Get Happy
Doris Day & Harry James Lyrics

The lyrics to Doris Day and Harry James’s song Get Happy encourage listeners to forget their troubles and focus on the promise of a better future. The opening lines, “Pack up your troubles and just get happy, Ya better chase all your cares away,” suggest that it’s possible to leave behind the problems of the past and look forward to a brighter tomorrow. The themes of redemption and salvation are common in gospel music, and this song certainly fits that pattern, as the lyrics urge listeners to “Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy, Get ready for the judgement day.”

The second verse reinforces these themes of renewal and rebirth with the refrain “We’re heading ‘cross the river, Gonna wash our sins in the tide, It’s all so peaceful, On the other side.” This image of crossing a river to reach a place of cleansing and peace echoes the biblical story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River to escape slavery and find the Promised Land. In this way, the song serves as a metaphor for the journey toward spiritual fulfillment.

Overall, the upbeat melody and enthusiastic delivery of the lyrics give the impression that, despite the challenges and difficulties of life, there is always hope for a better future. The song encourages listeners to embrace joy and focus on the positive, rather than dwelling on the negative or giving up hope.