Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
Happy Talk
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
The lyrics of the song Happy Talk by Ella Fitzgerald encourage people to stay optimistic and keep talking about positive things. The singer suggests talking about things that one would like to do such as looking at the moon floating in the sky, a bird learning to fly, or counting the ripples on the sea. The message behind the song is to have a dream and talk about it because that's how dreams can come true. If one does not have a dream, then there is no way dreams can come true.
One of the significant recurring motifs throughout the song is music, which is used to represent the positivity that should define people's lives. Talking about music can uplift people's spirits and motivate them to pursue their dreams. Additionally, the song emphasizes the value of human relationships, including friendships and romantic relationships. The singer encourages communication between both genders, suggesting that both should express how lucky they are to have each other.
Overall, Happy Talk is a song that inspires people to keep a positive outlook on life and keep dreaming. It highlights the importance of focusing on positive things, praising human relationships and expressing gratitude. The song has a simple melody, but the message is powerful and timeless, making it a classic that continues to inspire people today.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Keep talking positively and optimistically, spreading joy and happiness.
Talk about things you'd like to do.
Discuss your aspirations and ambitions.
You got to have a dream,
It's essential to have a goal or ambition to work towards and achieve in life.
If you don't have a dream,
Without having a goal or ambition, it's impossible to achieve anything worthwhile.
How you gonna have a dream come true?
A rhetorical question about how one can expect to achieve success without having a dream or goal.
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Discuss the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Admiring the simple beauty of nature around us.
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Appreciate the hard work and perseverance of those who strive to achieve their goals.
Makin' all the music he can make.
Exerting maximum effort to achieve one's goals and dreams.
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Finding the beauty and whimsy in the everyday things around us.
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Exploring and appreciating the small details of nature.
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Take pleasure in the companionship of others and celebrate relationships.
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Finding joy and happiness in the small things in life, like the ripples on the ocean's surface.
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
Celebrate the power of love and communication between people.
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Expressing gratitude for the blessings we have and the people in our lives.
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
Continuing the theme of celebrating love and communication in relationships.
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Recognizing and appreciating the special bond between two people in love.
If you don't talk happy,
If you don't speak positively and optimistically,
And you never have dream,
And you don't have a goal or ambition,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
You can't expect to achieve anything worthwhile without a positive attitude and a clear goal to work towards.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sofia Tsiakalou
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
Dunhill An
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
Coldlake Alta
"you gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna make your dreams come true?" How utterly true and meaningful. Nothing expresses collective wisdom more than the profound statements you find hidden in good music.
CR R
I can't believe Ella FItzgerald did this song! Naturally, it's the best version, no competition. How in the world did we ever deserve her?
chehqhd 14
I heard this song in a grocery store one day but i didn't know it was a jazz standard.. a beautiful song and great voice
Derek Hall
saw her live in 1974 at the Sheffield fiesta nightclub no other singer even comes close
Sofia Tsiakalou
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
Mary E. Stephenson
This gotta be on my play list. That's my dream come true.
Dunhill An
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the moon floatin' in the sky
Lookin' at a lily on the lake;
Talk about a bird learnin' how to fly.
Makin' all the music he can make.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the sparrow lookin' like a toy
Pickin' through the broaches of a tree;
Talk about the girl, talk about the boy
Countin' all the ripples on the sea.
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Talk about the boy sayin' to the girl:
"Golly, baby, I'm a lucky cause."
Talk about the girl sayin' to the boy:
"You an' me is lucky to be us!"
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true?
If you don't talk happy,
And you never have dream,
Then you'll never have a dream come true!
John Sharpe
Ella continues to raise the bar.......wonderful wonderful.....
Irene Kent
Oh my favourite lady Such a wonderful voice I miss her I lived to listen to her singing from a young age
Michelle Regis
Ella has been a my lady of song since childhood.