A Joyful Anthem Beckoning Us to Choose Hope
“Come On Get Happy” is the effervescent opening theme of The Partridge Family sung by David Cassidy, immortalized in the 1970s hit-TV show and later anthologized on compilations like Come On, Get Happy!: The Very Best of The Partridge Family. Though never released as a major chart-topper on its own, the song became inextricably linked with the wholesome pop-bubblegum identity of the band and its television legacy.
From the first playful keyboard flourish to Cassidy’s warm, youthful voice urging “come on, get happy,” this short but unforgettable piece captures the idealism of an era. Written by Wes Farrell and Danny Janssen, the song was created specifically to serve as the theme for the ABC sitcom The Partridge Family. While it never charted like some of their singles, it remains emblematic—not just of the show, but of a time when music, optimism, and youth were tightly interwoven.
The story behind “Come On Get Happy” lies in its very design: the Partridge Family, a fictional musical brood, had to have a theme that spoke to their optimistic, road-tripping spirit. The show’s producers enlisted top-tier songwriters like Farrell and Janssen, and recorded the music with LA session legends (often called The Wrecking Crew) rather than the cast themselves. The task was simple but crucial: create a tune that could frame every episode, introduce the characters, and leave you with a smile.
Lyrically, the song is deceptively simple—a direct call to joy. “Hello, world, here’s a song that we’re singin’ / Come on get happy!” begins the opening line, an invitation addressed not just to viewers, but to life itself. The message is universal: love lightens burdens, togetherness brings meaning, and music becomes the thread stitching it all together. In its brevity (the television version clocks in at about a minute), it eschews complexity for immediacy and warmth.
Musically, the arrangement reinforces that sense of bright, hopeful energy. There’s a buoyant piano riff, unhurried drums, and backing vocals that swirl like sunbeams. The song doesn’t just ask you to be happy—it gives you a little push in that direction, wrapped in melody and harmony. That sonic architecture, delivered by studio pros, underlines how seriously the show took its music even if the on-screen family was more performance than real band.
On a deeper level, David Cassidy’s performance lends emotional texture to what might have otherwise felt saccharine or insincere. His voice carries the exuberance of youth, but with just enough earnestness to make you believe in that “dream” of traveling together, spreading love, and keeping on moving. In that way, “Come On Get Happy” becomes more than a TV theme—it becomes a statement of purpose, an anthem for a generation craving simplicity, unity, and optimism.
Over time, the song’s legacy grew well beyond sitcom credits. Though not a lead single, it found its place on greatest-hits collections (notably in the 2005 Come On, Get Happy! compilation) and stayed alive in the cultural memory. For many, it’s not just nostalgia—it’s a reminder of a rare kind of innocence, when the specter of trouble could be held at bay for just long enough by a bright melody and a cheerful chorus.
In the end, “Come On Get Happy” is a testament to the power of uncomplicated joy. It’s not grandiose, and it doesn’t promise to fix the world—but for its brief, sparkling moment, it offers something almost as powerful: a reason to smile, together.