SOMETIMES I'M HAPPY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

sometimes i'm happy, composed by Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Irving Caesar in 1927, is a lively, optimistic song that became a jazz standard through its catchy melody and rhythmic swing potential. Its bright character allows both vocalists and instrumentalists to interpret it in diverse styles.

The first recordings were made in the late 1920s by various dance orchestras, capturing the song’s buoyant energy. Later interpretations by artists such as Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong cemented its place in the jazz repertoire.

The lyrics celebrate the contrast of fleeting sadness and joy, while the musical structure often uses a 32-bar AABA form with syncopated rhythms. Its playful melodic contours make it ideal for improvisation.