Go to main content

Have a Happy

Rating:
4.1 / 5

Words & Music: Ben Weisman Dolores Fuller Buddy Kaye

Now once it was told to me
We're born with a magic key
It opens the door to miracles of spring

It takes you to wishing wells
To ice cream and carousels
And yet this magic key won't unlock a thing

Unless you have a happy, ya have a happy
Have a happy, warm smiling face
I start believin', in believin'
Let your address, be sunshine place

There's love and there's joy I'm told
Much more than your heart can hold
It's there like the ring you would grab
On a merry-go-round

The world isn't half as gray
With friends on a rainy day
But people keep away, when you wear a frown

Unless you have a happy, ya have a happy
Have a happy, warm smiling face
I start believin', in believin'
Let your address, be sunshine place

Let your address, be sunshine place
Let your address... be sunshine place

Recordingdate: 1969/03/05, first released on: Let's Be Friends (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Have a Happy:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)

Availability

Find available albums with Have a Happy.

Steve V wrote on February 04, 2009
Now this is a true children's song and it fit the movie scene very well unlike the silly Confidence. Not bad at all as Elvis was beginning to choose material more carefully. Happy & upbeat!
adiels wrote on February 21, 2009
Forget that it's a song from a movie. This really a great song, and one that is really forgotten. A happy song, and Elvis is in a great mood. Truly a masterpiece.
1 BILLION SOLD wrote on May 21, 2010
I have ALWAYS really liked this "happy" song! (another similar feeling one is Wonderful World). Makes me feel good about the day when I hear it and it sounds like Elvis kinda likes it too! p.s. I've done both on karaoke at my bar, people say, "Thats an Elvis song, never heard it but I like it!"
Deano1 wrote on May 21, 2010
A very well sung song from the movie "Change Of Habit". This is no masterpiece, but it is a nice, if somewhat poorly written song. Another in a long line of happy go lucky Elvis movie tunes and this one is a bit better than "Confidence", but on par with most others. I really like the alternate song that was considered for the scene in which HAH was used, "Let's Be Friends". HAH did fit the scene better than LBF though.
luciano77 wrote on May 21, 2010
I always loved this song. And I listened often when i was child. I had a walkman while going skiing I had always this tune on it !! this was 1986 so imagine !!!
dgirl wrote on May 21, 2010
As kids songs go, this is one of the better ones.
NONE000000 wrote on May 21, 2010
One of a great many "happy" Elvis movie songs, but (as everyone else is also saying), this one is one of the best. Elvis' voice was so astonishingly good during this time period, and every track for "Change of Habit" had a contemporary feel (at least looking back 40 years later [wow, 40 years!] it seems contemporary). One of the great gifts that Elvis had was how expressive his voice was, and when he wanted to convey happiness and joy it really is contagious. It's tough to listen to this track without at least smiling. And we're hearing an Elvis Presley who was recently married, has a less-than-a-year-old daughter, recently made a hugely successful comeback and is making his last film--and it is a real grown-up film. No wonder he sounds so happy! I love this song!
Pedro Nuno wrote on December 07, 2011
I realy like this song. "Let's be friends" was my 8th Elvis LP, and i always had lot of fun with this song. Bring me back soo many good memories. A hiden favorite of mine from his movie years. Great.
TCB1974 wrote on December 07, 2011
A happy tune that makes me feel happy. Three stars.
freedom101 wrote on December 08, 2011
"Have A Happy" still makes me happy.
Gorse wrote on December 28, 2012
Lives up to its title and gives one an uplift on each listen. Not the best song he ever performed, but it adequately serves its purpose in the film and transfers fairly well to vinyl - 3 stars
sugartummy wrote on July 14, 2013
