Happy days are here again

The air is being controlled again

The wall is still not built again

Happy days are here again

 

Altogether shout it now

The Tweeter’s through, who can doubt it now

We’re gonna pay our workers better now

Happy days are here again

 

Manic news watching be gone

Again make love singing songs

 

Happy days are here again

Hate’ll be in the shade again

And criminals go to jail again

Happy days are here again

 

So long sad time, so long bad time

We’ll be rid of you at last

Howdy gay times – cloudy gray times

You are now a thing of the past.

 

Happy days are here again

Let government be praised again

As we sing a song of cheer again

Happy days are here again

 

— Poem and drawing (done with blindfold) by William Eaton

 

∩ The original song “Happy Days Are Here Again” was copyrighted in 1929 by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics). Today, the song is usually remembered as the campaign song for Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s successful 1932 presidential campaign. According to Time, it gained prominence after a spontaneous decision by Roosevelt’s advisers to play it at the 1932 Democratic National Convention, and went on to become the Democratic Party’s “unofficial theme song for years to come”. The song is also associated with the repeal of Prohibition, which occurred shortly after Roosevelt’s election. There were signs saying “Happy days are beer again” and so on. Annette Hanshaw’s 1930 recording here.