It Runs in the Family People wonder 'bout my happy face While I'm walking through a world of hate They wanna know about my singing voice And where I learn to make a joyful noise They wanna know why I am calm When everything's wrong A new talk in how to sing a victory song When they ask me how about to be this way I look them in the eye and say It runs in the family It's joy that keeps me laughin' It's the old time religion A holy family tradition From the Heavenly Father To all the sons and all the daughters If you wondering why we're happy It runs in the family If you're wondering what you've got to do To make this joy come alive in you It's really easy just look again In the book of some distant kin Remember Silas and Paul shock the jail house walls And turned it into a concert hall By calling His name in the midnight hour We've got the very same power Now I can smile when I'm in trouble I can have hope when I'm in pain The Father sends joy on the double And the blood of Jesus Christ Flows in my veins It runs in the family It's joy that keeps me laughing It's the old time religion An only family tradition From the Heavenly Father To all the sons and all the daughters If you wonder why we're happy It runs in the family From the Heavenly Father To all the sons and all the daughters If you wonder why we're happy We so happy, yes we'll happy It runs, runs in the family