Elvis already met some of the musicians who worked on the Change of habit soundtrack:guitar player Mike Deasy played on the studio recordings of the "Elvis" special in 1968(and also overdubbed guitar on the Double trouble soundtrack). Elvis could've met guitar player Dennis Budimir in 1967, but because Richard David killed someone while driving in one of Elvis' cars, the sessions was cancelled and Elvis left town. Guitar player Howard Roberts played on the Flaming star soundtrack and on the song Sand Castles. Guitar player Robert Bain played on the song We'll be together. Fender player Max Bennett played bass on the soundtracks of Charro & The trouble with girls. The backing vocals were overdubbed, but BJ Baker also did that on the soundtrack of Live a little, love a little and was also present on the cancelled session in 1967. The Blossoms can be seen and heard in the 1968 "Elvis" special.
Natha wrote on July 20, 2013
Amidst the rockin' and stompin' fabulous Rock 'n' Roll list and the outstanding beautiful and tender balads this song is a wonderful in-between, reminding us of what we should not loose in life. And luckily I haven't. I recall the release of the LP Let's be friends and how much I liked it at the time. Golly, it's over 40 years and I still love this one. Some people look at this song as a song for kids; well then I'm lucky that I'm still boyish and not a flat grown-up. What the h, RnR was also all about that! Be happy and light-hearted.
kink56 wrote on July 20, 2013
I really like this song, and ALL the songs on Change of Habit and Live A Little, Love A Little.
alanfalk wrote on July 20, 2013
This one, together with songs like Wonderfuld World, Shout it Out, happy Ending, Spring Fever, Mexico (the version where Elvis sings both parts), Smokie Moution Boy etc. makes a real enjoyable summer play list. The song I rate a little over 3 stars, and it fits Well in the movie scene too.
japio wrote on July 20, 2013
A great song. With positives lyrics. Elvis in great mood. Not bad at all. I gives me joy when i'm listen to it.especially when it are difficult times.
ElvisSacramento wrote on July 21, 2013
I've always liked this song immensely and it's always such a joy to listen to. I've never skipped it. This is such a beautiful, inspirational, unique and underrated Elvis song.
shawnrw wrote on January 04, 2014
Nice, unchallenging medium tempo ballad. The lyrics are positive and Elvis probably doses as much with it as can be done, but nothing special, just not strong enough to give anything beyond a listen here and there.
bajo wrote on April 11, 2014
The early Camden albums were a joy to collect. Not least because they contained tracsk never before available on LP. And not least did Elvis sound much more into those late 60's soundtracks containing only a few songs each. And yes, I really liked the Let's Be Friends album and I agree with those who thinks this song i light hearted and simply joy. It's a happy song the way Elvis delivered it. It's part of his legacy also and I'm happy for it!
Lou A wrote on April 11, 2014
Good song as are most of the Change of Habit tunes . I've also always like the early Camdens . I hope the eventually there's n FTD release that deals with Change of Habit ,Live A little , etc.
jwedwards835 wrote on November 08, 2014
A true classic! I give it the same amount of stars that are in the heavens.
sugartummy wrote on August 01, 2015
I'm listening to this song right now on a head phone, and there is a lot going on. Lots of instruments. Very busy. I'd never heard this before. It makes the song a whole lot better.
Jim Davidson wrote on September 11, 2015
The song fit the movie perfectly. The little girl was pulled out of her protective shell by Dr. Elvis. She had "ice cream, ice cream" in a sunshine place. As a kid, the movie had a huge impact on helping me to identify and escape my feelings of rejection.
Bestoftherest8301 wrote on January 10, 2016
According to the sessions book, in the 1967 session that was cancelled, they were scheduled to do 'Brown Eyed Handsom Man' and 'I'll Never Find Another You'. They never (as far as I'm aware) revisted these at a later date. A crying shame. As for 'Ill Have a Happy', no comparison really, a kids song and usually a skip if I ever come across it. I think the 4 star rating on this is way out,
Cruiser621 wrote on November 30, 2017
Half decent tune, period.
Milky White Way wrote on September 08, 2022
In 1969 Elvis could sing to about a child, backyard, ghetto, train or funeral car and make it sound amazing (except a girl called Jude). Love this busy happy number and never skip. 4 stars
Back to List