Ding-Dong! the Witch is Dead

"Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead" is a song from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.  It has also been used in a number of other musical sets.  In the movie, it was performed by the Munchkins, Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch.  The lyrics to the song were written by E.Y. Harburg and it was composed by Harold Arlen.

In the movie, the song was sung in celebration after the Wicked Witch of the East was killed when Dorothy's house landed on her.  The house was lifted up from Kansas by a tornado and squashed the witch.  Dorothy then puts on the Ruby Slippers and all kinds of things happen.

The scene in The Wizard of Oz begins after Dorothy and Toto land in Munchkinland.  Glinda the Good Witch tells all of the Munchkins to come out from where they are hiding.  Dorothy's arrival is seen to them as a miracle.  Dorothy starts singing and the Munchkins all join in.  None of them really know how Dorothy got there, but they are happy all the same.  They go on to sing "Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead" while rhyming just about any word with witch as possible, minus the most obvious one, of course.

The first break in the song has the Munchkins give a bouquet of flowers to Dorothy as thanks.  Then Glinda tells the Munchkins to go off and spread the word the the witch is dead.  The song then continues in more of a march style.  Then the officials of the city of Munchkinland have to make sure that the witch is "undeniably and reliably dead."  After they determine that the witch is actually dead based on the coroner's ruling, they again tell everyone to go spread the word.  Then they all start singing the song again.  The Lollipop Guild shows up at some point to introduce themselves, giving a large lollipop to Dorothy.  This is preceded by the Lullaby League, a group of Munchkin girls that dance ballet.  After the intros are done, the whole town starts singing the song "We Welcome You to Munchkinland."  This is also accompanied by dancing and various other forms of revelry.

The fun and games doesn't last, though, as the Wicked Witch of the West shows up to spoil the party.  She is the sister of the witch that was killed by the house dropping on her.  The new witch is none to pleased with what has happened.  She shows up in a cloud of fire and scares the heck out of all the Munchkins.  Then she sees Dorothy wearing the Ruby Slippers and really loses it.  She can't take the shoes because Glinda stops her.  Before leaving, the Wicked Witch utters the famous line "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too." 

With the Wicked Witch gone, Dorothy surmises how she will get home.  Glinda tells her that she will have to visit the great Wizard of Oz in the Land of Oz.  To get there she will have to follow the Yellow Brick Road.  In case she wasn't sure what to do, the Munchkins break out into song of instruction to get Dorothy on her way.

As she makes the lone journey, Dorothy first meets the Scarecrow.  He really wants a brain, so he decided to go along to ask the wizard for one.  The two next meet up with the Tin Man, a man made of tin that needs to be oiled with his oil can in order to not rust up and become motionless.  After they give him oil, he reveals that he wants a heart, so he joins the troupe on their journey.  The last person to join is the Cowardly Lion.  Without courage, he lacks the bravery he seeks.  Hoping the Wizard of Oz can give him some courage, he tags along with the group.

The journey isn't so smooth as they run into the Witch and her minions a few times.  The Witch soon sends her flying monkeys to kidnap Dorothy and hold her hostage.  The other three decide to sneak into the Witch's castle to rescue her.  They eventually do and, in the process, kill the witch buy causing her to melt as she says "I'm melting!  Melting!  Oh, what a world."

After the other Wicked Witch is dead, they finally reach Oz and meet the people.  They go to see the Wizard, but he turns out to be a big bully hiding behind a curtain.  Toto manages to reveal him and he starts acting nice.  He gives everyone what they were seeking and Dorothy gets to go home/wake up from her dream.

And that is a brief synopsis of The Wizard of Oz from someone that is trying to remember what happened in the movies.  I think I did all right.

Song Lyrics

Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

As Mayor of the Munchkin City, In the County of the Land of Oz, I welcome you most regally.

But we've got to verify it legally, to see

To see?

If she

If she?

Is morally, ethically

Spiritually, physically

Positively, absolutely

Undeniably and reliably Dead

As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead.

Then this is a day of Independence For all the Munchkins and their descendants

If any.

Yes, let the joyous news be spread The wicked Old Witch at last is dead!