Eddie Hodges was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S., on March 5, 1947. Hodges travelled to New York City with his family and on October 4, 1957, was a contestant on the TV game show Name That Tune. The story presented to the press at the time was that he was noticed by Rini Willson, the wife of playwright and composer Meredith Willson who was looking for a boy to cast in a new musical; however, the fact was that he had been auditioning for the part prior to being asked to appear on the game show, and that there was an agreement between the producers of the two productions that the boy chosen to play the role in the musical would be "discovered" on the television show.
Hodges' partner contestant on Name That Tune was Marine Corps test pilot Col. John Glenn, later an astronaut, United States Senator and presidential candidate.
Hodges made his professional acting debut on stage in Willson's 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man. He made his film debut in the 1959 film A Hole in the Head with Frank Sinatra and Edward G. Robinson, in which Hodges and Sinatra performed a song called High Hopes. Hodges did not perform on Sinatra's hit recording of the song.
Hodges made eight feature films and numerous TV guest appearances. He is probably best remembered for the title role in Michael Curtiz's 1960 film The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which is considered one of the best of the many attempts to film Mark Twain's classic. Both Hodges and his co-star as Jim, Archie Moore, received generally positive reviews for their performances. He also appeared in the 1963 Disney film Summer Magic.
Guest appearances on network TV productions included Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Cimarron Strip and The Dick Van Dyke Show, among others. He was also a Mystery Guest on What's My Line?
At the age of 14, Hodges recorded for Cadence Records and his biggest hit was "I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" in 1961. He also scored a minor hit with "(Girls, Girls, Girls) Made to Love," a song written by Phil Everly and originally recorded by The Everly Brothers. He recorded for several other record labels. Before he left Hollywood, he was a union musician, record producer, song writer and music publisher. He collaborated with Tandyn Almer ("Along Comes Mary") with whom he wrote and published several songs and owned his own music publishing business. Hodges continues to write songs today but is no longer involved in the music business. He also appeared in the 1963 Disney film Summer Magic and the 1967 film The Happiest Millionaire.
Hodges was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. After he was discharged, he returned to Hollywood and became disillusioned with show business. He decided to return to his native Mississippi and entered the The University of Southern Mississippi where he received his B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Counseling. He became and is still a mental health counselor. He is divorced and has two grown children and three grandchildren. He occasionally gets in touch with his old show business friends and still writes songs. Hodges rode out Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and informed his fans that he was fine after being missing for 19 days when the utilities were restored.
High Hopes
Eddie Hodges Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There a lot to be learned, so look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you're gettin' low
'Stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam
'Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes
So any time you're feelin' bad
'Stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
All problem's just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop, kerlpop
The lyrics to Eddie Hodges's song "High Hopes" talks about the importance of having hope even when things seem impossible. The first verse refers to an ant trying to move a rubber tree plant which is impossible. Yet the ant has high hopes and continues to try, despite the odds. Similarly, the second verse talks about a ram trying to break a dam, which also seems impossible. However, the ram has high hopes and continues to push, eventually succeeding in his task.
