Felicity
Orange Juice Lyrics
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When they took it
Away from here
Honesty that could not have been too much more than me
One must be strong
For without the weather
Will change but within remain
We strive for happiness, I guess
When you lay it on the ground
Felicity, I guess so
Now I'm in a stupor
Behind the scenes which say
This way is OK
The clarity of my eyes
Shines both in memories of past victories
Fine scenes all shining white, shining white
Felicity, I guess so
Take me to the bridge now
Happiness
Oh oh happiness
Oh oh happiness
This is the sound of happiness
The song Felicity by Orange Juice is a contemplative and introspective piece that seems to be about loss and the struggle to find happiness in difficult times. The first verse speaks about the singer objecting when "they" took something away from them. Although it is not stated exactly what was taken, it is clear that it means a lot to the singer. They describe this object as being honest, meaning that it held a special value of truthfulness that could not be surpassed. It seems that this object was taken away forcibly and the singer is left feeling powerless. Yet, they acknowledge that one must be strong in the face of such a powerless situation. The last line of the verse "When you lay it on the ground" can be interpreted to mean that when everything is stripped away and you have nothing left, you can still come back to the very basic things that bring happiness. The singer acknowledges that despite everything, there is still some level of happiness that they strive for.
The second verse brings up the idea of a "clarity of my eyes". This can be interpreted as a sense of clarity in one's thoughts, which has been achieved through past victories. The singer seems to be looking back at past successes, which have given them the strength to carry on in the present. The lines "Fine scenes all shining white, shining white" can mean the recollection of specific events, which are remembered with fondness. The singer still finds it tough to find true happiness and is possibly in a state of confusion, but the repeated phrase "Felicity, I guess so" shows they are trying to remain optimistic.
Overall, the song seems to reflect on the struggles people face in life and the need to find joy in the little things, especially when everything else seems stripped away.
Line by Line Meaning
I objected
I spoke out against what happened
When they took it
When they removed something
Away from here
Away from the present location
Honesty that could not have been too much more than me
Being honest to a degree comparable to my own level of honesty
One must be strong
It is necessary to be strong
For without the weather
Because things can change unexpectedly
Will change but within remain
Things may change externally but remain the same internally
Unchanged the things with which
Certain aspects of our lives stay constant
We strive for happiness, I guess
We seek happiness but it is uncertain
When you lay it on the ground
When you reveal the truth
Felicity, I guess so
Perhaps this is true happiness
Now I'm in a stupor
Now I'm disoriented
Behind the scenes which say
Hidden factors that influence us
This way is OK
This path is acceptable
The clarity of my eyes
The sharpness of my perception
Shines both in memories of past victories
Recalling past successes makes me feel good
Fine scenes all shining white, shining white
Visually pleasing scenes that symbolize purity
Take me to the bridge now
Take me to the musical interlude
Happiness
Feeling of joy and contentment
Oh oh happiness
Verbalizing the emotion of happiness
This is the sound of happiness
This music represents happiness
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnnio99
This is the sound of HAPPINESS!!!
@femme-mirage
Sound of young beautiful Scotland!
@neilturtell
Played every few minutes on the Jukebox in the Leicester Uni union refectory for months - must have made the Union a fortune.
@tagtv
First time I've heard this since the '80s. I bought it as a new release, as a child, in '82. Thankfully, it still sounds fantastic.
@kennethmcclure5629
One of the best of new wave of scottish indie music, rock on edwyn!!
@80schick1967
"Now I'm in a stupor, behind the scenes, which say this way is, OK. The clarity of my eyes, shines forth in memories of past victories, fine scenes of...shining white, shining white... " I love the fragility and gaucheness of Edwin's delivery, GORGEOUS!
@theegyptianfringe8074
Sheer brilliance
@diskochimp
50p from Woolworth's, & it changed my life!
@3070Gordo
I knew a Felicity once, twenty years ago now, beautiful, funny, and the one that got away. Ah well, I'm happy, she's happy, it all worked out in the end. :)
@vversatile27
Happiness, oh oh happiness, this is the sound of happiness