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Happy Idiot
TV on the Radio Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stuck in the shade
Where there's no sunshine
I don't wanna play
With them other kids in the sun

Since you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It's been a long way down

What you don't know won't hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I'm a happy idiot
Waving at cars
I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
'Til I feel like nothing at all
I'm a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you

Stuck in a daze and I've lost my mind
I don't wanna stay
Where the blame's all mine

Since you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It's been a long way down

So, I shut it off
So, I shut it all off
So, I shut it off
So, I shut it all off

Whoa-oh, ohh-oh
It's been a long way down
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
It's been a long way down

What you don't know won't hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I'm a happy idiot
Waving at cars
I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
'Til I feel like nothing at all
I'm a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you

To keep my mind off you
To keep my mind off you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of TV on the Radio's song Happy Idiot are about the aftermath of a breakup. The singer is "stuck in the shade where there's no sunshine," meaning that they are in a dark place emotionally. They do not want to be around other people, especially not "them other kids in the sun." The person who has left them has caused them to feel lost and overwhelmed. They shut down their emotions to try to cope with the pain, saying "so, I shut it off" repeatedly. Despite everything, the singer finds solace in being a "happy idiot" who waves at cars and bangs their head on the wall until they feel like nothing at all, all to distract themselves from the pain of the breakup.


The chorus of the song contains the famous phrase "ignorance is bliss," which means that it is easier to be blissfully unaware of some things rather than to know and face the consequences. The song suggests that, in the aftermath of a breakup, it may be easier to distract oneself with things that make them happy instead of facing the pain. The singer in the song finds happiness in being oblivious to their emotions, even if it means isolating themselves from others.


Line by Line Meaning

Stuck in the shade
Feeling isolated and alone


Where there's no sunshine
Without any positive aspect in life


I don't wanna play
Avoiding interaction with others


With them other kids in the sun
Preferably not socializing with others who are happy and successful


Since you left me, babe
After going through a heartbreak


It's been a long way down
Life has been tough after the breakup


What you don't know won't hurt you, yeah
Choosing to be ignorant of certain facts to avoid pain or responsibility


Ignorance is bliss
Believing that not knowing is better than knowing


I'm a happy idiot
Deliberately choosing to be ignorant to remain happy


Waving at cars
Trying to look happy and carefree despite being miserable


I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
Engaging in self-harm to distract oneself from emotional pain


'Til I feel like nothing at all
Seeking numbness instead of facing the pain


To keep my mind off you
Distracting oneself from the pain of the breakup by any means necessary


So, I shut it off
Suppressing emotions or avoiding acknowledgment of the situation


So, I shut it all off
Completely blocking out any reminder of the past


Stuck in a daze and I've lost my mind
Being unable to think clearly or rationally due to emotional distress


Where the blame's all mine
Feeling solely responsible for the failed relationship




Lyrics © CTM Outlander Music LC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Ledinsky, Erik Hassle, Tunde Adebimpe, David Sitek, Kyp Malone, Jaleel Bunton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@simonalcantara2736

Happy Idiot

Stuck in the shade
Where there’s no sunshine
I don’t wanna play 
With them other kids in the sun.

Since you left me, babe,
It’s been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It’s been a long way down.

What you don’t know won’t hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I’m a happy idiot
Waving at cars.
I’m gonna bang my head to the wall
‘Till I feel like nothing at all
I’m a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you.
Stuck in a daze and I’ve lost my mind
I don’t wanna stay
Where the blame’s all mine.

Since you left me, babe,
It’s been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It’s been a long way down.

So, I shut it off.
So, I shut it all off.
So, I shut it off.
So, I shut it all off.

It’s been a long way down.
It’s been a long way down.

What you don’t know won’t hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I’m a happy idiot
Waving at cars.
I’m gonna bang my head to the wall
‘Till I feel like nothing at all
I’m a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you.
To keep my mind off you.
To keep my mind off you.



@iridescentrae

Stuck in the shade
Where there's no sunshine
I don't wanna play
With them other kids in the sun
Since you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
What you don't know won't hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I'm a happy idiot
Waving at cars
I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
'Til I feel like nothing at all
I'm a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you
Stuck in a daze and I've lost my mind
I don't wanna stay
Where the blame's all mine
Since you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
Yeah, you left me, babe
It's been a long way down
So, I shut it off
So, I shut it all off
So, I shut it off
So, I shut it all off
(Oh, oh, oh) It's been a long way down (Oh, oh, oh)
It's been a long way down
What you don't know won't hurt you, yeah
Ignorance is bliss
I'm a happy idiot
Waving at cars
I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
'Til I feel like nothing at all
I'm a happy idiot
To keep my mind off you
To keep my mind off you
To keep my mind off you

Source: Musixmatch



All comments from YouTube:

@terrykawve8532

"I'm gonna bang my head to the wall
'Til I feel like nothing at all"

Best line in the song

@breannaw5051

😌🙏

@SilverScreenDreamer

I find it very relatable from a bad dating experience.

@nae9063

indeed

@user-jy4cx6qz7v

@kevinbueno949

🥸👀

@twinfang1954

Insanely catchy, lyrically straight to the point, and a guitar riff that really sticks in your head.

Fantastic stuff, here. Love these guys.

@TheBmills415

This shit is so perfectly meshed

@adamdrew4514

Simplicity at its best

@punkwarlord

Tv on the radio on the internet.

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