High Hopes (1959 song)

"High Hopes" is a popular song, introduced in the 1959 film "A Hole In The Head", winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1959. The music was written by Jimmy Van Heusen, the lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1959 in a hit version, featuring a children's choir, which was included in a 1961 Sinatra album, "All the Way". The tune reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Doris Day also recorded a cover of the song, and the music, with different lyrics, was used as a theme song [http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/High+Hopes+Lyrics.htm] for the 1960 Presidential Campaign of John Kennedy.

Taking up the sentiments expressed in the song, the Boston-based Joslin Diabetes Center "High Hopes Fund" was established in 1993 by the estate of Sammy Cahn. The former Joslin patient and songwriter's goal was to provide hope and encouragement to kids with diabetes while supporting research into the causes of the disease.

Trivia

*The lyrics refer to a "billion kilowatt dam." In truth, there are no terawatt dams -- the most powerful (China's Three Gorges Dam) produces just one fifty-thousandth of that amount.
*In the film "A Goofy Movie", this song was playing in the car before the stereo breaks.
*The song is a favorite of the title characters of "Laverne and Shirley", who sing it in several episodes.
*In the film "Rocky Balboa", Paulie Pennino uses the Sinatra recording of this song as Rocky's entrance theme.
*The music was played on The Colbert Report in reference to attempts of making the District of Columbia a state (with the audience singing).
*Doris Day's recording of the song is played during the credits of the movie "Antz".
*Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas sang this song after the 2007 Phillies clinched the National League East Division title. He sang it again the next day during a fan at city hall in Philadelphia.
*Annette Bening sings it in the movie What Planet Are You From? and a version of it is played during the end credits.