The Hug Song

[Chorus]
I want a hug when we say hello
I want a hug when it's time to go
I want a hug 'cause I want you to know
I'm awfully fond of you
I want a hug—what a wonderful feeling
Want a hug—to feel you squeezing
Want a hug—it certainly seems like
The natural thing to do

[Spoken Interlude]
Well, this song is about hugging, one of my favorite pastimes. All you have to do to sing this song is when I sing "I want a hug" you sing right back "I want a hug" like this.

[Chorus]
I want a hug (I want a hug) when we say hello
I want a hug (I want a hug) when it's time to go
I want a hug (I want a hug) 'cause I want you to know
I'm awfully fond of you (Give it a try)
I want a hug (I want a hug)—what a wonderful feeling
Want a hug (Want a hug)—to feel you squeezing
Want a hug (Want a hug)—it certainly seems like
The natural thing to do

[Spoken Interlude]
I wrote this song, oh, gosh, over ten years ago. And it told the true story of a social worker who was fired from his job for hugging. And a lot of people sang the song and took it around the country and around the world. And a lot of people would sing this song for little children. They’d sing it for kids in nursery school, and elementary school, and childcare. But they would never sing the verses, they'd just sing the chorus. Because the verses had words like "sexual sublimation" and "electroshock therapy."

Now, I don’t think kids have a problem with these words. I mean either they understand them or they don’t. And if they understand them, they already know them, and if they don’t understand them, then there’s no harm done. But I know that if you’re a teacher or a childcare worker, and if your kids go home and start singing words like "sexual sublimation" and "electroshock therapy" that it’s not real good for your job security.

So I understand why people would just sing the chorus over and over again, I want a hug, I want a hug, I want a hug, I want a hug. But I really thought that was kinda cruel and unusual punishment to those little kids. Because when you’re a young person, you don’t have a lot of autonomy. You don’t have a lot of freedom to just up and go and keep your own schedule. You can’t say "This is really boring, I’m gonna take the bus across town and play video games." You know, you’re stuck there.

So I thought the least I could do for these young ones was to write some verses that adults would feel comfortable singing to 'em. So that’s what I did, and here they are.

[Verse 1]
When I was a little bitty baby child
My momma used to hold me tight
My daddy used to come and pick me up
When I got scared at night
The years have passed, I've grown so fast
And mostly I feel strong
But timid or bold, I'm never too old
To sing this cozy song (Here we go)

[Chorus]
I want a hug (I want a hug) when we say hello
I want a hug (I want a hug) when it's time to go
I want a hug (I want a hug) 'cause I want you to know
I'm awfully fond of you (Sounds good)
I want a hug (I want a hug)—what a wonderful feeling
Want a hug (Want a hug)—to feel you squeezing
Want a hug (Want a hug)—it certainly seems like
The natural thing to do

[Spoken Interlude]
Now have you noticed that for the first time in history we have ourselves a hugging President of the United States of America? And by extraordinary coincidence, for the first time in history, we also have the first hugging Vice-President of the United States of America. And when those two wild and crazy guys get together in one place, watch out!

[Verse 2]
Some folks don't like hugging
They think they're too tough
I bet they'd be a whole lot friendlier
If they were just hugged enough
When you hug the ones who love you
An amazing thing you learn
When you give a hug, you just can't help
But get one in return

[Chorus]
I want a hug (I want a hug) when we say hello
I want a hug (I want a hug) when it's time to go
I want a hug (I want a hug) 'cause I want you to know
I'm awfully fond of you (All right)
I want a hug (I want a hug)—what a wonderful feeling
Want a hug (Want a hug)—to feel you squeezing
Want a hug (Want a hug)—it certainly seems like
The natural thing to do

[Spoken interlude]
Now there’s nothing nicer than a good hug, and nothing worse than a hug that you don't want. But I think the solution to the problem of unwanted hugs is not to eliminate hugging entirely. I think that would be an unfortunate overreaction. I think what we need to do is make sure everyone, regardless of their age or circumstance, is completely in charge of the hugs that they get. 'Cause I think that all of us instinctively know the difference between a good hug and a bad hug. We just have to make sure everyone is fully empowered to determine that the hugs they get are the good kind.

[Verse 3]
Sometimes grownups are grouchy
And they put the blame on you
Sometimes you make just a little mistake
Though you did the best you could do
Sometimes love is everywhere
And it's a beautiful day
And every time is the perfect time
To open your arms and say

[Chorus]
I want a hug (I want a hug) when we say hello
I want a hug (I want a hug) when it's time to go
I want a hug (I want a hug) 'cause I want you to know
I'm awfully fond of you (Last time)
I want a hug (I want a hug)—what a wonderful feeling
Want a hug (Want a hug)—to feel you squeezing
Want a hug (Want a hug)—it certainly seems like
The natural thing to do

[Outro]
Thank you! Good singing!