Milton Ager Happy Days Are Here Again
Written 91 years ago, information technology became the theme song for FDR's campaign and the New Bargain for America
By PAUL ZOLLO
This was the first vocal that came to mind upon hearing the news – real news – that Joe Biden has been elected President today. It is a day in America for commemoration. Regardless of party affiliation, today is proof that America is not broken. Republic, our grade of it, though far from perfect, did not collapse. Although information technology's got historic period-old cracks in information technology, like that large liberty bell, it continues to sing. Considering every bit Leonard Cohen reminded the states in his vocal almost song and human hope, "Anthem," "there is a crevice in everything; information technology'southward where the light gets in. "
Which brings us dorsum to "Happy Days Are Here Again," as it is perfect – once again – for this moment of national commemoration. Democracy survived and triumphed. This is a twenty-four hours to rejoice. To sing along – and dance fifty-fifty – to this song. Even if nobody wants to dance with you, grab a cat, or a dog. They always beloved a good reason for a happy dance.
Songwriters Jack Yellen and Milton Ager wrote "Happy Days Are Here Again" before the large stock market crash in 1929. But as songwriters often do, they seemed to know what was coming. It'due south 1 of many famous songs to exist prophetic, every bit the crash triggered the Great Low. Information technology became a theme song then for promise, as it has many times since. Likewise an anthem of commemoration and gratitude when that promise is realized.
Like our current moment of lockdown, unemployment and loss, America in the Depression-era Thirties was a country in need of hope: in that location was widespread unemployment, bread-lines everywhere, factories shut down, 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 light, a existent-time ray of promise. It wasn't unreal, pie-in-the-sky – or pie anywhere – promise. It wasn't almost pretending everything is peachy. It was about keeping hope alive. Not giving up. We're going to get through.
Which is why information technology'due south all about now.
The approachable leadership helped spread the fires of division – between the political parties, the classes, the races, the nationalities, even the genders.
During which our already fractured social club was burdened by the pandemic of virus, only also the ongoing war on truth, countless 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 need of clarity, the leadership intentionally disseminated daily barrages of lies, even well-nigh the lethal virus destroying endless America lives everyday.
Disinformation near the election itself in tandem with perpetual attacks on the printing and truth itself, although formidably persuasive to millions of Americans, failed to derail the election. If anything, information technology empowered the populace to accept activity, and vote.
So this song, some 91 years past the flavour of its cosmos, still works, and better than about. It's the reason it has endured for nearly a century now. It'due south been born and reborn many times, and perhaps due to the ongoing man need for promise, sounds new every time.
Milton Ager and Jack Yellen not but wrote the song, they recorded its get-go incarnation. It was an immediate striking. Because of its universal theme and jubilant spirit, it fits perfectly in countless occasions, when it steps up to exist the the perfect theme vocal. Besides the Depression and its terminate, it was the theme showtime for the end of Prohibition, when drinking booze was legalized once more in America. Through other periodic times of darkness it's been brought back with hope, and with gratitude at the end of those times. Such every bit at present.
Annette Hanshaw, who was one of the most famous and well-nigh honey singers of the 30s, had a hit with it that she recorded with Ben Selvin and his Orchestra. In the 50s came Judy Garland's many records of it and so those of Barbra Streisand. On several occasions the two of them performed it live together.
So in honor of America and our ongoing existence, and the hopeful wellness of our ongoing experiment in Republic, here'due south an sometime song for you. Only a skillful one.
"Happy Days Are Here Again"
By Jack Yellen & Milton Alger
As recorded by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra,
with Lou Levin, November, 1929 for
the 1930 MGM movie Chasing Rainbows.
So long sad times, go long bad times,
Nosotros are rid of you at terminal
Howdy gay times, cloudy gray times,
Y'all are now a matter of the by
Happy days are hither over again,
The skies higher up are clear once more
Then, let us sing a song of cheer over again,
Happy days are here over again
All together, shout it now,
There's no one who can dubiety it now,
So let's tell the world most it at present,
Happy days are here again
Your cares and troubles are gone,
At that place'll be no more from now on, from now on!
Happy days are here once again,
The skies to a higher place are clear again
And so, let us sing a vocal of cheer again,
Happy times, happy nights, happy days are here over again
Source: https://americansongwriter.com/happy-days-are-here-again-the-perfect-song-for-now/
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