The standard Happy Birthday to You was under copyright until 2016 — most restaurants and TV shows sang it slightly off to avoid royalty payments. With the song now in the public domain, the catalog of family birthday songs has actually shrunk because nobody needs the workarounds. But the workarounds were sometimes better than the original. Here are ten birthday songs worth knowing — including the global versions, the legal-history substitutes, and the modern children's classics that make a four-year-old's birthday party feel like a real event.
1. Happy Birthday to You (USA, worldwide)
Composed in 1893 by Patty Hill and Mildred Hill as Good Morning to All. Adapted into the birthday version around 1912. Public domain since 2016. The universal birthday song in English-speaking countries.
2. Cumpleaños Feliz / Las Mañanitas (Mexico, Latin America)
Las Mañanitas is the traditional Mexican birthday song, with verses about the morning and the celebrant. Cumpleaños Feliz is the Spanish translation of Happy Birthday. Both are sung at most Mexican birthday parties.
3. Joyeux Anniversaire (France)
Joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire, joyeux anniversaire (name), joyeux anniversaire. French translation of Happy Birthday, sung to the same melody. The traditional French version Bon Anniversaire uses different lyrics but the same tune.
4. Zum Geburtstag Viel Glück (Germany)
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück (For your birthday, much luck). Sung to the Happy Birthday melody. The traditional Wie schön, dass du geboren bist (How nice that you were born) is the more emotionally resonant alternative used in many German families.
5. Tanjoubi Omedetou (Japan)
Tanjoubi omedetou, tanjoubi omedetou. Sung to the Happy Birthday melody. Japanese culture has been less centered on individual birthdays historically; the song became standard with Western influence in the 20th century.
6. For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
Often sung after Happy Birthday in the US, especially at adult celebrations but used at children's parties too. The melody is a French folk tune from the 18th century. Universally recognized.
7. The Birthday Song (Tune of Frère Jacques)
Happy birthday, happy birthday, dear (name), dear (name). How old are you now, how old are you now, tell us please, tell us please. Used in many US preschools because the answering-the-question structure includes the birthday child in the song.
8. Today Is Your Birthday
Beatles 1968 song; the chorus today is your birthday is short and singable enough for kids. Increasingly used at parties as parents look for fresh material.
9. The Birthday Polka
Pre-1893 birthday tune used in the German and Eastern European traditions. Polka tempo makes it good for dancing-around-the-cake moments.
10. Sto Lat (Poland)
Sto lat, sto lat, niech żyje, żyje nam (May you live a hundred years). The universal Polish birthday song. Sung at every Polish birthday, wedding, and major life event. The most-sung birthday song in Eastern Europe.
Birthday Music Beyond the Cake Moment
- •Welcome song as guests arrive — Hello Song or The More We Get Together
- •Dance songs during free play — movement songs from a curated playlist
- •Cake moment — Happy Birthday + a personal favorite
- •Goodbye song as guests leave — Skinnamarink or Goodbye Friends