The ABAB or ABAC song form is another structure found in jazz and musical theater. A great example of ABAC is Put on A Happy Face (Adams/Strouse 1960), from the musical Bye Bye Birdie.
| A | Gray skies are gonna clear up, Put on a happy face; Brush off the clouds and cheer up, Put on a happy face. |
| B | Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy, It’s not your style; You’ll look so good that you’ll be glad Ya’ decide to smile! |
| A | Pick out a pleasant outlook, Stick out that noble chin; Wipe off that “full of doubt” look, Slap on a happy grin! |
| C | And spread sunshine all over the place, Just put on a happy face! |
The ABAB form is less common but has been known to work in some of The Great American Songbook such as Fly Me to the Moon (Howard, 1954).
