Rollins was born in New York City to parents from the United States Virgin Islands. The youngest of three siblings, he grew up in central Harlem and on Sugar Hill, receiving his first alto saxophone at the age of seven or eight. He attended Edward W. Stitt Junior High School and graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. Rollins started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high school years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor.
As a saxophonist he had initially been attracted to the jump and R&B sounds of performers like Louis Jordan, but soon became drawn into the mainstream tenor saxophone tradition. The German critic Joachim Berendt described this tradition as sitting between the two poles of the strong sonority of Coleman Hawkins and the light flexible phrasing of Lester Young, which did so much to inspire the fleet improvisation of bebop in the 1950s. Other tenor saxophone influences include Ben Webster and Don Byas. By his mid-teens, Rollins became heavily influenced by alto saxophonist Charlie Parker. During his high school years, he was mentored by the pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, often rehearsing at Monk's apartment.
Rollins has played, at various times, a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone and a Buescher Aristocrat. During the 1970s he recorded on soprano saxophone for the album Easy Living. His preferred mouthpieces are made by Otto Link and Berg Larsen. He uses Frederick Hemke medium reeds.
Get Happy
Sonny Rollins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
In Sonny Rollins’s Get Happy, the song starts off by telling the listeners to pack up their troubles and just get happy. The upbeat tempo and the constant repetition of singing Hallelujah and shouting get happy gives the listeners a sense of joy and euphoria. The song mentions the Lord and the Promised Land, indicating that the song has religious undertones. The song talks about heading across the river to wash away sins, tempting listeners to believe that they could easily forget their troubles and worries if they believe in the Lord and the promise of a better life. The lyrics convey a feeling of hope and joy, urging the listeners to come together and rejoice, as they are headed towards an eternal life of peace and happiness.
The song came out in 1956 and was composed by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Although it has an upbeat tempo, it was initially a ballad before Rollins transformed it into a catchy, fun rendition. The song was eventually included in his album ‘The Sound of Sonny’, which was released in 1961. ‘Get Happy’ has also been covered by other artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra. The song has become a popular hit and has been used in various television shows and movies.
Line by Line Meaning
Pack up your troubles and just get happy
Leave your worries behind and focus on being happy.
Ya better chase all your cares away
You need to get rid of anything that is bothering you and find true happiness.
Sing Hallelujah, come on get happy
Express joy and happiness from the bottom of your heart and truly experience it.
Get ready for the judgment day
Be prepared to face the consequences of your actions and choices on the day of reckoning.
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The world is full of opportunities and good things, so focus on the positive aspects and be happy.
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
God is there to guide you and help you find inner peace and happiness.
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Express your happiness and gratitude to God and the world and celebrate life.
We're going to the Promised Land
Through our faith and belief, we are headed towards a better place and a better future for ourselves.
We're heading 'cross the river
We are moving forward and taking action to achieve our goals and aspirations.
Gonna wash our sins in the tide
We are going to leave our past mistakes behind and start a new, pure life.
It's all so peaceful
When we let go of our worries and focus on the present, we can find peace within ourselves.
On the other side
After we cross the river and overcome our troubles, we will find a better life and a better us.
Forget your troubles and just get happy
Don't let your problems and worries control your life, focus on experiencing true happiness.
Ya better chase your cares away!
Don't let your worries define you, get rid of them and live a happier life.
Get ready for the judgment day
Always be prepared to deal with the consequences of your actions and choices in life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., S.A. MUSIC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, TED KOEHLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind