In 1970 the band was involved in an automobile accident which claimed the life of Nick Pantas, whom the band decided not to replace. After recovering from his injuries, Doug Thaler quit the band, and was replaced by Micky Lee Soule. (Upon leaving in 1972, Thaler moved to New York and got a job as a booking agent — Elf was one of the bands he booked. In 1983, he became co-manager of Mötley Crüe. Present day he works at Metropolitan Talent as an artist manager, working with artists such as Art Garfunkel, Bruce Hornsby & Ratdog).
Cover of Elf's debut self-titled album was produced by Deep Purple members Roger Glover and Ian Paice, who happened to see Elf auditioning in 1972. For the next few years, the band enjoyed mild success as an opening act for Deep Purple.
Dio both sang and played the bass guitar until, in 1973, bass player Craig Gruber was asked to join. The same year saw Feinstein quit the band, to be replaced by Steve Edwards. Feinstein formed a band called The Rods, which met with a moderate amount of success, touring with groups such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, as well as Metallica, before finally retiring from the music industry. He would not return to the music scene until 2004, when his band, Feinstein, released the album Third Wish on the Magic Circle Music label.
In 1974, Dio was asked by Glover to sing on his solo album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Dio's rich, soulful voice gained the attention of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore who had just left Deep Purple and was looking for musicians for his first solo album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. He decided to use Elf for this album, and the band Rainbow was thus formed, with Blackmore replacing Edwards. After they finished recording the album, however, Driscoll, Gruber, and Soule were replaced by Cozy Powell, Jimmy Bain and Tony Carey, who played with Dio and Blackmore during the subsequent tour. In early 1975 percussionist Mark Nauseef joined Elf, but the group disbanded shortly afterwards
for the Slime singer's project see ELF.
Happy
Elf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Very very happy for you
Looking round every corner
I'm happy to see that you're happy
Special situations, pleasant demonstrations
'Til the cat rolled out of the bag
You let me get my hopes too high
Crazy kind of feeling, hanging from the ceiling
With a bag tied over my head
You won't let the sun shine in
But now you're very very happy that you're so happy
Very very happy for you
Looking round every corner
Look, I'm glad you're happy
Too much aggravation, time is kind of wasting
Got to get while I'm still alive
You're never gonna stop me now
But Lord you're very very happy, special situations
Very very happy, pleasant demonstration
[Repeat x8]
Very very happy, special situation
Very very happy, pleasant demonstration
In Elf's song "Happy," the singer expresses their happiness for someone else's happiness, despite feeling a sense of disappointment themselves. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been let down or hurt by this person in the past, possibly because they allowed their hopes to get too high. This is implied by the line "You let me get my hopes too high, but now you're happy." Despite this hurt, the singer still genuinely wishes for this person to be happy and feel joy in their special situations and pleasant demonstrations.
The second verse of the song introduces a sense of frustration and desperation, with the singer describing a "crazy kind of feeling" and feeling like they are "hanging from the ceiling" with a bag over their head. The implication is that this person has somehow caused the singer to feel trapped or suffocated by their behavior, refusing to let the "sun shine in." Despite this frustration, the singer is still happy for the person in question and acknowledges their happiness sincerely.
Overall, "Happy" is a bittersweet song about the complex nature of human relationships and emotion. It suggests that it is possible to feel a mix of happiness and disappointment towards someone, and that it can be challenging to navigate these feelings in a healthy way.
Line by Line Meaning
Very very happy that you're so happy
I'm extremely overjoyed that you're happy.
Very very happy for you
I'm truly happy for you.
Looking round every corner
I'm constantly searching to see how you're doing.
I'm happy to see that you're happy
It brings me joy when I see you happy.
Special situations, pleasant demonstrations
There are some unique occasions with enjoyable shows of happiness.
'Til the cat rolled out of the bag
We hid something until it was revealed.
You let me get my hopes too high
You raised my expectations and let me down.
But now you're happy
But now you're content with where you are.
Crazy kind of feeling, hanging from the ceiling
There's a wild sensation of being trapped.
With a bag tied over my head
Feeling suffocated and blindfolded by something.
You won't let the sun shine in
You're blocking happiness.
Too much aggravation, time is kind of wasting
There's lots of frustration and precious time being lost.
Got to get while I'm still alive
Need to take action before it's too late.
You're never gonna stop me now
Nothing will hold me back anymore.
But Lord you're very very happy, special situations
But goodness, you're so incredibly happy; these are unique situations.
Very very happy, pleasant demonstration
So exuberantly joyful with enjoyable displays of happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREGORY H BARTRAM, BRADLEY JOSEPH CIRCONE, BRETT ERIC MAYO, RICK SILK, MATTHEW SCOTT WALLACE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@avemaria3854
Very, very happy that you're so happy
Very, very happy for you
Looking around every corner
I'm happy to see that you're happy
Special situation
Pleasant demonstration
Till the cat rolled out of the bag
You let me get my hopes too high
But now you're happy
Crazy kind of feeling
Hanging from the ceiling
With a bag tied over my head
You won't let the sun shine in
But now you're
Very, very happy that you're so happy
Very, very happy for you
Looking around every corner
Lord I'm glad you're happy
Too much aggravation
Time is kind of wasting
Got to get while I’m still alive
You're never going to stop me now
But lord you're
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
Very, very happy, special situation
Very, very happy, pleasant demonstration
@the_meridian
If you were going to pick one Elf song to put on a Dio retrospective, I hope this is it. Everyone should have the joy of finding their way to this hidden gem.
@GeoZeppelin1979
his voice is like a elixir of immortality for your soul
@pauljames4866
One of the greatest rock vocalist ever RIP Ronnie James Dio
@hadenkiks960
The ending is so hypnotizing. Similar to Over and Over on Mob Rules. Ronnie James Dio was an amazing vocalist.
@AnthonyEmery1970
100% true.
@WICD1969
Good ear! Over and Over is one of the most underrated songs ever. Sabbath never even played it live once.
@the_meridian
@WICD1969 Happy is greater than Over and Over
@hadikorr9030
how can a mortal human being sing like that ,may be he is a divine being
@rosarioruiz6146
Wer weiss
@chrisrivas289
What a voice!