"Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3" is a song and single by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, initially released as the single "Reasons to be Cheerful, Part 3 / Common as Muck" issued on 20 July 1979 and reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart the following month. It is the last single to be released by the band in their original line-up

"Reasons to be Cheerful" was not recorded at The Workhouse, Fulham with the material that made up the Do it Yourself album but in Eretcia Studios (owned by RCA) in Rome during a break in a long European tour. According to its author, Ian Dury the song was inspired by a near fatal accident involving a lighting roadie. Roadie Charley almost got electrocuted in Italy by a microphone stand while leaning over a mixing desk. Another roadie saved his life, hence why 'no electric shocks' is included in the song's lyrics. The song was written in the band's hotel during the aftermath of this, and a fight that broke out at the venue when the band were forced to cancel the show because of the safety issues. Both it and b-side "Common As Muck" were recorded in the break in the tour caused by the cancellation of the Italian shows.

Saxophonist Davey Payne was upset about the financial disparities within Dury’s band so in order to placate him, Dury told co-writer Chas Jankel to incorporate a sax solo part in the middle, which Payne could improvise and thus earn a share in the song.

Musically "Reasons to be Cheerful" is noticeably different from Ian Dury's other output, even from the funkier, softer tracks from Do It Yourself and his hit single "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" and radically different from New Boots and Panties!! and the material that would follow Reasons on Laughter. Instead the music owes much to disco records and soft funk with rapped lyrics.

The song has been described as a 'shopping-list song'. It is a simple list of a number of reasons to be cheerful. In that respect it is almost identical to an older Ian Dury track, "England's Glory", a song that he had refused to revive when asked the previous year. The list of reasons to be cheerful includes:

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