Happy Birthday
Uriah Heep Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the magic garden
Some were singing
Some were dancing
While the midnight moon
Shone brightly overhead

The stars so gaily glistened
And the sphinx in silence listened to
The magician tell of
Lives that he had led

Let the bells of freedom ring
Songs of love to Friday's king

Let's all go to
The magician's birthday
It's in a forest
But not so far away
Much to do
And so much to say
While we listened to
The orchid orchestra play

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to magician
Happy birthday to you

Then at the dead of midnight
As we watched the dancing firelight
The air grew cold
And seemed to dull the flame
The fire died
The music faded
Filled with fear of death we waited
For now we knew
Some evil was to blame

I challenge you
I challenge you all
For all you own
And all you know
And I own the powers of darkness
I will steal what is mine

Surrender now or face my spite
I grant you it may be Friday night
But did you know this day
Also numbers thirteen

First I'll give you fire
I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
Yes, now I give you darkness
From your horror I'll create a dream

You cannot fight me
For I have the sword of hate
But one thing you can't see
My answer is simply
An impenetrable fortress
Of love love love

The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear
The fire burned again
The flames leapt
The organ played
The swans sang
To greet the day




And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love

Overall Meaning

In "Happy Birthday," Uriah Heep takes the listener on a musical journey to a magical garden where some people are singing, some are dancing, and the midnight moon is shining. The stars glisten and the sphinx silently listens as the magician tells tales of his past lives. As the celebration continues, the singer invites us to join them on the magician's birthday in a forest, where there is much to do and see. We are entertained by the orchid orchestra before the mood changes and evil is unleashed. The air suddenly grows cold, and the fire and music fade. The singer challenges us all to fight against the powers of darkness and offers us the one thing the darkness cannot conceive - an unbreakable fortress of love. The fear dissipates, the fire burns again, and the swans sing, signifying the triumph of love.


The lyrics of "Happy Birthday" are cryptic and open to interpretation. The magical garden, the sphinx, and the orchid orchestra are all mystical elements that add to the song's feel. The magician's birthday in the forest is a metaphor for life, where we must face both good and evil may come our way. The sword of hate that the darkness wields contrasts with the unbreakable fortress of love we have at our disposal. In the end, the song reminds us that love will always find a way to triumph.


Line by Line Meaning

In the magic garden
In a place of wonder and enchantment


Some were singing
Some were expressing joy through their voices


Some were dancing
Some were expressing joy through their movements


While the midnight moon
During a time of night illuminated by the moon


Shone brightly overhead
Providing light and casting shadows


The stars so gaily glistened
The stars shone and sparkled happily


And the sphinx in silence listened to
A mysterious creature listened intently and without speaking


The magician tell of
The magician spoke of and shared


Lives that he had led
His past experiences and adventures


Let the bells of freedom ring
May the sound of freedom be heard loudly and clearly


Songs of love to Friday's king
Let love be celebrated through music and dedicated to a mythical figure named Friday's king


Let's all go to
Let's join together and travel to


The magician's birthday
A celebration of the magician's birth


It's in a forest
A location surrounded by trees and nature


But not so far away
Nearby and accessible


Much to do
Many activities and opportunities


And so much to say
Plenty to express and communicate


While we listened to
As we actively paid attention to


The orchid orchestra play
A group of orchids making music together


Happy birthday to you
Celebrating your birth and existence


Happy birthday to magician
Celebrating the magician's birth and existence


Happy birthday to you
Celebrating your birth and existence


Then at the dead of midnight
At the exact time when night is darkest


As we watched the dancing firelight
Observing the movement of the flames


The air grew cold
The temperature dropped significantly


And seemed to dull the flame
Causing the fire to lose its brightness and intensity


The fire died
The fire burned out completely


The music faded
The sound of music became less and less audible until it disappeared


Filled with fear of death we waited
Overwhelmed with the idea of the possibility of death, we paused and anticipated


For now we knew
Now we were aware


Some evil was to blame
An act of malevolence was responsible


I challenge you
I compete or oppose you


I challenge you all
I compete or oppose all of you


For all you own
For everything that belongs to you


And all you know
For all knowledge and information that you possess


And I own the powers of darkness
I am in control of the forces of evil


I will steal what is mine
I will unjustly obtain what I believe to belong to me


Surrender now or face my spite
Submit to me immediately, or experience my hostility


I grant you it may be Friday night
Acknowledging the day of the week as Friday


But did you know this day
Were you aware that this particular day


Also numbers thirteen
Is also closely associated with the number thirteen


First I'll give you fire
First, I'll provide you with flames


I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
I transform your flames into a tranquil and calming flow of water


Yes, now I give you darkness
Now I present you with a world of obscurity and absence of light


