I Have Two Hands

"I Have Two Hands" is an English-language nursery rhyme from the Philippines. The magazine Philippine Public Schools noted in 1929 that the rhyme was widely being taught in elementary schools by then.^[1] The song is featured in the 1949 short play Salutation Before the Hour by Reuben Canoy and Francisco Lopez, which related the rhyme's "clean" hands to the importance of voting fairly during elections.^[2]

The Hong Kong pop duo Twins covered the rhyme for their 2004 album Singing in the Twins Wonderland (Volume 3).

Lyrics

I have two hands, the left and the right.
Hold them up high, so clean and bright.
Clap them softly, 1-2-3.
Clean little hands are good to see.^[2]

My face is bright, my teeth all white.
My dress is clean and all of me.
So dear playmates, follow me
So that our mother will be happy!^[3]^[4]

In popular culture

The 1985 Filipino comedy film I Have Three Hands is titled in reference to the nursery rhyme.

References

^ Academic Division, General Office (January 1929). "Music for Primary Songs". Philippine Public Schools: A Monthly Magazine for Teachers. Vol. 2. p. 25. Retrieved December 7, 2020. ... I Have Two Hands, which is sung in all of our [General Office's] primary schools.
^ ^a ^b Canoy, Reuben; Lopez, Francisco (1949–1950). "Salutation Before the Hour". The Literary Apprentice Volume Fourteen. The UP Writers Club. Retrieved December 7, 2020. NARRATOR. How long can you keep his little hands clean? Others behind you are preparing to stain the elections with blood, while some are satisfied with a little dishonesty and fraud.
^ Cruz, Rosario Claridad (1996). Creative Expressions: Worktext in Creative Skills and Motor Development (MAPE). Rex Book Store, Inc. p. 140. ISBN 971-23-1959-8. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^ 英皇娛樂 eeg music (December 17, 2012). TWINS《I Have Two Hands》Official 官方完整版 [首播] [MV]. Google, LLC. Event occurs at 0:28 – via YouTube.

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[1] Academic Division, General Office (January 1929). "Music for Primary Songs". Philippine Public Schools: A Monthly Magazine for Teachers. Vol. 2. p. 25. Retrieved December 7, 2020. ... I Have Two Hands, which is sung in all of our [General Office's] primary schools.

[TLA-2] Canoy, Reuben; Lopez, Francisco (1949–1950). "Salutation Before the Hour". The Literary Apprentice Volume Fourteen. The UP Writers Club. Retrieved December 7, 2020. NARRATOR. How long can you keep his little hands clean? Others behind you are preparing to stain the elections with blood, while some are satisfied with a little dishonesty and fraud.

[3] Cruz, Rosario Claridad (1996). Creative Expressions: Worktext in Creative Skills and Motor Development (MAPE). Rex Book Store, Inc. p. 140. ISBN 971-23-1959-8. Retrieved December 7, 2020.

[4] 英皇娛樂 eeg music (December 17, 2012). TWINS《I Have Two Hands》Official 官方完整版 [首播] [MV]. Google, LLC. Event occurs at 0:28 – via YouTube.

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