He eventually learned the trumpet and performed at the beginning of his career with Pee Wee Russel and Teddy Roy in Boston. He turned professional on trumpet a short time later - whereby he played guitar parallel thoughout his entire career - and took over the band of Herbie Marsh.
Hackett went to New York in 1937 where he replaced Eddie Condon in Joe Marsala's band, and was celebrated as the new star soloist. He appeared with his own bands in various clubs on 52nd Street, the stamping ground of New York jazz musicians.
Alongside Bix Beiderbecke, his greatest idol, Hackett was regarded as the most important representative of the Dixieland era, and also influenced musicians who had turned to Modern Jazz. Bobby Hackett died of a heart attack on the 7th June, 1976 in Chatham, Massachusetts.
The Good Life
Bobby Hackett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It rains pennies from heaven
Don't you know each cloud contains
Pennies from heaven
You'll find your fortune
Fallin' all over town
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
You must have showers
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven
For you and me
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love
You must have showers
So when you hear it thunder
Don't run under a tree
There'll be pennies from heaven
For you and me
The lyrics to Bobby Hackett's song, The Good Life, invoke an interesting metaphor. The lines "Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven," suggest that every instance of hardship or difficulty carries with it the potential for profit or gain, if one only knows how to recognize and capitalize on it. The penny, often seen as a symbol of triviality or insignificance, is transformed into a valuable commodity in this metaphor, signifying the possibility of spontaneous good fortune amidst the tumult of daily life. The lyrics go on to describe this idea in theological terms, ascribing the source of these "pennies from heaven" to each cloud, and implying that such a phenomenon is a manifestation of divine providence.
The song also speaks to the importance of being open and receptive to the gifts that life has to offer. By advising the listener to "be sure that your umbrella is upside down" so as to catch the falling pennies, Hackett emphasizes the importance of being prepared and receptive to opportunities for growth and prosperity, even in the midst of adversity. The lyrics also suggest that it is possible to trade these symbolic "pennies" for more tangible goods like "sunshine and flowers," encouraging the listener to view any situation, no matter how challenging, as an opportunity to cultivate a more positive and rewarding life.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time it rains
Whenever there is a rainfall
It rains pennies from heaven
We get unexpected blessings in our lives, like pennies coming from the sky.
Don't you know each cloud contains
Not everyone realizes that every cloud has something good within it.
Pennies from heaven
The blessings we receive from unexpected places in our lives.
You'll find your fortune
Good things will happen to you unexpectedly.
Fallin' all over town
Good things will happen to you anywhere and everywhere.
Be sure that your umbrella is upside down
Keep yourself open to receiving blessings, don't close yourself off.
Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers
Use the blessings you receive to bring joy and positivity into your life.
If you want the things you love
If you want the things you desire and love in life
You must have showers
You must go through difficult times and challenges to reach your goals.
So when you hear it thunder
When there are signs of trouble or difficulties
Don't run under a tree
Don't seek refuge in places that won't offer true protection during hard times.
There'll be pennies from heaven
There will always be blessings and good things coming into our lives, even during difficult times.
For you and me
For each and every one of us who keeps their eyes open, their hearts open and their faith strong throughout life's ups and downs.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jack Reardon, Sacha Distel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind