Happiness
Elliott Smith (Covers) Lyrics
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And a cop's standing out in the road turning traffic away
There was nothing she could do until after
When his body'd been buried below
Way back in the day
Oh my, nothing else could've been done
He made his life a lie so he might never have to know anyone
I told him he shouldn't upset her
And that he'd only be making it worse involving somebody else
But I knew that he'd never forget her
While her memory worked in reverse to keep her safe from herself
And oh my, nothing else could've been done
She made her life a lie so she might never have to know anyone
Made her life the lie you know
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
The song "Happiness" by Elliott Smith (Covers) is a very poignant and moving song, dealing with themes of regret, loss, and the search for happiness. The lyrics suggest that the singer is reflecting upon a past relationship or situation where he tried to intervene in someone's life, but was ultimately unable to save them from their own destructive behaviors. The singer seems to be haunted by the memories of this person and the events that took place, wishing that things could have turned out differently.
The first verse describes a scene where a cop is standing in the road, turning traffic away from a burial site. We then learn that the "actor" has died, and that his death was the result of his own misguided actions. The second verse shifts the focus to a woman who was unable to overcome her own personal demons, despite the singer's best efforts to help her. The repeated line "made her life a lie" suggests that both individuals were living in denial or were simply avoiding the truth about their own lives and relationships.
In the chorus, the singer states that his old self will pass away, and that all he wants now is happiness for himself and the person he failed to save. The repetition of the line "what I used to be will pass away" underscores the idea that the singer has undergone a significant transformation, and that he now recognizes the importance of living in the present moment and embracing life's joys and sorrows.
Line by Line Meaning
Activity's killing the actor
Being too busy is taking away the real essence of what we want to do.
And a cop's standing out in the road turning traffic away
There's someone standing in the way of our dreams and redirecting us elsewhere.
There was nothing she could do until after
Sometimes we are powerless in situations where we wish we could have taken action.
When his body'd been buried below
It's too late to change things after the damage has already been done.
Way back in the day
In the past, when things were different.
Oh my, nothing else could've been done
Despite the situation, some things were simply out of one's power to change.
He made his life a lie so he might never have to know anyone
He lived a life of deception as a way to avoid getting too close to others and forming any sort of attachment.
Made his life the lie you know
He became so good at deceiving others that his new persona became the truth.
I told him he shouldn't upset her
I advised him against doing something that could potentially make the situation worse.
And that he'd only be making it worse involving somebody else
Bringing another person into the situation could escalate the problem even further.
But I knew that he'd never forget her
Despite his better judgement, he would always remember her.
While her memory worked in reverse to keep her safe from herself
She selectively remembered things in a way that protected her from emotional harm.
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
I am changing and evolving, and eventually you will see me in a new light.
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
My sole desire is for both of us to be happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL KEVIN MASTERSON, WILLIAM SMITH, JEANIE TRACY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind