26:54Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/4 "2003-04-02T14:04:41Z")
My wife says “Chinga tú madre, cabrón” to that tune. Actually, she _refuses_ to say it, saying something about it being quite insulting. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/5 "2003-04-02T14:07:51Z")
Well, “Chinga tú madre” is spanish for “go f\*ck your mother,” so I can understand why your wife refuses to say it… Barry ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-shave-and-a-haircut/165943/6 "2003-04-02T16:06:24Z")
Oops; I guess I should have said I know why she refuses to say it, and ask that no one actually translate it here. And provide a warning not to go about Mexico singing it. 🙂 FWIW, she _did_ say it one time while watching _Roger Rabbit_ when the bad guy was looking for the bunny in the bar, tapping out the “shave and a haircut” knowing Roger wouldn’t be able to resist. She said it was offensive, and I asked why. Oddly, this was _in_ Mexico watching it in Spanish. As for the rest, I guess it’s now safe to say it means “male goat.” No harm, there :).