Happy

Probably my favorite song by the Stones. Certainly Keith Richards high watermark. It's sort of sad to see him try to sing it live in concert.

I read that Keith wrote this songs after he heard his girlfriend was pregnant, and recorded it during a soundcheck.

The song spells out a philosophy - a way to approach life...

ok - so the first two lines are easy ...

Spend every penny that comes your way cos life is too short to save up for a rainy day - hit life now with all you got.

line three is less obvious ...

but I think its about never shacking up - never settling down.

line four is easy too -

learn from your mistakes and go for it the next time - no wimping out!

then the chorus...

well - love is a big deal and you need it to be happy - you just do really.

so yeah - Keef is pleading here - for his baby to keep loving him and so making him happy.

next verse is also a cinch -

1st line effectively means take risks - life's too short - go for it!

2nd line - don't pussy around tryna set up deals and do business and other boring boring boring stuff - no!

3rd line - ditch daddy's ways (ways of the previous generation) i.e.

4th line - don't work for a boss ... ever ! be you own man (or woman ... ha!)

third verse :

well this is more more tricky for me - I gotta admit it....

line 1 2 ... er ??

all I can say is I get some kind of gist of not wanting to seek the high life for the high life's sake...

like chasing money to get rich and do rich things - hell no - screw that!

not when there;s something real to do as an alternative.

like sure - if money comes your way - then fine - but only if you are doing your own thing - the thing that you are passionate about.

that's it.

This song is probably the greatest rock song of all time cos its so easy but great at the same time.

Plenty of others are sensational - 'over the hills and far away' by led zep for example.

But this song has it all - great lyrics - great meaning - great riff - great tune but all easy and beautiful and just wonderful.

A fantastic song based on an unique Richards trademark-riff, propably the best one he sang.

The song is a sort of autobiography by Richards and with 'Before they Make me Run' the best he sings with the Stones. It starts off with his childhood, blowing his pocket money before the end of the day, not fitting in at school, as in his book 'Life'. Continues 'didn't wanna get me no trade' - his father was an electrician at a factory but Richards went to art college, played guitar and the rest is history. The last verse is his life in the present at the time the song was recorded, cocktails and LearJets, but neither do these make him happy - as he says in every chorus 'I need a love to keep me happy'. The song is about following your passion and not being bound in by society's rules - having the faith to live in the day.

God bless Keith Richards. No Keith=No Stones. The original bad ass and the ultimate survivor.

Now it is, yeah. Much better if you can grab a live recording from the '72 tour or thereabouts.

Agree with all above. I almost shi*t myself when keith screams 'never got a flash outa cocktails!' in 2nd verse. He must have had a sore throat after that!!

insane.untouchable.unemulated.ever.

Well I never kept a dollar past sunset- Don't be stingy It always burned a hole in my pants- Don't care 'bout cloths so much Never made a school mama happy- You don't always have to live up to your expectations.

Never blew a second chance, oh no- Don't blow a second chance when you get one.

I need a love to keep me happy, I need a love to keep me happy. Baby, baby keep me happy. Baby, baby keep me happy.

Chorus: Means you need love to be happy.

Always took candy from strangers- Take Risks Didn't wanna get me no trade- You don't have to cheat or lie to do buisness. Never want to be like papa- You don't have to be what your family is, you can be so much better

Working for the boss ev'ry night and day- Be your own Person

Never got a flash out of cocktails- Being famous isn't always happy When I got some flesh off the bone- Kinda pointing at society's ways Never got a lift out of Lear jets- Implying that you don't want to go home. When I can fly way back home- Implying that you want to go home.