Comet (song)
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"Comet" was a well-known humorous children's song in the United States. It describes the deleterious effects of consuming Comet cleanser—a powdered cleansing product sold in North America.[1] The most prominent and often-occurring effect in the song is that it turns one's teeth green. Among other effects alleged by this song are an unappealing taste and, unsurprisingly, a tendency to vomit.[2]
The song's reference to vomiting is reasonable when it comes to traditional powdered Comet, since the product's warning label does not caution against inducing vomiting upon ingestion.[1] However, the warning labels on many Comet-branded products (such as bathroom sprays) state "[i]f swallowed...[d]o not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control center or doctor."[2]
Although this song, like many in its genre, has widely variable lyrics, a common version contains the following words:
- Comet - will make your teeth (or mouth, or face, or skin) turn green (or "so clean");
- Comet - tastes just like Listerine (or gasoline or kerosene or Plasticine);
- Comet - will make you vomit;
- So take (or eat, or buy) some Comet - and vomit today![3][4]
The melody of the song is the Colonel Bogey March.[5]
[edit] In popular culture
- Bart Simpson sings a version about his sister in the Simpsons episode "Stark Raving Dad"[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Bronner, Simon J. (1988). American Children's Folklore. August House, 80. ISBN 0-8748-3068-0.
- ^ Chotzinoff, Robin (2006). Holy Unexpected: My New Life as a Jew. New York City: PublicAffairs, 105. ISBN 1-58648-308-0.
- ^ Winsor, Charlotte B. (1975). Dimensions of Language Experience. Agathon Publications, 155. ISBN 0-87586-052-4.
- ^ Kun, Michael (2005). You Poor Monster. MacAdam/Cage Publishing, 15. ISBN 1-59692-119-6.
- ^ MacDonald, Ann-Marie (2003). The Way the Crow Flies. HarperCollins, 97. ISBN 0-06-058637-0.
- ^ Transcript of "Stark Raving Dad"
