"Happy Talk" is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. It is sung by Bloody Mary to the American lieutenant Joe Cable, about having a happy life, after he begins romancing her daughter Liat. Liat performs the song with hand gestures as Mary sings.
Ella Fitzgerald recorded this song with Gordon Jenkins and his orchestra for Decca and it was included on her album Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax.
"Happy Talk" is occasionally cut from productions of South Pacific on the grounds that the song is racist, citing the fake pidgin in which it is written.
In July 1982, The Damned's guitarist Captain Sensible scored a No. 1 hit on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks with his version of the song, featuring backing vocals by the band Dolly Mixture.
Due to the chart success of the single, The Damned have frequently included "Happy Talk" in their set lists since 1982.
Ella Fitzgerald recorded a version with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra on the Decca 78 rpm single "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" / "Happy Talk". It later appeared on the 1955 Decca compilation album, Miss Ella Fitzgerald & Mr Gordon Jenkins Invite You to Listen and Relax.
Muriel Smith recorded "Happy Talk" in November 1951 on the UK Columbia record label, DB2957.
Doris Day recorded "Happy Talk" in December 1960 for her album Bright and Shiny.
Nancy Wilson sang "Happy Talk" on her 1961 collaboration with Cannonball Adderley, Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley.
Claudine Longet recorded a version for her album Love is Blue (1968).
In the late 1960s, Harpers Bizarre did a cover of the song.
Daniel Johnston and Jad Fair covered the song on their album It's Spooky, released in 1989.
The Four Freshmen covered the song on the album First Affair/Voices in Fun (2002).
Karrin Allyson covered the song on the 2015 album Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein with Kenny Barron and John Patitucci.
In 2004, UK grime MC Dizzee Rascal sampled Captain Sensible's version on the single "Dream", which reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.
A brief clip of the song, played on an organ, can be heard in The Wrong Trousers, in a sequence where Gromit is unable to sleep because of loud music.
