Of Jamaican descent, and the second youngest of nine children, he was born in Lewisham, London. He is known as the 'King of Lovers Rock'. His music is sometimes closer to R&B, and pop, than to reggae music itself. His first major album was the self-titled Maxi Priest (1988) along with his cover of Cat Stevens' Wild World established him as one of the British reggae top singers this internationally acclaimed vocalist, is the only UK reggae act to score an American Billboard Number One. That was with a track entitled "Close To You", which was released in 1990.
In addition, a duet with Roberta Flack - "Set The Night To Music", also reached the U.S. Top Ten in 1991. In the latter half of his lengthy recording career, he has favoured working alongside other established, or up and coming, artistes. For example, Maxi Priest has worked with Sly & Robbie, Shaggy, Beres Hammond, Jazzie B, Apache Indian, Roberta Flack and Shabba Ranks.
Happy Days
Maxi Priest Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man call Pleirs, dih man cal Chhaka Demus
Is just the three of us wh nuh bogus
Music dis is coming from dih flick of our wrist
We nah dis so listen to this
Ah tell yuh this
Happy days are here again
It's great to be alive with a smile on your face
Cause that's alright
No you don't have to worry about your diamonds and pearls
You don't have to play around those kind of girls
You don't have to be the man who's high and fly
And that's no lie
[Chorus]
Oh singing happy days are here again
Everything we got is heaven sent
Think about how lucky we ought to be
Cause life's the key
And if yuh happy just clap your hands
And if you happy just stamp your feet
We a celebrate life Jah know say it sweet
Listen dih rythm you just can't sleep
People go to work, people go to school
People go to church to learn the golden rule
People like to party, people love the sun
Every day's a bonus when you're having fun
Repeat chorus
And if you just rich give to dih poor
The Father will love you more and more
And if you strong you help the weak
You turn yuh back you self defeat
Bap ba du bap spap
And if yuh happy just clap your hands
And if you happy just stamp your feet
We a celebrate life Jah know say it sweet
Listen dih rhythm you just can't sleep
Just think about the people who are fighting at war
Give me just a reason what they're fighting for
Life could be so nice if we inderstood
Learn to take the bad, like we take the good
[Chorus]
The song "Happy Days" by Maxi Priest is about enjoying life to the fullest, appreciating the little things, and being grateful for what we have. In the first verse, Maxi Priest introduces himself along with his collaborators Chaka Demus and Pliers, and talks about the power of their music. He encourages people to listen to the positive message they are sharing and enjoy themselves.
The chorus emphasizes the importance of being happy and grateful, and how it is essential to spread that happiness around. Maxi Priest reminds us that life is a blessing, and we should appreciate it. He encourages people to celebrate life and be thankful for everything they have. The bridge talks about helping others, being kind, and understanding that life is full of ups and downs. It is essential to take both good and bad experiences with grace and learn from them.
Overall, "Happy Days" is a fun, upbeat song with an inspiring message. Its catchy tune and positive vibes make it a great song to dance to and a perfect anthem for enjoying life.
Line by Line Meaning
Now listen to dih man call Maxi Priest
Pay attention to Maxi Priest's voice
Man call Pleirs, dih man cal Chhaka Demus
Also calling out Pleirs and Chhaka Demus
Is just the three of us wh nuh bogus
We are the real deal, no fakes here
Music dis is coming from dih flick of our wrist
The music is effortless for us
We nah dis so listen to this
We're not playing around, listen up
Ah tell yuh this
Let me tell you this
Happy days are here again
Good times are back
People gather round and tell your friends
Come together and spread the word
It's great to be alive with a smile on your face
It's wonderful to live life happily
Cause that's alright
And that's just fine
No you don't have to worry about your diamonds and pearls
Don't stress over material possessions
You don't have to play around those kind of girls
Don't waste time with superficial people
You don't have to be the man who's high and fly
You don't have to be flashy or showy
And that's no lie
It's the honest truth
Oh singing happy days are here again
We're celebrating good times
Everything we got is heaven sent
Our blessings are God-given
Think about how lucky we ought to be
Reflect on how fortunate we are
Cause life's the key
Life is most important
And if yuh happy just clap your hands
If you're happy, show it
And if you happy just stamp your feet
If you're happy, let it be known
We a celebrate life Jah know say it sweet
We're celebrating life and it's sweet
Listen dih rhythm you just can't sleep
The rhythm is so good, you can't help but move
People go to work, people go to school
People have responsibilities and obligations
People go to church to learn the golden rule
People seek spiritual guidance
People like to party, people love the sun
People enjoy having fun and being in the sun
Every day's a bonus when you're having fun
Every day is a gift when you enjoy it
And if you just rich give to dih poor
If you're wealthy, give to those in need
The Father will love you more and more
God will bless you for your generosity
And if you strong you help the weak
If you're able, assist those who are struggling
You turn yuh back you self defeat
If you ignore those in need, you're hurting yourself
Bap ba du bap spap
Musical interlude
Just think about the people who are fighting at war
Consider those who are fighting in conflicts
Give me just a reason what they're fighting for
Question the reasons for the fighting
Life could be so nice if we understood
Life could be wonderful if we had understanding
Learn to take the bad, like we take the good
We should accept the bad things in life like the good things
Repeat chorus
Reprise the chorus
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: JOHN CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR, ROBERT MC DONALD LIVINGSTON, ERNEST MARESCA, MAX ALFRED ELLIOTT, GARY BENSON, KEITH BENSON LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@calvinjefferson8255
Still kicking to this groove in 2021. A bad rhythm will not go away.
@sharh9127
Maxi at his best 💗 happy Days !