Peggy Lee performing "It's A Good Day" with husband Dave Barbour in an early music video in 1950
“As I busied myself with housework, I began to sing a little ‘dummy’ melody, and the words kept popping in, so I lay down the vacuum and wrote them down,” recalled Peggy on the origin of one of her most enduring songs. “When it was finished, I practically ran to my sister’s apartment, called up to her window and sang the song.” Recorded for Capitol Records on July 12, 1946, “It’s A Good Day” peaked at #16 on Billboard’s charts in January 1947.
Lyrics
When I woke up this morning
I was feeling all wrong
Couldn't find any reason
For a happy song
Then I had some coffee
And I washed my face
And my little world fell into place
Yes, oh yes!
Yes it's a good day for singin' a song
And it's a good day for movin' along
Yes, it's a good day
How could anything be wrong?
A good day from morning 'til night
And it's a good day for shinin' your shoes
And it's a good day for losin' the blues
Everything to gain and nothing to lose
'Cause it's a good day from morning 'til night
I said to the sun, "Good mornin', Sun
Rise and shine today"
You know you gotta get goin'
If you're gonna make a showin'
And you got the right of way"
'Cause it's a good day for payin' your bills
And it's a good day for curin' your ills
So take a deep breath and throw away the pills
'Cause it's a good day from morning 'til night
[Dave Barbour guitar solo]
Good mornin', Sun
Good mornin', Sun
Rise and shine today
You know you gotta get goin'
If you're gonna make a showin'
And you got the right of way
'Cause it's a good day for payin' your bills
And it's a good day for curin' your ills
So take a deep breath and throw away the pills
'Cause it's a good day from morning 'til night
Yes, it's a good day from morning 'til night
Yes it's a good day from morning 'til night
Copyright Peggy Lee Associates, LLC
Tsk, tsk, Unca Walt…seems brother Roy and his bean counters forgot to pay Ms Lee (voice actor, singer and co-composer of the five original songs from the film) royalties when the Disney company released Lady on VHS in 1987—you say “copies,” I say “transcriptions.” Maybe they were too busy plotting the Mickey Mouse Preservation Act with Sen Sonny Bono…?
Ms Peggy Lee, Unca Walt and Sen Bono would like to inform you all that in the United States of America you may do as you please with the following Public Domainimage, be it reproduction and sale on t-shirts, posters, or producing new adventures of the pictured character…but you’re going to have to give it a new name.