The Public Interest

Above: it’s the saddest happy song I’ve ever heard in my life. Just listen to it: the lyrics and the melody are in absolute opposition to each other.

Written by one of America’s songwriting legends, Irving Berlin, who wrote it in 1926 for the Broadway musical Betsy, and was sung by Al Jolson in the 1st-ever talkie.

I heard this song last night while watching “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and was struck at how it captures the state of things today pretty well.

Go here to learn how to play the song on ukulele.

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