Spirit Child
This is the only life we have. Why not be joyful and cherish life and one another rather than promote hatred and bitterness that keeps us depressed and angry?
Happy Days was the campaign song for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1932 presidential run during the Great Depression. It remains the unofficial anthem of the Democratic Party. With banks closed, farms foreclosed, and unemployment rampant, Happy Days reminded people not to despair and that good times were bound to return. The song was first recorded by Leo Reisman’s orchestra in November 1929 and featured in the film Chasing Rainbows the following year. Due to its prominence, Roosevelt’s advisors decided to use it at the 1932 Democratic National Convention.
Three decades later, Barbara Streisand sang it during an episode of the Garry More Show where she played the role of a millionaire who gave a bartender her expensive jewelry in exchange for drinks after losing all her money. Over the years, the song became a signature part of Streisand’s concert repertoire, performing it and re-recording it as late as 2019. Happy Days is 47th in the Record Industry Association of America’s “Most Performed Feature Film Standards on TV award.” Its copyright was renewed in 1956 but will be in the public domain next year. Whether it will continue to be sung at rallies remains to be seen.
Featured in 80 movies and recorded over 76 times, The Institute of World Politics considers Happy Days to be the most significant political campaign song ever written. And, though songs don’t bring prosperity, they give us hope for a future without trouble. The country certainly needs something to provide us with that hope again. The rising rates of depression impacting modern Western environments are caused by greater competition, inequality, and loneliness. Our people would be more resilient to the ups and downs of living if they were physically fit, well-rested, free of chronic disease and financial stress, surrounded by close family and friends, and felt pride in their meaningful work. According to 2023 U.S. government statistics, over forty million people live below the poverty line. Over seventeen million elders are financially insecure.
Our democratic way is challenged to make Americans feel secure. we see how easy it would be for the country to be taken over by a dictator who will increase economic inequality and insecurity in favor of the wealthy Christian fundamentalism. The government is fragmented by red-blue political divisions driven by self-absorption. Rather than a unified populace working to solve problems, the U.S. has become an “us-them.” society. And though Trump fueled the fire, we can’t blame him for everything. Half the nation responds positively to his lies and abuse of power and allows it to continue.
With so many Americans on the brink of poverty and violence spreading in the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine, there appears to be little relief in sight. Where is the leader who will bring us together and inspire politicians to work across the aisle for the betterment of society rather than themselves? As individuals, Americans are caring and giving people. Yet, in our economically unbalanced society, one percent of the population controls the media and allows pundits to stir hatred. This has caused a dark cloud to settle over our country that needs to be pierced.
Perhaps the way forward is to remember that the ability to make changes for the betterment of all rests in our hands. We can start by “loving thy neighbor as yourself” and uniting our voices in a song that inspires happier days. Together, we are intelligent, creative, and caring people who can scale mountains. Together, we can create new jobs, educate our children, build housing, fix potholes, and lift families from poverty. Together, we have the power to let the sun shine through.
Happy Days by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics)
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again,
Let us sing a song of cheer again,
Happy days are here again!
Altogether shout it now,
There’s no one who can doubt it now,
Let us tell the world about it now,
Happy days are here again!
Your cares and troubles are gone
There’ll be no more from now on!
This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again
Let us sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again!
So long sad times, go long bad times,
We are rid of you at last;
Howdy gay times, cloudy gray times
You are now a thing of the past.
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again
Let us sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again!
This song was originally posted on protestsonglyrics.net
Your cares and troubles are gone
There’ll be no more from now on!
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again
Let us sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again!
Do comment on my blog site at www.eichingerfineart.com/blog
Art is always for sale. Spirit Child is an acrylic on canvas painting, farmed for $ 699. The price includes shipping in the continental U.S. For information, contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
References:
Tierney Jr., J. (2019) Happy Days are Here Again. Institute of World Politics. Retrieved from retrieved from https://www.iwp.edu/articles/2019/10/01/happy-days-are-here-again/
Happy Days are Here Again. Wikipedia website. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Days_Are_Here_Again#:~:text
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Over the Peanut Fence is a book of hope. It follows a twenty-year-old homeless youth in his quest for a better life. His path wasn’t easy, but he never gave up and allowed people to help him overcome a rocky childhood. Homeless youth are different from the mentally ill and drug-addicted adults on the street. They are still malleable. THere is a lot that can be done to keep them from a life of poverty, drugs, and hopelessness.. Over the Peanut Fence is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Over-Peanut-Fence-Barriers-Homeless/dp/0999892207
, Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/over-the-peanut-fence-marilynne-eichinger/1131146737, and Powell’s City of Books.
