Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With

I don't think he's got the first verse quite right. Close. It's: And when I have some words This is the way I'll sing Through a distortion box To make them menacing!

This song is definitely a commentary on PopMetal. It's still extremely prevelant. Every time I hear a new popmetal song, I can't help but to think of this song and I start to laugh. Right on, Adrian!

I find it astonishing that Elektrik is not included with the list of songs. But any ways, at first I was thinking "wow what an absolute piece of shit song." But when I actually listened, it made more sense. Not my favorite song at all, but the middle bit I feel they couldn't have defined ambiguity any better, "To be happy with what you have? you have to be happy with what you have to be happy with." Most of the music today, is just people that are writing these terrible distorted, automatic, robotic verses, tedious pop songs of repetitive themes, empty political movements, and anti war protests that have no more meaning or value to you or me, other than for the mainstream audience to give them money to fuel their big hair, big heads, and make-up kits. If they actually created a good song or heard one, their heads would just explode. Then again that is just my opinion. Although the head exploding part is actually proven and factual.

I agree wholeheartedly with TurnOutThe Lights. One of the reasons King Crimson is such a great band is because they don't go on and on about the same shit that other bands sing about just to satisfy the rebellious listeners. Way to attack the rebellion, King Crimson.

No, there is actually no meaning at all behind the lyrics. The band were jamming to write this song, and Belew had no lyrics but an idea of the phrasing for the melody. So he just wrote a line (Happy with what you have to be happy with) that had the right amount of syllables for the wacked time signature the band were playing around. The rest of the lyrics were then written as a joke (then Im gonna have to write a chorus ect.) but the rest of the group liked it so much that the working lyrics stuck. Read it in this interview:vintagerock.com/abelew_interview.aspx Check it out, lots of cool shit in there.

I see this song as a parody of pop metal. Though the second verse is oddly... missing? I don't know what he says, but he says something about ambiguity. I just see this as a parody of pop metal, with a random progressive bit right in the middle just to be facetious.

"And for a second verse Of terse economy I'll brew another pot Of ambiguity"

First off, this is not pop metal. This is Fusion. (Jazz and Rock mix) The progression gives this away.

Crimson's message is more likely an attack on critics, and telling others to be happy with what they have if they want to be happy. I think he almost overly expresses this. ;)

I think I remember Robert Fripp saying this was a commentary on the poor quality of most pop music. I'll have to check the liner notes.

Classic Belew/Fripp As stated above - it's poking at fun at all those douchebag pop metal and "nu metal" bands: all loudness, screaming, distortion and no talent