Appropriately enough, as we meet the dwarfs in their incredibly sparkly mine, they’re singing about….digging!!! This cute little ditty actually doesn’t have too much in the way of melody going on, as the notes are mostly in sync with their picks. What is cool though is the introduction before the song starts (the first four measures): it’s musically recreating the sound of the dwarfs mining!

We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig 
In our mine the whole day through
To dig dig dig dig dig dig dig
Is what we like to do

It ain’t no trick to get rich quick
If you dig dig dig with a shovel or a pick
In a mine! In a mine! In a mine! In a mine!
Where a million diamonds shine!

We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig 
From early morn till night
We dig dig dig dig dig dig dig up 
Everything in sight

We dig up diamonds by the score
A thousand rubies, sometimes more
Though we don’t know what we dig ’em for
We dig dig dig a-dig dig

Through this song, we are visually introduced to all of the dwarfs and begin to get an idea of what they are like. In particular, we learn that Dopey isn’t all that bright, as he likes to mess around by putting diamonds in his eyes (much to Doc’s annoyance). I also find the scene where Dopey throws away “defective” jewels by tossing them over a cliff incredibly funny. There’s probably a fortune’s worth of jewels in that dust pan and he just tosses it away like it’s nothing (also, note how the jewels are coming out of the ground fully cut like finished gems). As the work continues, the clock announces it’s 5pm and time to go home, which announces the proper start of “Heigh Ho.”

“Heigh Ho” technically begins with a call and response as it is Doc who sings out the first “Heigh Ho!!” And all the dwarfs (minus Dopey who doesn’t talk) respond with their own “Heigh Ho!” which leads into the beginning of the song where they all sing and whistle in unison, basically singing the same verse over and over again (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Disney songs at this point are designed to be relatively simplistic in terms of melody and lyrics). Sound film had only existed for about ten years at this point so filmmakers and animators were still showing off how closely they could synchronize sound to movement.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho
[Chorus]: Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
It’s home from work we go
[Whistle]
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
[Chorus]: Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
[Whistle]
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho
Heigh-ho hum

“Heigh Ho” remains one of the most popular songs from this film and is considered one of the iconic Disney songs. Let me know what you think of “Heigh Ho” in the comments below and have a great day!

See also:

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “I’m Wishing/One Song” (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “With a Smile and a Song” (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Whistle While You Work” (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum/The Washing Song” (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “The Silly Song” (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “Some Day My Prince Will Come” (1937)

Disney/Dreamworks/Pixar/etc. Soundtracks A-Z

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