High Hopes

"High Hopes" is a popular song first popularized by Frank Sinatra, with music written by James Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was introduced by Sinatra and child actor Eddie Hodges in the 1959 film A Hole in the Head, was nominated for a Grammy, and won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 32nd Academy Awards. Description The song describes two scenarios where animals do seemingly impossible acts. First, an ant moves a rubber tree plant all by himself, then a ram single-handedly puts a hole in a "billion-kilowatt dam." The desires of these animals are described by the chorus as "high, apple pie in the sky, hopes," although the song implies they ultimately accomplish them. The song finishes by comparing problems to toy balloons; the problem has gone away when the balloon is popped, as stated by the closing line, "Oops, there goes another problem, ker-plop." Performers Frank Sinatra "High Hopes" was originally recorded by American singer Frank Sinatra in 1959 in a hit version featuring a children's chorus, which was later included in his 1961 album All the Way. This version is not the one that appeared in the film, as the film version paired Sinatra with Eddie Hodges rather than with a children's chorus; also, the lyrics are slightly different, referring more directly to Anthony the Ant and The Bonanno, or Goodyear Plant and the FBI or Hoover Dam. The tune reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart. Sinatra also recorded a version of the tune with different lyrics which was used as the theme song for the 1960 presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy.