At the Music Hall, “Tiggerty Boo!” 1940

Put your thumbs up! And, say it’s “tiggerty boo.” We’re going to show the world who’s who.



“Tiggerty Boo!” also known as “The Forces Thumbs Up Song,” was a popular number during the Second World War. The phrase, “Tiggerty Boo,” (alternately “Tickety Boo”) simply means, “everything’s all right” and dates to the late Nineteenth Century, possibly coming from the Hindi word “thik tai” meaning, “fine,” and considered the source of the phrase, “That’s the ticket.”

During the Second World War, the people of England needed to reminded (or at least convinced) that everything was “tiggerty boo,” so this rousing song became all the more popular. Written by Hal Hallifax, the song was performed by a number of artists.

This recording features the celebrated performer, Jack Hylton (not “Hilton,” as the clip is entitled), but it was also famously recorded by Joe Loss and His Orchestra.