Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo met in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the ages of 12 at a summer camp for musicians, which they both disliked. They spent their free time making beats and performing in groups with fellow childhood friend Timbaland. Shay Haley began performing with Williams and Hugo in high school. After watching the duo perform at a high school talent show, Teddy Riley, a musician and producer, signed Williams and Hugo in 1992. After producing songs for several artists throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, the production duo formed N.E.R.D in 2001 as a side project.
Happy
N.E.R.D Lyrics
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The winters coming now
And lives are falling and
I'm just brawling
You had me going out of my head
And I look stupid
The game was gruesome
And then it'd leave for a while
But there's no need for u now
Because I'm free of you now
You see I'm
[Chorus]
Happy (happy)
Things are lookin' good now (good now)
I feel so alive( so alive)
I'm on overdrive (overdrive)
I'm killing it, I'm killing it
[Bridge]
(Good, I'm good)
Don't try coming back
(Good, I'm good)
Cause I will not be there
(Good, I'm good)
Its not like you ever cared
Smiles would die too soon
Our days were filled with frowns
My job was calling
My life was falling
My friends said I looked like I was dead
Did I look stupid
Damn you cupid
You were shooting at me instead of landing on her
If this is how it should be
We should have stayed how we were
Cause now I'm
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Damn you're stupid
How'd you lose it
You had it all but you treated it wrong
You got some things to resolve
So I requested this song
Cause I'm just
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
In the first verse of N.E.R.D's song Happy, the lyrics focus on the changing seasons and how time seems to go by quickly. The singer hints at feeling lost and 'brawling', suggesting a struggle to come to terms with something. This could be a relationship or a personal issue that they are trying to overcome. The line 'you had me going out of my head' implies that the person they are addressing has caused them some emotional distress. Moving on to the chorus, we hear the singer saying that they are happy now and that things are looking good for them. They feel alive and unstoppable. The use of the phrase 'I'm killing it' suggests that the singer is doing exceptionally well and could even be interpreted as feeling vengeful towards whoever caused their pain.
In the second verse, the lyrics continue to reflect on the singer's struggles. They talk of days filled with frowns and how their job was calling. This suggests that they were perhaps neglecting their work or that it was causing them some stress. The singer's friends tell them they 'looked like [they were] dead', highlighting the severity of the situation. They then turn their attention to Cupid, accusing him of shooting at them instead of landing on their desired partner. The use of the phrase 'damn you Cupid' is a common expression when things have not gone as planned in a romantic situation. We then hear the chorus and bridge one more time before the song ends.
Overall, N.E.R.D's song Happy deals with themes of personal struggle and the ability to overcome it. The change in seasons serves as a metaphor for life and how quickly it can change. The singer's emotions are conveyed through powerful lyrics that draw the listener in and make them feel a sense of empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer's gone too soon
The time of happiness and joy passed too quickly
The winters coming now
A new period of time that is colder and more challenging is approaching
And lives are falling and
People are experiencing hardships and struggles
I'm just brawling
I am battling to overcome my difficulties
You had me going out of my head
You made me feel insane with love and obsession
And I look stupid
I appear foolish and embarrassed
The game was gruesome
The situation was tough and painful to endure
We'll be for a while
We were together for some time
And then it'd leave for a while
And then our love would fade temporarily
But there's no need for u now
I don't need you anymore
Because I'm free of you now
I am finally liberated from the hold you had on me
You see I'm
Now you can understand that
Happy (happy)
I am pleased and content
Things are lookin' good now (good now)
My life seems to be looking up at the moment
I feel so alive( so alive)
I feel invigorated and full of energy
I'm on overdrive (overdrive)
I am working and striving at my highest level
I'm killing it, I'm killing it
I am succeeding beyond my expectations and doing it well
(Good, I'm good)
(I am doing well)
Don't try coming back
Don't try to reconnect with me
Cause I will not be there
Because I have already moved on
Its not like you ever cared
You never truly showed me genuine care and affection
Smiles would die too soon
Our happy moments were short-lived
Our days were filled with frowns
Most of our days were fraught with sadness and disappointment
My job was calling
My career was demanding and important
My life was falling
Meanwhile, my personal life was crumbling
My friends said I looked like I was dead
My friends thought I looked drained and unhappy
Damn you cupid
Curse you, the god of love, for shooting me with your arrow
You were shooting at me instead of landing on her
You aimed your arrow at me, instead of making the woman I love fall in love with me
If this is how it should be
If breaking up is the right thing to do
We should have stayed how we were
We should have stayed together and not have messed things up
Damn you're stupid
You are foolish for losing me
How'd you lose it
How did you mess up something that was so good?
You had it all but you treated it wrong
You had the best relationship and love, but you didn't value it enough
You got some things to resolve
You have some matters to address and fix in your life
So I requested this song
So I asked for this song to express all my emotions
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind