- Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe is a song composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg.
- It was written for the 1943 MGM film musical Cabin in the Sky and was recorded by the MGM Studio Orchestra with Ethel Waters singing.
- The song appeared on the film’s soundtrack and was released in 1943.
- It is considered a show tune and a pop standard.
- The track was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1943, but lost to Youll Never Know.
- Since then it has been recorded by many artists, including Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Nancy Wilson, Carol Burnett, and Bette Midler.
- In 2020 Cher released a cover in support of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
