The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Couldn't relax, couldn't sit back
And let the sunlight in my lap
I sang a hymn to bring me peace
And then it came, a melody
It felt so sweet, it felt so strong
It made me feel like I belonged
And all the sadness inside me
Melted away like I was free
I found what I'd been looking for in myself
Found a life worth living for someone else
Never thought that I could be, I could be
Happy, happy
Don't go out much at all
I've never been the type to call
I realize to be happy
Maybe I need a little company
So now you know, you know it all
That I've been des-desperately alone
I haven't found the one for me
But I believe in divinity
I found what I'd been looking for in myself
Found a life worth living for someone else
Never thought that I could be, I could be
Happy, happy
I believe in possibility
I believe someone's watching over me
And finally I have found a way to be
Happy, happy
From the concrete to the coast
I was looking for a Holy Ghost
Like the land joining the sea
Happiness, it followed me
I believe in possibility
I believe someone's watching over me
And finally I have found a way to be
Happy, happy, happy
And let the sunlight in my lap
I sang a hymn to bring me peace
And then it came, a melody
It felt so sweet, it felt so strong
It made me feel like I belonged
And all the sadness inside me
Melted away like I was free
I found what I'd been looking for in myself
Found a life worth living for someone else
Never thought that I could be, I could be
Happy, happy
Don't go out much at all
I've never been the type to call
I realize to be happy
Maybe I need a little company
So now you know, you know it all
That I've been des-desperately alone
I haven't found the one for me
But I believe in divinity
I found what I'd been looking for in myself
Found a life worth living for someone else
Never thought that I could be, I could be
Happy, happy
I believe in possibility
I believe someone's watching over me
And finally I have found a way to be
Happy, happy
From the concrete to the coast
I was looking for a Holy Ghost
Like the land joining the sea
Happiness, it followed me
I believe in possibility
I believe someone's watching over me
And finally I have found a way to be
Happy, happy, happy
Lyrics submitted by dlsfjdsfdsfsadfd
Happy Lyrics as written by Marina Lambrini Diamandis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree fully with elena560, but I think it's also important to mention that she finds this happiness in herself, by herself, for herself. Many people believe the title to be ironic, but I think it's being painfully honest. It's a confession that she's finally able to claim that she's "happy", after all these years of not being able to.
It's important that she says "I found what I was looking for in myself", because it entails that it was HER who gave her happiness, and not anyone else. I think many people like to believe in the romantic notion that some incredible, unique person can save you from your depressive state, but in reality this doesn't happen; Marina finally realizes that the person who was able to give her happiness all along was herself. To reiterate this, she states "I haven't found the one for me", revealing that she really is still alone (single), but not exactly lonely, and then follows it up with "but I believe in divinity", showing that she perhaps has hope for her future relationships, because she now has hope in herself. This is also seen in the phrase "found a life worth living for someone else", where she finally sees that she's not only capable of love, but is also deserving of it.
This is incredibly important message that needed to be sung. So thank you, Marina.