Thursday Hymn Reflection: “Sing and Be Happy”
[NOTE: Each Thursday, we reflect on a hymn suggested by our readers. If you would like us to write about your favorite songs, leave a comment with no more than 3 suggestions and we will add them to our list.]
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Written and composed in 1940, Emory S. Peck’s song “Sing and Be Happy” is a favorite for many people. With a simple, upbeat tune and an even more upbeat message, this song is one of the more encouraging hymns that we often sing.
I’ve often said that this song’s message makes it sound like a Broadway show tune. But it is far more than that. The song is not just saying, “Get over it.” It is a song that helps the singer rely on the Lord to bring joy to his or her life, but also reminds us that we have a part in that joy, as well.
Peck was able to get across through the words of the song that things don’t always seem to be going the way we would like. Even the opening line–“If the skies above you are gray, you are feeling so blue”–shares the fact that life is not always positive and joyful. However, because of the hope we have in Christ, our life can be one of great joy! “There’s a silver lining that shines in the heavenly land” is the line that introduces that beautiful thought, which then runs throughout the song.
While much of this song deals with us taking care of our own problems, it is not lost in the hymn that we are, ultimately, to rely on Christ. My favorite line in the whole song gives that message: “Trust in Him who leadeth the way, He is keeping your soul.” While we have a part in our joy, it is Christ, above all, who gives us joy and who watches over us day and night.
Christians are singing people, and we love to sing because God is so good to us. When we are able to remember that, we will live out the last line of the song: “Lift your voice and praise Him in song, Sing and be happy today.”
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I had trouble finding high quality videos of this song, as far as camera-work is concerned. I did enjoy this recording of the song, though. I hope it will bring you some happiness today!
5 Comments
Heather
Thanks for writing about my all time favorite hymn! 🙂 I enjoyed reading about it!
John
Good, Adam.
You know, I wish we would sing the Psalms in our services. We rarely do that, in my experience. How more scriptural could one get than singing the Psalms? These are songs authored by God Himself. If we ‘speak where the Bible speaks,’ why don’t we sing the Psalms?
Adam Faughn
John,
I am beginning a project that may take a LONG time to complete, but I hope to publish the results on here in a few months.
I think we DO sing a lot of the psalms, either entirely or in some of the phrases of our songs. It is amazing to me how many of our songs borrow from the Psalms, and I hope to share that in the future.
Thanks for your continued reading!
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Kris Groda
I am preaching on a summer sermon series with a congregation down the road. My assignment is this song. Thanks for your reflections. I preach for the North Jefferson church of Christ, Mount Pleasant, TX. I found your site doing a google search on this song!