"Shiawase nara te o tatakou (If You're Happy, Clap Your Hands)" is a popular Japanese song that is based on a Spanish folk song. It became a big hit in 1964, when the song was released by Kyuu Sakamoto. As 1964 was the year that Tokyo hosted the Olympics, the song was heard and loved by many foreign visitors and athletes. As a result it became known all over the world.

Another famous song by Kyuu Sakamoto is "Ue o Muite Arukou", which is known as "Sukiyaki" in the US.

Click this link to learn more about the song, "Ue o Muite Arukou".

Here are the Japanese lyrics of "Shiawase nara te o tatakou" in Japanese and romaji

???? ?? ????
???? ?? ????
???? ??? ?????
?? ???? ?? ????

???? ? ????
???? ? ????
???? ??? ?????
?? ???? ? ????

Shiawase nara te o tatakou
Shiawase nara te o tatakou
Shiawase nara taido de shimesou yo
Sora minna de te o tatakou

Shiawase nara ashi narasou
Shiawase nara ashi narasou
Shiawase nara taido de shimesou yo
Sora minna de ashi narasou

Let's learn some vocabulary from the song.

shiawase ?? --- happiness
te ? --- hand
tataku ???? --- to clap (hands)
taido ?? --- attitude
shimesu ??? --- to show
Sora ?? --- Here! Look!
minna ??? --- everybody
ashi ? --- feet
narasu ??? --- to sound

The English version of the song is, "If You're Happy and You Know It". It is often sung among children. Here is the English version of the song, though it is not a literal translation.

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're happy and you know it,
And you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.

If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet.
If you're happy and you know it
And you really want to show it,
If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet.

Grammar

The "nara" used in the song, indicates a supposition and result. "Nara" is the simplified form of "naraba". However, "ba" is often omitted in modern Japanese. It translates into "if ~ then; if it is true that ~". "Nara" is often used after nouns. It is similar to the conditional "~ ba" and "~ tara" form.

• Mokuyoubi nara hima ga arimasu. ???????????? --- If it's Thursday, I'm free.
• Asu ame nara, shiai wa chuushi ni narimasu. ????????????????? --- If it's raining tomorrow, the game will be cancelled.
• Taro ga iku nara, watashi wa ikimasen. ???????????????? --- If Taro is going, I am not going.
• Ichiman-en nara, kau n dakedo. ????????????? --- If it is ten thousand yen, I will buy it.
• Anata ga tadashii to omou nara, shitagau wa. ????????????????? --- If you think it is right, I will follow you.

"Nara" also indicates that a topic is being brought up. It can be translated as "as for." Unlike the topic marker "wa", which introduces the topic originating from the speaker, "nara" introduces topics, which have often been suggested by the addressee.

• Sono mondai nara, mou kaiketsu shita. ?????????????? --- As for that problem, it had already been settled.
• Yoko nara, kitto chikara ni natte kureru yo. ?????????????????? --- As for Yoko, she will definitely help you.
• Eiwajiten nara, watashi no ie ni arimasu. ???????????????? --- If it's English-Japanese dictionary (that you are looking for), it is in my house.

"Yo" is a sentence-ending particle, which emphasizes a statement of suggestion. It is used after the form "ou" or "you". There are quite a few sentence-ending particles used in Japanese sentences. Check out my article, "Sentence-Ending Particles" to learn more about them.

• Daibu aruita kara, chotto yasumou yo. ?????????????????? --- Let's take a break, as we've already walked quite a bit.
• Ano resutoran ni itte miyou yo. ???????????????? ---Let's try that restaurant.
• Konya wa sushi ni shiyou yo. ?????????? --- Shall we have sushi tonight?