Who Wrote the Song Happy Days Are Here Again
Written 91 years agone, it became the theme song for FDR'south campaign and the New Deal for America
By PAUL ZOLLO
This was the showtime song that came to mind upon hearing the news – real news – that Joe Biden has been elected President today. It is a twenty-four hour period in America for celebration. Regardless of party affiliation, today is proof that America is non cleaved. Democracy, our form of it, though far from perfect, did non collapse. Although it's got age-old cracks in it, like that big liberty bell, it continues to sing. Because as Leonard Cohen reminded united states in his song about song and human hope, "Anthem," "there is a crack in everything; it's where the low-cal gets in. "
Which brings us back to "Happy Days Are Here Once more," every bit it is perfect – over again – for this moment of national commemoration. Democracy survived and triumphed. This is a day to rejoice. To sing along – and trip the light fantastic fifty-fifty – to this song. Fifty-fifty if nobody wants to dance with you, take hold of a true cat, or a dog. They always dearest a good reason for a happy dance.
Songwriters Jack Yellen and Milton Ager wrote "Happy Days Are Hither Over again" before the large stock marketplace crash in 1929. Merely as songwriters often do, they seemed to know what was coming. It'due south ane of many famous songs to be prophetic, every bit the crash triggered the Peachy Low. Information technology became a theme song then for hope, as information technology has many times since. Besides an anthem of celebration and gratitude when that hope is realized.
Like our current moment of lockdown, unemployment and loss, America in the Depression-era Thirties was a land in need of hope: in that location was widespread unemployment, breadstuff-lines everywhere, factories close downwardly, farms foreclosed. A long season of darkness and despair persisted through most of the 1930s. As it is said, Democracy dies in darkness. This song offered some lite, a real-fourth dimension ray of promise. It wasn't unreal, pie-in-the-heaven – or pie anywhere – hope. It wasn't nearly pretending everything is swell. Information technology was virtually keeping promise live. Not giving up. We're going to get through.
Which is why information technology's all about at present.
The approachable leadership helped spread the fires of division – between the political parties, the classes, the races, the nationalities, fifty-fifty the genders.
During which our already fractured social club was burdened by the pandemic of virus, but also the ongoing war on truth, endless misinformation, propaganda, race hatred, ignorance, intolerance, police brutality, riots, fires in our cities and in our forests, hurricanes, earthquakes and national house arrest. And at a time when Americans were in dire demand of clarity, the leadership intentionally disseminated daily barrages of lies, even virtually the lethal virus destroying countless America lives everyday.
Disinformation near the election itself in tandem with perpetual attacks on the press and truth itself, although formidably persuasive to millions of Americans, failed to derail the election. If anything, it empowered the populace to have activity, and vote.
So this song, some 91 years past the flavour of its cosmos, still works, and meliorate than virtually. Information technology'south the reason information technology has endured for nearly a century now. Information technology'southward been built-in and reborn many times, and peradventure due to the ongoing man need for hope, sounds new every time.
Milton Ager and Jack Yellen not only wrote the song, they recorded its first incarnation. Information technology was an immediate striking. Because of its universal theme and celebrating spirit, it fits perfectly in countless occasions, when it steps up to exist the the perfect theme vocal. Besides the Depression and its cease, it was the theme first for the end of Prohibition, when drinking alcohol was legalized over again in America. Through other periodic times of darkness it'due south been brought back with promise, and with gratitude at the end of those times. Such as now.
Annette Hanshaw, who was ane of the most famous and most beloved singers of the 30s, had a hitting with it that she recorded with Ben Selvin and his Orchestra. In the 50s came Judy Garland's many records of it and and then those of Barbra Streisand. On several occasions the two of them performed it live together.
So in honour of America and our ongoing existence, and the hopeful wellness of our ongoing experiment in Republic, here'southward an old song for you. Only a skilful one.
"Happy Days Are Here Once again"
By Jack Yellen & Milton Alger
Every bit recorded by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra,
with Lou Levin, November, 1929 for
the 1930 MGM picture Chasing Rainbows.
So long lamentable times, go long bad times,
We are rid of you at last
Howdy gay times, cloudy grey times,
Y'all are now a thing of the past
Happy days are here again,
The skies above are clear over again
And so, let the states sing a song of cheer over again,
Happy days are here again
All together, shout information technology at present,
There'southward no ane who can doubt it now,
So let'due south tell the earth about it now,
Happy days are here over again
Your cares and troubles are gone,
There'll be no more from now on, from now on!
Happy days are here again,
The skies above are clear again
So, allow the states sing a song of cheer again,
Happy times, happy nights, happy days are here again
Source: https://americansongwriter.com/happy-days-are-here-again-the-perfect-song-for-now/
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