Chilton said in the September 1994 issue of Guitar Player that he considers himself a "musical performer, not a songwriter" and that some of his songs sound only "half-baked" to him. Nonetheless, his compositions have been performed by a number of artists, including Teenage Fanclub, This Mortal Coil, The Bangles, Wilco, Graham Coxon, Garbage, Tom Bradbury, Son Volt, Counting Crows, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Superdrag, Evan Dando, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Placebo, Xiu Xiu, and His Name Is Alive. The Replacements wrote the song Alex Chilton in his honor on their 1987 Pleased to Meet Me album, produced by Jim Dickinson in Memphis.
On March 17, 2010, Alex Chilton died of an apparent heart attack in a hospital in New Orleans. He was 59.
The Happy Song
Alex Chilton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sing a joyful song so we can all sing too
Hum a merry tune to us, it fits our mood
Simple little feelings will arrive from you
Sing us a happy little song that we can dance to
Sing us a song
A song of love and happiness
But still with tenderness
Sing us a happy little song and we can do the rest
We could light the night if we just let feelings flow
Just let ourselves go
Don't you know
There's a little band up there on the stand
Sing a joyful song so we can all sing too
Hum a merry tune to us, it fits our mood
Simple little feelings will arrive from you
Sing us a happy little song that we can dance to
The Happy Song by Alex Chilton is a short and sweet ode to music and the positive emotions that it can bring into our lives. The song begins with Alex addressing the band on stage and requesting them to sing a joyful and merry tune that the audience can sing along and dance to. He expresses his belief that simple little feelings of happiness can stem from listening to a happy little song. The lyrics of the song request the band to sing about love and happiness while also asking them to do so with tenderness.
The chorus of the song reiterates the request to sing a happy little song that the audience can dance to. Alex suggests that if we let our feelings flow, we could light up the night and dance with abandon. The song ends with a repeat of the first verse, reminding the band to sing and hum a happy and joyful tune that can inspire simple little feelings of happiness in the audience. The Happy Song is a song that is meant to lift spirits and inspire joy in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen here band up there on the stand
Attention to the band playing the music
Sing a joyful song so we can all sing too
Sing a song that will make everyone happy
Hum a merry tune to us, it fits our mood
Sing a lighthearted song that fits our current mood
Simple little feelings will arrive from you
The song's simple melody will evoke positive feelings
Sing us a happy little song that we can dance to
Sing a song that'll make us want to dance and enjoy ourselves
Sing us a song
Requesting the band to sing
A song of love and happiness
The desired theme of the song
A flowing going round please do your best
The song should be upbeat and have a good rhythm
But still with tenderness
The song should also have a gentle touch
Sing us a happy little song and we can do the rest
If the song is cheerful, the rest will follow along
We could light the night if we just let feelings flow
Letting emotions shine can create a memorable experience
Just let ourselves go
To truly enjoy the moment, let yourself be in the moment
Don't you know
A rhetorical question, emphasizing the statement
There's a little band up there on the stand
Referring to the band again
Sing a joyful song so we can all sing too
Repeating the request for a happy song
Hum a merry tune to us, it fits our mood
Reiterating the need for a lively melody matching their present mood
Simple little feelings will arrive from you
Restating how the song's simplicity can evoke positivity
Sing us a happy little song that we can dance to
Another plea for a cheerful song they can dance to
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.