Glad To Be Unhappy
The Mamas & the Papas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fools rush in, so here I am
Awfully glad to be unhappy
I can't win but here I am
More than glad to be unhappy

Unrequited love's a bore, yeah
And I've got it pretty bad
But for someone you adore
It's a pleasure to be sad

Like a straying baby lamb
With no mama and no papa
I'm so unhappy (I am so unhappy) yeah

Unrequited love's a bore, yeah
And I've got it pretty bad
But for someone you adore
It's a pleasure to be sad

Like a straying baby lamb
With no mama and no papa




I'm so unhappy, yeah
But oh so glad

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Mamas & the Papas' song "Glad To Be Unhappy" speak about the experience of unrequited love, but with a twist. While the singer acknowledges the pain and boredom that come with loving someone who doesn't love them back, they also find a certain pleasure in their sadness. The first verse sets up this paradoxical attitude: "Fools rush in, so here I am / Awfully glad to be unhappy." The singer recognizes that they are "a fool" for continuing to invest in a relationship that makes them unhappy, but at the same time, they find some sort of strange contentment in their melancholy. This sentiment is repeated in the chorus, where the singer states that they are "more than glad to be unhappy" and that "for someone you adore / it's a pleasure to be sad."


The comparison to a "straying baby lamb / with no mama and no papa" is a poignant one. The singer is lost and alone, with no guidance or comfort, and yet they seem to take comfort in their loneliness. The final line, "But oh so glad," is delivered with a touch of ambiguity. Does the singer truly feel glad about their situation, or are they attempting to convince themselves of their own strength? Perhaps it's a bit of both. Regardless, the song captures the bittersweet emotion of unrequited love, and the way it can both hurt and inspire us.


Line by Line Meaning

Fools rush in, so here I am
I may be foolish, but I'm willing to take a chance on love.


Awfully glad to be unhappy
Even though my heart is broken, it's better than feeling nothing at all.


I can't win but here I am
I know this love is one-sided, but I can't help how I feel.


More than glad to be unhappy
In a strange way, being unhappy brings me some kind of fulfillment.


Unrequited love's a bore, yeah
Loving someone who doesn't love you back is dull and unfulfilling.


And I've got it pretty bad
My unrequited love is consuming and painful.


But for someone you adore
Despite the pain, loving someone deeply is worth it.


It's a pleasure to be sad
Feeling heartbroken by someone you love is bittersweet but still enjoyable.


Like a straying baby lamb
I feel lost and alone without the love I crave.


With no mama and no papa
I have no one to turn to for comfort or guidance with my broken heart.


I'm so unhappy (I am so unhappy) yeah
My heart is heavy and my soul is weary.


But oh so glad
Despite the pain, I wouldn't give up my love for anything.




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@phinmileski8501

I don't care what anyone says about this version, it will always be my favorite and nothing can change that.

@sheepyknees7763

It is awesome your right!!

@jmua8450

My favorite tune by them. Fantastic vocals.

@douglasjacobs1204

Papa John was absolutely brilliant at arranging vocals.  Love this piece!

@SuperMarioStar10

Fantastic song! Love Denny and Cass's vocals. Wayyyy underrated.

@barclaybenjamin6322

Man these people could really sing!

@bachcelia

este es mi grupo favorito y tengo 13 años! todo el mundo deberia conocerlo y poder disfrutarlo!!!!

@awake7586

Yo tengo 16 y lo descubrí hace poco, me descargue The complete Anthology que traé todas las canciones y no paro de escucharlos

@richardcummings4002

Great and underrated song

@malictory

I really like this version^_^ Reminds me of a nice summer day'.' Well, a melancholy one, at least!

More Comments

More Versions