Get Happy

By Harold Arlen & Ted Koehler
1930

This was the first collaboration of Cotton Club legends Arlen & Koehler, who composed it for Ruth Etting in the 1930 show The Nine-Fifteen Revue. It would become most associated with Judy Garland thanks to her iconic performance of it 20 years later in MGM's Summer Stock. The Abe Lyman recording was used as the original theme music for the Warner Bros.' cartoons. The title refers to the old gospel tradition of being touched by the Holy Spirit.

Lyrics:

Forget your troubles,
Come on, get happy!
You better chase all your cares away.
Shout Hallejulah,
Come on, get happy!
Get ready for the judgment day.

The sun is shinin',
Come on, get happy!
The lord is waitin' to take your hand.
Shout Hallejulah,
Come on, get happy!
We're going to the promised land.

We're headin' across the river
To wash your sins away in the tide.
It's all so peaceful
On the other side.

Forget your troubles,
Come on, get happy!
You better chase all your cares away.
Shout Hallejulah,
Come on, get happy!
Get ready for the judgement day.

Recorded By:

Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Benny Goodman
Art Tatum
June Christy