The chorus repeats the phrase "He's got high hopes, he's got high hopes, he's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes." This is a metaphorical expression for having lofty aspirations and beliefs, despite the challenges that lie in front of us. The last verse talks about problems being like toy balloons, eventually bursting and disappearing. The song encourages listeners to never lose hope and to keep pushing towards their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Next time you're found, with your chin on the ground
If you are feeling low and hopeless, take note
There a lot to be learned, so look around
There are valuable lessons to be gleaned from your surroundings
Just what makes that little old ant
What motivates such a small creature
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
To undertake a seemingly impossible task
Anyone knows an ant, can't
No rational person would believe an ant could actually do it
Move a rubber tree plant
Move something much larger and heavier
But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes
Yet, still the ant persists with optimism and ambition
He's got high apple pie, in the sky hopes
His aspirations and goals are lofty and possibly unrealistic
So any time you're gettin' low
When you're feeling down
'Stead of lettin' go
Instead of giving up
Just remember that ant
Think of the ant's perseverance and positive attitude
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
And watch as they achieve what was initially thought impossible
When troubles call, and your back's to the wall
When you face adversity and opposition
There's a lot to be learned, that wall could fall
There are lessons to be learned from the challenges you encounter
Once there was a silly old ram
An animal who behaved foolishly
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
Believing he could accomplish what was beyond his capabilities
No one could make that ram, scram
No one could force the ram to abandon its mission
'Cause he had high hopes, he had high hopes
Driven by his optimism and determination
He had high apple pie, in the sky hopes
Seeking to achieve the impossible
So any time you're feelin' bad
When you're feeling sad or discouraged
'Stead of feelin' sad
Rather than wallowing in self-pity
Just remember that ram
Think of the ram's persistence and tenacity
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
And watch as the impossible becomes possible
All problem's just a toy balloon
Any obstacles we face are small and can be overcome
They'll be bursted soon
These problems will eventually be resolved
They're just bound to go pop
Like a balloon, problems will eventually disappear
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
And watch as obstacles disappear one by one
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
And another one bites the dust
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop, kerlpop
Until nothing stands in our way
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dindaadhitama2290
Next time your found
With your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned
So look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes
He's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time your gettin' low
'Stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call
And your back's to the wall
There a lot to be learned
That wall could fall
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam
'Cause he had high hopes
He had high hopes
He had high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time your feelin' bad
'Stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop, kerplop
@ErnestoConcha-ut4cd
Que maravilla esta Dupla inolvidable e Inmortal. Eddie con Frank Sinatra.
@NOONE-cd4gu
Frank's face when the kid's voice cracked in the last note😂
@annakakurtz7593
Great and had to be intentional
@nonayassi6796
QUE LINDO CANTABA ESTE NIÑO HERMOSO❤❤❤❤
@dindaadhitama2290
Next time your found
With your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned
So look around
Just what makes that little old ant
Think he'll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can't
Move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes
He's got high hopes
He's got high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time your gettin' low
'Stead of lettin' go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
When troubles call
And your back's to the wall
There a lot to be learned
That wall could fall
Once there was a silly old ram
Thought he'd punch a hole in a dam
No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin' that dam
'Cause he had high hopes
He had high hopes
He had high apple pie
In the sky hopes
So any time your feelin' bad
'Stead of feelin' sad
Just remember that ram
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
Oops, there goes a billion kilowatt dam
All problems just a toy balloon
They'll be bursted soon
They're just bound to go pop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop
Oops, there goes another problem kerplop, kerplop
@juniorsegatto124
thanks for the lyrics
@pangorban1
I remember seeing A Hole in the Head on TV as a kid. It was a sad/funny film about an exasperating loser. Years later, I used to sing this song to my kids. They loved it, but they wanted to know why an ant would want to move a rubber tree plant or a ram would want to punch a hole in a dam. Who knows or cares? It's a fun song.
@annakakurtz7593
That was a good opportunity to teach them about ecology. The point is to inspire interest in something as small and stupid as ants
@gymnastix
What a cute kid that Eddie Hodges was. I remember Eddie as a teenager in an episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," in which he played a babysitter for the "Petrie" son "Richie (Larry Matthews) and fell in love with "Richie's" mother, "Laura Petrie," as portrayed by the late great Mary Tyler Moore.
I read Eddie had a rock and roll career with a couple of hit singles before he retired from show business, then served in the Army stateside during the Vietnam era, before going to college and receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology, after which he had a career as psychologist. But thank goodness we got to hear and see him as a child and young man, when Eddie was a talented actor and singer.
One other interesting bit of trivia regarding Eddie Hodges--he originated the role on Broadway of "Winthrop Paroo" in the Meredith Wilson musical "The Music Man," sang the song "Gary, Indiana" which became better-known from the film version when sung by Ronny Howard in that same role as "Winthrop," the little brother of "Marian the Librarian."
A pity there isn't a videotape or film of Eddie Hodges in his Broadway role in "The Music Man." Incidentally, the young actor who replaced Eddie as "Winthrop" in "The Music Man" and later portrayed "Oliver Twist" (with then-future Monkee Davy Jones as "The Artful Dodger") in the original Broadway production of Lionel Bart's musical "Oliver!," was Paul O'Keefe, best-known for his role of "Ross Lane," the brother of Patty Duke's "Patty Lane" in "The Patty Duke Show" for three seasons (1963-66) on ABC.
@princesssunrays
I love this song ❤️