<Tr> <Th> Songwriter (s) </Th> <Td> Joseph Royster Carmella Guida Frank Guida </Td> </Tr> <P> "If You Wanna Be Happy" is a 1963 song recorded by Jimmy Soul, written by Joseph Royster, Carmella Guida and Frank Guida . </P> <P> "If You Wanna Be Happy" is based on the song "Ugly Woman" by the Trinidadian calypsonian Roaring Lion recorded in 1934 . It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart . It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by London Records, and in the United Kingdom on EMI's Stateside label . </P> <P> The original single lists a running time of 2: 14; some later releases are slightly longer due to a longer fade - out . The song was banned on many radio stations, due to the use of the words "Ugly Girl / Woman ." Towards the end of the song, a brief dialogue takes place between Soul and a backup singer, based on Bo Diddley's song "Say Man": "Say Man!!" / "Hey baby" / "I saw your wife the other day ." / "Yeah??" / "Yeah, and she's ugly - y-y-y-y!!!" / "Yeah, she's ugly, but she sure can cook, baby". / "Yeah, alright ." / Soul's counterpoint melody in a falsetto is heard as the song fades out . </P>

Harry belafonte if you want to be happy