An actress, singer, talk show host, and author, the multi-talented Reese first started singing in church in her hometown of Detroit when she was six years old. By the age of 13, she was touring with gospel great Mahalia Jackson; then, at 18, she formed the Meditation Singers and became the first performer to bring gospel music to the casinos of Las Vegas. Reese expanded her musical repertoire as a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra and began recording albums, with such hits as "Don't You Know" and "And That Reminds Me" in the 1950s. She appeared extensively as a guest on the top television variety series, logging more than 20 appearances in one year on The Ed Sullivan Show on the CBS Television Network. Reese was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Female Soloist in Gospel Music in 1987.
Tapping into her other skills, she was host of a television talk show in 1969-1970, then began guest-starring in such series as Sanford and Son, The A-Team, Crazy Like a Fox and Picket Fences. She starred in the CBS Network series Charlie & Co. and The Royal Family. Reese's current projects include a new album based on her 27-city tour with her revue, "Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues," as well as song on the Touched By An Angel Soundtrack. Her best-selling autobiography, "Angels Along the Way," is published by G.P. Putnam's Sons. Reese also starred in the telefilms Emma's Wish, with Joanna Kerns, and The Secret Path, with Ossie Davis.
Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe
Della Reese Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got a smile that makes the lilacs want to grow.
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
When they know little Joe's passing by.
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare,
But then he'll kiss me and it's Christmas everywhere.
Troubles fly away and life is easy go.
Does he love me good? That's all I need to know.
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare,
But then he'll kiss me and it's Christmas everywhere.
Troubles fly away and life is easy go.
Does he love me good? That's all I need to know.
Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe.
Little Joe, my little Joe, little Joe.
The lyrics to Della Reese's song "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" speak to the transformative power of love and companionship in the face of hardship. Joe, the singer of the song, is depicted as a source of constant joy and hope for the singer, whose life is otherwise characterized by poverty and struggle. Joe's mere presence--whether through his smile or his touch--has the ability to brighten the singer's day and make her feel as though all of her problems have disappeared. The repetition of the line, "Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe," reinforces the idea that Joe is the key to the singer's happiness and well-being.
Furthermore, the song's lyrics speak to the ways in which love can help to color one's perception of the world around them. Although the singer's cabin may be "gloomy" and the table "bare", these troubles dissolve in the presence of Joe's love. The song suggests that when one finds love and companionship, they are able to see the world in a new light--one that is infused with joy and possibility. In this way, "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" speaks to the universal human desire for connection and the ways in which love can bring us true happiness, even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
It seem like happiness is just a thing called Joe.
Joe brings me so much happiness that it feels like he is the embodiment of happiness itself.
He's got a smile that makes the lilacs want to grow.
Joe's smile is so infectious and heartwarming that even the flowers seem to respond to it.
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
Joe's demeanor is so pure and angelic that it leaves even celestial beings in awe.
When they know little Joe's passing by.
Joe leaves a positive impact on everyone he meets, regardless of their stature.
Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare,
Even in times of hardship and scarcity, Joe has the ability to light up the room with his presence.
But then he'll kiss me and it's Christmas everywhere.
Joe's love and affection is so strong that it brings immense joy and celebration, as if it is a holiday.
Troubles fly away and life is easy go.
Joe has the ability to make all the problems and struggles in life disappear, leaving only an easy-going and carefree environment.
Does he love me good? That's all I need to know.
Joe's love for me is the only thing that truly matters to me, as it brings me the happiness and fulfillment I seek.
Seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe.
Joe's presence and love is the ultimate source of happiness in my life, and there is nothing else that can compare.
Little Joe, my little Joe, little Joe.
Joe is such an important and beloved person in my life, that I feel the need to constantly remind myself of his importance and presence.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jade Quest
Had the pleasure of seeing her perform three times. R.I.P. Miss Reese. 1931-2017
Jazz Riverside Dr
'Such a beautiful Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg song & Lyric...... Such genius & Della takes it home.....