Blue Birds of Happiness

Perhaps they bring it on their wings.

The happiness they spread is near legend in a time just past and became a touchstone through song for people in England and elsewhere, during the difficulties of WWII. Arriving on the Arizona scene in December, they seem to bring our sky onto branches mimicking Christmas tree ornaments.

Pretty blue birds visit on a Juniper tree and nearby wood pile. Rimrock Arizona, December 2022.

Written by a Hungarian - American violinist, Sandor Harmati in 1934 for his opera star friend, Jan Peerce. With lyrics by Edward Heyman who’s name may be familiar from others songs he penned, “Body and Soul”, “For Sentimental Reasons” or “When I Fall Win Love”. Peerce was an operatic tenor and made three recordings of the Harmati/Heyman song. 1936, 1945 and 1958. The 1945 recording was a huge success selling more than his operatic recordings. Although the statistics seem a bit unclear, this particular recording of “The Blue Bird of Happiness” was only second in sales to Enrico Caruso’s recording of Irving Berlin’s “Over There”. The 1945 recording he made of “Blue Bird of Happiness” was well loved and was the sign off song for different local stations both radio and tv.

The 1936 recording is often attributed to Paul Robinson a nom de song of Jan Peerce. (Making up that nom de song, but it seems to work, fingers crossed.)

A song of hope, this “other” bird, speaks of the difficulties encountered in life and yet the ever present possibilities for joy. “For every bit of darkness, there’s a little bit of light. For every bit of hatred, there’s a little bit of love. Fore every cloudy morning, there’s a midnight moon above.”

Below is one of the several covers of the song sung by Jimmy Durante. The original singer, Jan Peerce is also offered here with extended lyrics below for this record. Along with the charming and the original, Lee Andrews and the Heart’s version is also offered. That is a five vocalist near a cappella, strolling doo-wop 1950’s classic style.

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Reading the comments on some YouTube posts are so sweet as people reminisce about their parents being married to this song or somehow making it an anniversary tune. How old are those the reminisce? Quite, perhaps.

In the shifting sands of our times, we could use an icon of hope and strength or song to sign off with if we ever did that today. We seem to find some limited, maybe more than limited, feeling of solidarity through the sunflower image and the flag of Ukraine. The blue bird thought may be a thing of the past but still endures. Fat little faux birds can be found nearly everywhere that ships to your door. Ask your buddy, Google.

No matter what your style, no matter what your trouble, wishing you visits from the Blue Bird of Happiness this New Year and for many years to come.

The beggar man and the mighty king are only different in name,
For they are treated just the same by fate.
Today a smile and tomorrow a tear, we never know what's in store.
So learn your lesson before it is too late.

So be like I, hold your head up high 'til you find the bluebird of happiness.
You will find greater peace of mind, knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.
And when he sings to you, though you're deep in blue
You will see a ray of light creep through
And so remember this, life is no abyss
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

The poet with his pen, the peasant with his plow,
It makes no different who you are, it's all the same somehow.
The king upon his throne, the jester at his feet,
the artist, the actress, the man on the street.

It's a life of smiles and a life of tears It's a life of hopes and a life of fears.
A blinding torrent of rain and a brilliant burst of sun,
A biting tearing pain and bubbling sparkling fun.
And no matter what you have, don't envy those you meet.
It's all the same, it's in the game, the bitter and the sweet.

And if things don't look so cheerful, just show a little fight.
Fore every bit of darkness, there's a little bit of light.
For every bit of hatred, there's a little bit of love.
Fore every cloudy morning, there's a midnight moon above.

So don't you forget, you must search 'til you find the bluebird.
You will find peace and contentment forever, if you will be like I.
Hold your head up high, 'til you see a ray of light appear.
And so remember this, life is no abyss
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

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