Their debut single, I'm an Adult Now, quickly became a hit across Canada in 1986, sparked by a low-budget video which made it onto the Canadian music video channel MuchMusic. However, the band did not immediately sign to a record label, and released another independent single, Killed by Love, in 1988. The Amabile twins left the band that year, and were replaced by Kris Abbott and Leslie Stanwyck.
Also in 1988, they signed to Chrysalis Records. Their debut album, Love Junk, was produced by Todd Rundgren and released that year. "I'm an Adult Now" was re-recorded and released as a single again, making it to the charts a second time. The album sold over 100,000 copies in Canada, and was certified platinum, and is considered one of the classics of Canadian rock.
Stanwyck and Sinclair left, going on to form Universal Honey, after completing the band's follow-up with Rundgren, 1990's One-Sided Story.
Starting with the tour for the album, Brad Barker and Susan Murumets joined the lineup. Rachel Oldfield replaced Murumets in 1992. The band then went through difficulties with their record label, but signed to Mercury Records for 1993's The Downward Road.
Label troubles continued, and the band recorded their next two albums for the now-defunct Canadian label Iron Music. Oldfield left the band in 1995, and was replaced by Jennifer Foster, who in turn left the following year and was replaced by Renee Suchy.
Although the group never officially disbanded, after 1996 they did not record as a unit until 2005, when they recorded two new tracks for a greatest hits compilation.
Hard To Laugh
The Pursuit Of Happiness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinks you should be smilin'
?That girl, she's so pretty
That girl, she's so beguilin'?
Thinks you should be happy
Thinks you should coo-coo her
And start actin' all sappy
But it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
Had her hands around him
And she's been givin' it a beatin'
Well it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
But you've got to laugh
To prevent yourself from cryin'
People always asks you
Why you're so serious
'Cause your woman's got a body
That would make most men delirious
Yeah, she's got a body
Of that you're painfully aware
'Cause every time you see it
You wanna pull out your hair
But you know it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
Had her hands around him
And she's been givin' it a beatin'
Well, it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
But you've got to laugh
To prevent yourself from cryin'
Hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
Had her hands around him
And she's been givin' it a beatin'
Well, it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
But you've got to laugh
To prevent yourself from cryin'
Hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
Had her hands around him
She's been givin' it a beatin'
Well, it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
But you've got to laugh
To prevent yourself from cryin'
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
The lyrics to The Pursuit Of Happiness's song Hard To Laugh speak to the feelings of betrayal and hurt experienced after discovering that a significant other has been cheating. The first verse describes how others see the girl as charming and attractive, and assume that the person singing should be happy because of their relationship with her. However, the reality behind closed doors is that the girl has been cheating, and the person singing is struggling to find joy in the relationship.
The chorus repeats a mantra of how it's hard to laugh when you know that someone you love is lying and cheating. It is an admission of how hard it is to maintain a façade of happiness when you are dealing with the pain of deception. The second verse relays how people around the person singing are asking why they always look so serious. The reason behind it, of course, is the intense sense of betrayal that they are feeling from their partner.
The song is a captivating inventory of the complexities that come with betrayal in a relationship, and the lyrics convey an intense sense of disappointment and regret. These emotions are often a result of a broken vow or trust, which is the ultimate pain of betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone who sees you
Thinks you should be smilin'
People expect you to be happy since you appear beautiful
?That girl, she's so pretty
That girl, she's so beguilin'?
This girl is very attractive and charming
Thinks you should coo-coo her
And start actin' all sappy
They believe you should fawn over her and act love-struck
But it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
It's difficult to be happy when you're aware she's been unfaithful
Had her hands around him
And she's been givin' it a beatin'
She's been physically intimate with another man
Well it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
It's tough to be jolly when you're conscious that she's been deceptive
But you've got to laugh
To prevent yourself from cryin'
Even though it's challenging to do so, laughter helps to avoid crying
People always asks you
Why you're so serious
Others inquire about your lack of joy
'Cause your woman's got a body
That would make most men delirious
Other men would go crazy over her physique
Yeah, she's got a body
Of that you're painfully aware
You're painfully aware of her physically attractive figure
'Cause every time you see it
You wanna pull out your hair
You're frustrated because you can't have her for yourself
But you know it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been cheatin'
It's tough to be happy when you're aware she's been unfaithful
Well, it's hard to laugh
When you know that she's been lyin'
It's challenging to be happy when you're aware she's been deceptive
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
It's difficult to be happy when you're aware of her infidelity and deception
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alukuhito
The way he captures the pain of being cheated on...
People always ask you
Why you're so serious
'Cause your woman's got a body
That would make most men delirious
Yeah, she's got a body
Of that you're painfully aware
'Cause everytime you see it
You want to pull out your hair
But you know, it's it's hard to laugh when you know that she's been cheating
Had her hands around him and she's been giving it a beating
Well it's hard to laugh when you know that she's been lying
But you've got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying
@Ironman-zq8hv
Everyone who sees you thinks you should be smiling
That girl she's so pretty, that girl she's so beguiling
Everyone who sees you thinks you should be happy
Thinks you should coo-coo her and start acting all sappy
But it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been cheating
Had her
Hands around him and she's been giving it a beating
We'll it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been lying
But you
Got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying
People always ask you why you're so serious
'Cause your woman's got a body that would make most men delirious
Yeah, she's got a body, of that you're painfully aware
'Cause everytime you see it, you want to pull out your hair
But you know it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been cheating
Had her
Hands around him and she's been giving it a beating
We'll it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been lying
But you
Got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been cheating
Had her
Hands around him and she's been giving it a beating
We'll it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been lying
But you
Got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been cheating
Had her
Hands around him and she's been giving it a beating
We'll it's
Hard to laugh when you know that she's been lying
But you
Got to laugh to prevent yourself from crying
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
Hard to laugh
@SlitherWhisp
I miss this type of music....
@mikegerstbrein3053
Acerbic wit, smarts, hooks and harmonies for days. The "Love Junk" disc is one of the most criminally overlooked of all time.
@tamartin64
I had Love Junk, and Daring Adventures by Richard Thompson on a cassette in my shitty car I used to drive to the shittiest job I ever had in my life. I cannot express how grateful I was to TPoH, and Richard Thompson for making what was easily the worst time of my adult life bearable.
@tkw4021
I just bought this cd at Goodwill. I bought this not knowing a single song. Now I am hooked hard on them. This song is better than drugs and hugs. I am so glad I took a chance cause it paid off big time. Thanks Goodwill you gave me a thrill.
@NuclearIsShit
Right on
@hydrostream76
toronto !
@Knightswhosaynee
Ya l'm geezer enough to still have this playing in my head from the day it came out . Still like it , no apologies.
@gullywompr
Good choice at Good Will. These band was great.
@Joopsmann
Bought Love Junk on cassette tape in 1989. Fucking awesome 30+ years later.
@briandoyle3507
I have LOVE JUNK on cassette, as well!!.