From your horror I'll create a dream
From your fear, I'll craft a world of imagination


You cannot fight me
You cannot competently oppose me


For I have the sword of hate
I wield the weapon of malevolence


But one thing you can't see
However, one thing you fail to acknowledge


My answer is simply
My response is plain and straightforward


An impenetrable fortress
A durable and unassailable stronghold


Of love love love
Made of affection, kindness, and generosity


The fear went as quickly as it came
The apprehension disappeared as fast it arrived


The air was clear
The atmosphere was transparent and free of fog or pollution


The fire burned again
The flames reignited


The flames leapt
The fire surged upwards suddenly


The organ played
The musical instrument produced sound


The swans sang
The birds made a melodious noise with their voices


To greet the day
As a welcoming gesture to the arrival of daylight


And then we knew that
Then we understood that


Love will find love will find love
Affection can attract and unite like emotion and acts




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEN HENSLEY, LEE KERSLAKE, MICHAEL BOX

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower

[Verse 1]
In the magic garden
Some were singing
Some were dancing
While the midnight moon
Shone brightly overhead
The stars so gaily glistened
And the sphinx in silence
Listened to the magician tell
Of lives that he had led

[Pre-Chorus]
Let the bells of freedom ring
Songs of love to friday's king

[Chorus]
Let's all go to
The magician's birthday
It's in the forest
But not so far away
Much to do
And so much to say
While we listen to the
Orchid orchestra play

[Bridge]
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear magician
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)

[Verse 2]
Then at the dead of midnight
As we watched the dancing
Firelight, the air grew cold
And seemed to dull the flame
The fire died
The music faded
Filled with fear of death
We waited, for now we knew
Some evil was to blame

[Instrumental break 3:29-7:56]

[Verse 3]
I challenge you
I challenge you all
For all you own
And all you know
And by all the powers of darkness
I will steal what is mine
Surrender now or face my spite
I grant you it may be friday night
But did you know this day
Also numbers thirteen

[Verse 4]
First I give you fire
I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
Yes, now I give you nightmare
And from your horror I'll create a dream
You cannot fight me
For I have the sword of hate
But one thing you can't see
My answer is simply
An impenetrable fortress
Of love
Love

[Verse 5]
The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear
The fire burned again
The flames leapt
The organ played
The swans sang
To greet the day
And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love

[Outro]
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love



Xerxes 450

The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear, the fire burned again
The flames leapt, the organ played
The swans sang to greet the day

And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love will find
Love will find love will find love will find
Love.....



All comments from YouTube:

dave keim

just turned 80 and still rock on with these guys .so remember kids you are never to old to rockin roll so keep it alive.

Bobby Torello

68 still rock in and passin

Scott Beam

👍

Scott Beam

👍

Michael DeMita

You are getting newer everyday my friend keep on gockin
No reason we can’t live well into the 150 and beyond and healthy to boot
Wishing you ❤️🧘‍♀️🎸all th he blessings of life

Bobby Neal

Amen brother! I'm 71 today, & these guys helped write the soundtrack to my life since 1970!

43 More Replies...

Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower

[Verse 1]
In the magic garden
Some were singing
Some were dancing
While the midnight moon
Shone brightly overhead
The stars so gaily glistened
And the sphinx in silence
Listened to the magician tell
Of lives that he had led

[Pre-Chorus]
Let the bells of freedom ring
Songs of love to friday's king

[Chorus]
Let's all go to
The magician's birthday
It's in the forest
But not so far away
Much to do
And so much to say
While we listen to the
Orchid orchestra play

[Bridge]
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear magician
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday dear magician)
Happy birthday to you
(Happy birthday, to you)

[Verse 2]
Then at the dead of midnight
As we watched the dancing
Firelight, the air grew cold
And seemed to dull the flame
The fire died
The music faded
Filled with fear of death
We waited, for now we knew
Some evil was to blame

[Instrumental break 3:29-7:56]

[Verse 3]
I challenge you
I challenge you all
For all you own
And all you know
And by all the powers of darkness
I will steal what is mine
Surrender now or face my spite
I grant you it may be friday night
But did you know this day
Also numbers thirteen

[Verse 4]
First I give you fire
I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
Yes, now I give you nightmare
And from your horror I'll create a dream
You cannot fight me
For I have the sword of hate
But one thing you can't see
My answer is simply
An impenetrable fortress
Of love
Love

[Verse 5]
The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear
The fire burned again
The flames leapt
The organ played
The swans sang
To greet the day
And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love

[Outro]
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love
Will find love, will find love

Joe Newman

This song was just voted the #1 song in rock history (by me!).

Mel Cardonell

Me too

Jorge Osuna Aguilar

And me

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