“High Hopes…”

Last night I watched an interview with David Michaelis, whose new biography of Eleanor Roosevelt is #8 on the Amazon best seller list and #1 on both the Women in History and Women’s Biography lists. It seems remarkable for a book about a woman who died 58 years ago and who described herself as a “homemaker.” But, from 1948 through 1959 she was voted the most respected woman in the world in an annual Gallup Poll.

But, this morning my Velcro brain woke up thinking about the lyrics of an inspirational novelty song she “sang” in 1959, when she appeared on a Frank Sinatra special. The song, High Hopes, which Sinatra also sang in the movie A Hole in the Head, is about how an inspired ant can do big things with the right motivation. It feels just right and a worthy subject for my last pre-election post.

And , speaking of high hopes, Michelle Obama, another First Lady voted “most admired woman in the world” (2020) has implored us all to have high hopes by saying “When they go low, we go high.”

So, on that note and “high-hoping” to end this murderous election cycle on a positive note I implore you to think positive thoughts as you listen to Sinatra sing the song and then hear him interview with Mrs. Roosevelt where she recites the lyrics to High Hopes aka “the Rubber Tree Song.”

Here’s the Sinatra version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S94Bh3Qez9o

Then, Frank and Mrs. Roosevelt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0-IaIWwHCk

Footnote: There are two recent biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt. Both are well researched and readable.

David Michealis’ Eleanor published in October 2020. Here’s the 2020 Book TV interview with the author: https://www.c-span.org/video/?477033-1/eleanor

Blanche Wiesen Cooke’s Eleanor Roosevelt, (Volume 3, 1939 – 1962 The War Years and After) published in 2016. Here’s a link to her 2016 Book TV interview; https://www.c-span.org/video/?417600-1/blanche-wiesen-cook-discusses-eleanor-roosevelt-volume-3

Next time you’re found
With your chin on the ground
There a lot to be learned
So look around

Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant,

But he’s got high hopes
He’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie
In the sky hopes

So any time your gettin’ low
‘Stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant
Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant

Oops! There goes another rubber tree plant…