Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
I Want to Be Happy
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to work out life's happy plan
Doing unto others as I'd like to have them doing unto me
When I find a very lonely soul
Soon be-kinda-comes my only goal
I feel so much better when I tell them my philosophy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
Life's really worth living
When we are mirth giving
Why can't I give some to you
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to be happy
But I won't be happy
Till I make you happy too.
In Dave Brubeck's song "I Want to Be Happy," the singer portrays themselves as an ordinary person trying to navigate life's journey and find happiness. They have a philosophy of doing unto others as they would like to have done to themselves, and when they come across a lonely soul, their goal becomes to make that person feel less alone by sharing their philosophy. The singer believes that life is worth living when we give joy to others and wonders why they cannot do the same for the person they are addressing in the song. They pledge to make the person happy and, in doing so, find their own happiness as well.
The lyrics of this song encourage listeners to find happiness by spreading it to others. It suggests that happiness is not an isolated emotion - it is something that is shared, and when we make others happy, we feel happy ourselves. The singer believes that life is worth living when we are giving joy and making people happy. The key message of the song is that we can all find happiness by being kind, generous, and caring towards others.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a very ordinary man
I am a humble person with no extraordinary qualities.
Trying to work out life's happy plan
I struggle to find the path to happiness and fulfillment in life.
Doing unto others as I'd like to have them doing unto me
I treat others with kindness and respect, as I hope to be treated the same way.
When I find a very lonely soul
When I encounter someone who is alone and in need of companionship,
Soon be-kinda-comes my only goal
Helping and befriending that person becomes my primary objective.
I feel so much better when I tell them my philosophy
Sharing my personal beliefs and values brings me happiness and fulfillment.
I want to be happy
My ultimate goal is to achieve happiness.
But I won't be happy
I cannot attain true happiness,
Till I make you happy too.
Unless I am able to bring happiness to others as well.
Life's really worth living
Life is truly valuable and worthwhile.
When we are mirth giving
When we spread joy and laughter to others,
Why can't I give some to you
There is no reason why I cannot bring happiness to you as well.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
When you are feeling sad and discouraged,
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to brighten up your day and bring happiness into your life.
I want to be happy
My ultimate goal is to achieve happiness.
But I won't be happy
I cannot attain true happiness,
Till I make you happy too.
Unless I am able to bring happiness to others as well.
When skies are gray and you say you are blue
When you are feeling sad and discouraged,
I'll send the sun smiling through
I want to brighten up your day and bring happiness into your life.
I want to be happy
My ultimate goal is to achieve happiness.
But I won't be happy
I cannot attain true happiness,
Till I make you happy too.
Unless I am able to bring happiness to others as well.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind