“Happy” to play along
“Happy”, a 2013 song was an international event where participants from 143 countries uploaded more than 1,600 homemade videos of people playfully miming along. See the interactive map! There’s also a 24-video of people in LA moving to its melody hour-by-hour around the clock.
Last week’s writing challenge invited us to rewrite lyrics to the tune of any known song. While “Happy“, the original, is already as playful as can be, it (and those who submitted their lighthearted videos) inspired me to play around with its lyrics.
If you know the basic melody, I recommend playing the instrumental only to accompany as you read or sing along.
[Verse 1:]
It may seem odd what I’m ‘bout to say . . .
I’m inviting you to get away . . .
Don’t need a ticket to an aeroplane . . .
‘Cuz you got your heart, your brain, and anyway . . .
You got it!
[Chorus:]
Come along if you feel you can reach up to the skies
see, you got it!
Come along if you feel you can see with your heart and eyes
see, you got it!
Come along if you feel there’s more to realize
see, you got it!
Come along if you feel that you are bound to rise!
[Verse 2:]
You’ll find out soon—no need to travel far . . .
Feel it all around, right where you are . . .
You will probably see it like the first time . . .
Like a travelin’ soul with a new rhyme . . .
Take a look and—
[Chorus:]
[Bridge:]
Take a look—in front of you
Yeah!
Take a look—and see it too
Yeah!
Take a look—another point of view
Take a look—what’s up to you
Take a look—and follow though
Take a look—what you say and do
Take a look—what you thought you knew
Take a look—and you can see it!
[Chorus 2X]
Take a look—in front of you
Yeah!
Take a look—and see it too
Yeah!
Take a look—another point of view
Take a look—it’s up to you!
[Chorus 2X]
Yeah!
. . .
[Alternate verse:]
There’s more to you than you think you are . . .
Show a little love and you’ll see you are . . .
Look again, see a lot—right where you are.
See, ya got it!
. . .
Note: parody is protected by fair use law—one can change the lyric to any song in the world. As a songwriter myself, I wonder how it would feel to hear a song “re-imagined”. I guess it would depend! All that aside, if any artist requests that I remove a parody I’ve posted on this blog, I will do so.
marsowords 
I’m so HAPPY you sent this post! :o). I had never heard this song before, so played the Pharrell Williams video which was so much fun. I REALLY like your version SO MUCH too! Great job! I like the way that your lyrics point out that “happy” is inside and you carry it with you there wherever you go! You’ve got lots of sweet music inside of you, Mary! Thanks for sharing! PS: that fun song keeps playing inside my head now. That video was great too. :o)
Love & Hugs!
Sent from my iPad
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So glad (happy!) to share it!!!
And thanks for the feedback!
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