GET HAPPY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

get happy was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Ted Koehler in 1930 and quickly became a lively jazz and cabaret standard. Its syncopated, energetic melody encourages both vocal interpretation and instrumental improvisation.

The first recording was by Judy Garland and the Abe Lyman Orchestra in Los Angeles in 1930, featuring a bright, swinging arrangement. The tune uses a 32-bar AABA structure with playful rhythmic accents that invite expressive performance.

Subsequent notable recordings by Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra highlighted its adaptability to both big-band and small-group settings. Lyrically, it celebrates the exhilaration of seizing the moment and embracing joy, making it a timeless crowd-pleaser.