1938 song by Roy Atwell, Otis Harlan, Billy Gilbert, Pinto Colvig, Scotty Mattraw
"Heigh-Ho"
Six of the Seven Dwarfs (top center, right to left; Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, and Sneezy; Dopey cannot be seen) walking across a log while singing the song
The expression "heigh-ho" was first recorded in 1553 and is defined as an expression of "yawning, sighing, languor, weariness, disappointment". Eventually, it blended meanings with the similarly spelled "hey-ho". The phrase "hey-ho" first appeared in print in 1471, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, which says it has nautical origins, meant to mark the rhythm of movement in heaving or hauling.[1]
The song was recorded by Horace Heidt and his Brigadiers, with vocal chorus sung by The Kings and Glee Club, for Brunswick Records in January, 1938 (Brunswick 8074). The record made it to No. 4 on Your Hit Parade in April 1938 and stayed on the charts for 10 weeks.[2]
In Gremlins, during the local movie theatre scene, the gremlins were watching the film, and singing along with the song.
The song was also featured in the 1979 stage adaption of the 1937 animated musical film. In the 1988 Disney animated film Oliver & Company, Tito sings "Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it's home from (or off to) work we go" when he is rescuing Jenny.[citation needed]