He won the Down Beat critics' poll for the 'New Star of the Year' in 1954; he was inducted into the Down Beat 'Jazz Hall of Fame' in 1972 in the critics' poll. Sandoval described him as "one of what we call the mandatory trumpet players" who was "one of the greatest trumpet players of all time".
Wilmington, Delaware, (where Brownie was born and is buried), hosts an annual jazz fest in his honor. Sponsored by the cities arts commission known as Citifest, the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is a FREE week long event held mostly in outdoor venues at various locations in Wilmington. The festival usually occurs the 3rd week in June of each year.
Noteable websites are:
The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival: http://www.cliffordbrownjazzfest.com
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Brown and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Brown_Jazz_Festival
Brownie, the unofficial memorial website: http://cliffordbrown.net
Get Happy
Clifford Brown Lyrics
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Ya better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're heading 'cross the river
Gonna wash our sins in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Ya better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're going to the Promised Land
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Ya better chase your cares away!
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The lyrics to Clifford Brown's "Get Happy" speak to the idea of leaving your troubles behind and finding happiness, specifically through religion. With lines like "Pack up your troubles and just get happy" and "The Lord is waiting to take your hand," the song encourages listeners to let go of their worries and embrace a brighter future. This idea of finding solace in religion is reinforced with lines like "We're going to the Promised Land" and "Get ready for the judgment day," which speak to the belief in an afterlife and the idea that good deeds will be rewarded.
The imagery in the lyrics is also notable. The reference to crossing a river and washing sins away in the tide paints a picture of cleansing and purification. The idea of finding peace and happiness on the other side is a powerful one, and speaks to the human desire to leave behind pain and find comfort. The repetition of the line "Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy" further emphasizes this point, conveying the sense of joy and celebration that comes with finding happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Pack up your troubles and just get happy
Gather all the things that burden you and choose to be happy despite them.
Ya better chase all your cares away
Make a conscious effort to leave behind everything that worries you.
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Express your joy and gratefulness through music, and choose happiness instead of sadness.
Get ready for the judgment day
Prepare yourself for the final reckoning when you will face up to all your actions.
The sun is shining, come on get happy
Even when things seem hard or gloomy, choose to focus on the good things and find happiness in them.
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
There is always a guiding force that is ready to help and support you.
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Celebrate and be thankful for all the blessings in your life, and let joy be your guide.
We're going to the Promised Land
We will eventually find peace, happiness, and fulfillment in life if we follow a virtuous path.
We're heading 'cross the river
We are moving forward and progressing towards our goals and destinies.
Gonna wash our sins in the tide
We can always make amends for our mistakes and wrongdoings through repentance and good actions.
It's all so peaceful
Once we let go of our troubles and worries, we can find peace and tranquility.
Forget your troubles and just get happy
It's not always easy, but try to focus on the good and happy things, and leave your problems behind.
Ya better chase all your cares away
Do everything you can to let go of your worries and concerns, and choose happiness instead.
Sing Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
Express your happiness and gratitude through music and song.
Get ready for the judgment day
Prepare yourself for the ultimate reckoning when you will face the consequences of your actions.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, S.A. MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind