Song of the Day 10/29: Frank Sinatra, “High Hopes”

Guest post by Nathan Arizona

“High Hopes” is best known around here as a tune associated with two great singers — Frank Sinatra and Harry Kalas.

OK, one great singer. Harry’s voice was much better for announcing Phillies games than for singing. But it’s the late Harry Kalas who’s most identified with “High Hopes” in this region.

He first sang the 1959 classic to fans after the Phillies won the National League pennant in 1993 and then when they won the World Series in 2008. Now it’s played after every Phillies victory at Citizens Bank Park. A lot of people stand at their seats and sing along before heading for the exits. It will fill the air at World Series home games.

And let’s face it, this tune about a plucky ant that can move rubber tree plants is probably a better victory song than the self-pitying radio hit “Dancing on My Own” the players chose. Even catcher J.T. Realmuto admitted to a post-game interviewer that he didn’t really understand why his teammates picked that one. Then he went over and joined them as they danced and sang and sprayed champagne.

“High Hopes” was first heard in the 1959 movie “Hole in the Head,” a Frank Capra comedy that starred Sinatra as a redeemable low-life and featured Carolyn Jones —- Morticia Addams! -— as his beatnik girlfriend. The plot includes a scheme to build a Disney theme park in Florida— years before Walt Disney actually built one there.

In the song, Frank is encouraging his son to keep his head up and the young actor joins him in the singing. You never think much about Frank being warm and fuzzy with children. A whole children’s choir took over for that one kid on a slightly different version that appeared on the 1961 Sinatra album “All the Way.” “High Hopes” was also turned into a JFK campaign song. Laverne and Shirley liked to sing it in their 1970s sitcom.

The award-winning song was written by composer Jimmy van Heusen and lyricist Sammy Cahn, who both worked at Warner Bros. They wrote a lot of Frank’s hits, including “Call Me irresponsible,” “Come Fly With Me” and “September of My Years.” Van Heusen was known around Hollywood as a ladies’ man. A friend described him as talented, good-looking and rich. Good qualities for a guy with high hopes.

Here’s Frank”s “High Hopes” —- not with a member of the Rat Pack:

And now, Harry Kalas…Go Phillies!