Don't Worry Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin Lyrics


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Here's a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry, you make it double
Don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy

Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy (look at me, I'm happy)

(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Hey I give you my phone number
When you worry, call me, I make you happy
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)

Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no gal to make you smile
But don't worry, be happy
'Cause when you worry your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy
Don't worry, be happy now

(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy

Now there is this song I wrote
I hope you learned it note for note, like good little children
Dn't worry, be happy
Now listen to what I said, in your life expect some trouble
But when you worry, you make it double
But don't worry, be happy, be happy now

(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) don't worry, don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't do it, be happy
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Put a smile in your face, don't bring everybody down like this
(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) It will soon pass, whatever it is
(Ooh-ooh-ooh) don't worry, be happy




(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) I'm not worried
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) I'm happy

Overall Meaning

Bobby McFerrin's song "Don't Worry Be Happy" is an upbeat song that encourages listeners to let go of their worries and be happy. McFerrin sings about the troubles that people face in life and advises them not to worry because it only makes the problems worse. He reminds the listener that worrying not only affects them but also those around them, as their frown can bring everybody down.


The chorus of the song starts off with the line "Don't worry, be happy," which McFerrin repeats several times. The repetition of the phrase reinforces the message of the song and makes it memorable. In the verses, McFerrin sings about specific situations where worry can arise, such as not having a place to sleep, financial troubles, or problems with a landlord. However, in each case, he advises the listener to be happy and not let their worries bring them down.


The song became a hit when it was released in 1988 and won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It has been covered by several artists since then, including a version by McFerrin and Pharrell Williams in 2014 for the International Day of Happiness. The song has become a popular anthem for positive thinking and has been used in media, such as in movies and TV shows, to convey a message of happiness and optimism.


Line by Line Meaning

Here's a little song I wrote
I have written a song for you to hear.


You might want to sing it note for note
You may want to repeat and memorize the song.


Don't worry, be happy
Do not stress yourself, just enjoy.


In every life we have some trouble
Everyone experiences hardships.


But when you worry, you make it double
Worrying makes problems worse.


Don't worry, be happy
Try to be positive and take things lightly.


Don't worry, be happy now
Start feeling happy at this very moment.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
Avoid worrying.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Choose to be happy.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
Again, do not stress, but instead, be happy.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
Once again, don't worry.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Remain positive.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
The message is clear: no worries, just happiness.


Ain't got no place to lay your head
You may not have a place to sleep.


Somebody came and took your bed
You lost your bed to someone else.


Don't worry, be happy
Despite that situation, still be happy.


The landlord say your rent is late
Your landlord says your rent is overdue.


He may have to litigate
He is considering legal action.


Don't worry, be happy (look at me, I'm happy)
Still, choose to be happy despite the troubles.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
Remember, don't stress out.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Be positive.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Hey I give you my phone number
Here is my number.


When you worry, call me, I make you happy
If you ever feel worried, call me and I will make you feel better.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
I repeat, don't worry.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Choose to be happy.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
Keep the positive mindset.


Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
You don't have money and style.


Ain't got no gal to make you smile
You don't have anyone to make you happy.


But don't worry, be happy
Still, be positive and do not worry.


'Cause when you worry your face will frown
When you worry, you frown.


And that will bring everybody down
Your worrying will affect everyone around you.


So don't worry, be happy
Again, choose happiness and not stress.


Don't worry, be happy now
Right now is the opportunity to start feeling happy.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
The refrain should be taken seriously.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Choose happiness despite your current situation.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
Focus on being optimistic and happy.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
Once more, do not worry.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Be happy
Be positive.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry, be happy
Keep the happy state of mind.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) don't worry, don't worry
Stop worrying altogether.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't do it, be happy
Opt to be happy instead of worrying.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) Put a smile in your face, don't bring everybody down like this
Put on a smile and don't stress everyone around you.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Don't worry
The song's message is to embrace happiness, not stress.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) It will soon pass, whatever it is
Whatever difficulty you are having will pass.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh) don't worry, be happy
Choose happiness, always.


(Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) I'm not worried
The singer is not worried and is instead happy.


(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) I'm happy
The singer is grateful and chooses to be happy.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert McFerrin Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@euphoricocean7099

My mom is profoundly Deaf and this is her favorite song because of the lyrics :) She'll try to sing it to me when I'm stressed out, she doesn't know the tune but it always makes me smile!

@kiryyy3475

May your mom be blessed

@euphoricocean7099

@@kiryyy3475 thank you, she is blessed <3 she is a happy and carefree person with a loving family and her Deafness is a part of her amazing personality!

@therealbobbymcferrin6972

@@euphoricocean7099 Hi

@therealbobbymcferrin6972

@Jessica Sampson Awwww thank u🥰

@GabrielMartinez-lw6jp

Love your mom dearlyy! Nobody is gonna love you like they do 😢❤️

335 More Replies...

@levinf.5744

When I had a depression in 2021 I went to my guitar lesson and immediately started to cry in front of my teacher. He threw away the plans for the lesson and just played and sang that song with me to cheer me up. It was one of the best moments I had in my life. Even though he'll never read this comment, I just want to thank him for all the great times we had and the skills he taught me over the years

@Frank-ix7jw

you doing alright?

@levinf.5744

yes, I am probably the happiest version of myself. Thanks for asking@@Frank-ix7jw

@shipsability

If it wasn’t for this song I would’ve jumped off my balcony in 2020. I don’t think people realize how magic this song is. It’s my go to song when I’m worried and i just cry and let It all out. It makes me feel so much better.

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