Sing as You Work

Bob Nolan
Original copyright: Republic Pictures 1942

Listen to the rhythm of the joy that life has given you today
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day
To drive your cares away.
Listen to the beating of the happy heart repeating, “Don’t delay!”
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day to drive your cares away.
Come on and sing! in the sun, we’ll dance in the blue
Come on and sing! in the sun, we’ll travel with you
Come on and shout! in the hills, we’ll join in your song
Come on and shout! in the hills, we’ll help you along, happy day
Listen to the voices of the world as he rejoices to be gay
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day to drive your cares away.

All this world needs to be happy is a song
I have felt the rhythm throbbing in my heart
And I’ve heard the melody the whole day long
Now’s the time to let the music swell and start.

Listen to the rhythm of the joy that life has given you today
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day
To drive your cares away.
Listen to the beating of the happy heart repeating, “Don’t delay!”
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day to drive your cares away.
Come on and sing! in the sun, we’ll dance in the blue
Come on and sing! in the sun, we’ll travel with you
Come on and shout! in the hills, we’ll join in your song
Come on and shout! in the hills, we’ll help you along, happy day
Listen to the voices of the world as he rejoices to be gay
Sing as you work and work’ll be play, happy day to drive your cares away.

Sing as you work and work'll be play, happy day
(repeat to fade out)

Bob wrote this catchy tune for a bunkhouse scene for ROMANCE ON THE RANGE, Republic Pictures May 5, 1942 with Roy taking the lead, the Pioneers answering and the two girls singing, “Happy Day!” In this song the lead singer is designated by normal font, the chorus by italic and the place where both sing together by bold face. Roy sings lead, the Pioneers sing “Sing as you work and work’ll be play” and the girls come in with “Happy day!” Bob enjoyed playing with words in songs.

Republic Pictures still holds the copyright on this song as it was a "song-for-hire". A song copyright in 1942 would be eligible for termination in 1998. Songs written under a "song-for-hire" arrangement are not eligible for termination. They remain the property of the original owner. Bob thought little of the songs he wrote for the Roy Rogers movies. There is no sheet music or any other recording.

We do not have any sheet music for this song.