Their once self-made CDs are now being produced by Grammy-winning producer Ross Hogarth.
They were chosen to perform in Boston's Street Performers Festival in 2004 at Faneuil Hall and also at the 2005 NACA National Conference. Their 2005 conference performance placed them in the "Top-20 Hot List" according to Campus Activities Magazine, saying that the duo is "one of the hottest new bands in the college market today."
Ryanhood's live show is characterized by a variety of instrumentation as well as comical crowd interaction.
Happiness
Ryanhood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try not to blame me for running away
Needed to leave had to get out of town
Had to make my way with both feet on the ground
Happiness was the old silk dress
You wore to your senior prom
Your mom and dad made it a special occasion
Now I confess that my life's still a mess
I am half the world away but I'm sad just the same
Paradise is not in a postcard or a picture frame
It's as close as me speaking your name
The first verse of Ryanhood's "Happiness" is about leaving a place or situation that has become difficult and causing unhappiness. The singer is taking a Greyhound bus, a symbol of escaping, in order to change their current situation. They seem to feel guilty for needing to leave, but at the same time, recognize that it is necessary for them to do so. The second verse begins with a nostalgic reference to a happy moment in the past, the senior prom. The memory is happy because it was an occasion in which the singer's mother and father made an effort to celebrate their child's life. But the lyrics take a turn with the confession that despite leaving, the singer's life is still a mess. They may be physically far away, but they are still sad nonetheless. The final line offers a new perspective on happiness, that it is something as simple as thinking of someone we love.
Overall, the song seems to be about the search for happiness and the realization that it may not come from drastic changes or external circumstances. It can be found in the little moments, like the feeling of being loved or the warmth of a memory.
Line by Line Meaning
Left today on a greyhound train
I left town on a greyhound train to escape my problems
Try not to blame me for running away
Please don't judge me for leaving
Needed to leave had to get out of town
I had to get out of town, it was necessary
Had to make my way with both feet on the ground
I had to be responsible and handle things on my own
Happiness was the old silk dress
You were happy in the past with simpler things, like an old silk dress
You wore to your senior prom
That dress reminds me of a special moment in your life
Your mom and dad made it a special occasion
Your parents worked hard to make your prom special
Taking your picture out on the front lawn
They took a photo of you outside to capture this happy moment
Now I confess that my life's still a mess
To be honest, my life isn't any better now
I am half the world away but I'm sad just the same
Even though I'm far away, I'm still feeling down
Paradise is not in a postcard or a picture frame
True happiness cannot be captured in a photo or postcard
It's as close as me speaking your name
Happiness is found in the memories and people we love, like you
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.