A genius vocalist does not need accompaniment to record a song that can take the top lines of the charts. Bobby McFerrin proved this more than convincingly with Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Of course, this is far from the strongest composition among those that he performs, but it was she who made him famous.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy blew up the music world. It was released in 1988 and quickly won the recognition of listeners on all continents. Two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, Best Song, Record of the Year, and Best Male Vocalist in Pop at the 1989 Grammy Awards, Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
History and meaning of the song Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Not a single song performed without instruments could reach such heights. Would you say you hear the music in the song? Yes, it is, but Bobby McFerrin made all the sounds himself, without using auxiliary items. It must be said that this was by no means McFerrin’s first such experiment. Back in 1984, he recorded the world’s first a cappella jazz album.
The idea for the song came to McFerrin while he was visiting with the jazz band Tuck & Patti in San Francisco. In their apartment, he saw a poster with an image of the Indian guru Meher Baba, under which was written Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
This spiritual teacher and mystic often addressed his followers with variations of this phrase. As Bobby later said, the expression seemed to him “a very clear philosophical doctrine in four words.” Inspired, McFerrin wrote the song, using Don’t Worry, Be Happy as key words.
Interestingly, in the future, Bobby did not develop his unexpected success on the pop scene and continued to play jazz, and then became a conductor and performed with many famous orchestras.
Clip Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Next up is the music video for Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy.
Interesting Facts
- Many people still think that Don’t Worry, Be Happy was written or performed by Bob Marley. But neither is theoretically possible. Marley died in 1981 and the song didn’t appear until 1988.
- McFerrin deliberately sings with a Jamaican accent (which a man who grew up in Manhattan could not have) to give the song a certain flavor.
- In 1988, George W. Bush made Don’t Worry, Be Happy the official song of his campaign without asking the author’s permission. Democrat supporter Bobby McFerrin was outraged by this to such an extent that he publicly promised to vote against Bush and stopped performing the song altogether. The future president had to retreat.
- There have been rumors for a long time that Bobby committed suicide after recording Don’t Worry, Be Happy. It is not true. He is alive, continues to release albums and give concerts.
- The music video for the song features comedians Robin Williams and Bill Irwin.
- An excellent cover of Don’t Worry, Be Happy with a free translation of the text into Russian was made by Mikhail Bashakov.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy Lyrics Bobby McFerrin
Don’t worry, be happy
Here’s a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don’t worry, be happy
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now
Ain’t got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don’t worry, be happy
The landlord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy
Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style
Ain’t got no gal to make you smile
Don’t worry, be happy
Cause when you worry your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now
Now there is this song I wrote
I hope you learned it note for note
Like good little children
Don’t worry, be happy
Listen to what I sing
In your life you expect some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Be happy now
Don’t worry, don’t worry
Don’t do it, be happy
Put a smile on your face
Don’t bring everybody down like this
Don’t worry, it will soon pass, whatever it is
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t Worry, Be Happy lyrics by Bobby McFerrin Alternative
Do not worry be happy
I’ve written a little song
Maybe you want to sing it word for word
Do not worry be happy
There are problems in everyone’s life
But when you worry you double them
Do not worry be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now
You have nowhere to hide
Someone came and took your bed
Do not worry be happy
The owner says you owe the rent
You might have a subpoena
Do not worry be happy
Do not worry be happy
You don’t have money or style
Not a girl to smile at
Do not worry be happy
Because in anxiety your face will frown
And it will upset those around
Do not worry be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now
I’ve written a little song
I hope you remember it verbatim
Like good little children
Do not worry be happy
Hear what I sing
Get ready for life’s challenges
When you worry you double them
Do not worry be happy
Be happy right now
Don’t worry, don’t worry
Don’t do it, be happy
Break into a smile
No need to upset people like that.
Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon, whatever it is
Do not worry be happy
