What do you think Don't Worry Be Happy means?

Bobby McFerrin: Don't Worry Be Happy Meaning

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Album cover for Don't Worry Be Happy album cover

Song Released: 1988


Don't Worry Be Happy Lyrics

Don't Worry, Be Happy
From the Movie "Cocktails"
Performed by Bobby McFerrin

Here is 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
When you worry you make it...

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  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Sep 18th 2006 !⃝

    I'm not 100% positive of this, but I beleive the song is about not worrying and just being happy. Again, this is only a guess on my part due the ambiguity of the mysterious and cryptic lyrics

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Feb 4th 2015 !⃝

    guys he is not being sarcastic he wants us to be happy. if you are broke make the most out of it and just don't worry. if you worry it will be bad for you. what he meant was just Don't worry be happy" it is in the title!!

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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     Dec 5th 2015 !⃝

    At first it might seem, the song is about keeping Your cool and hopes up in life's most difficult situations. Wrong. This is about drugs. In between verses He says: "I'll give You my phone number, when You worry, call Me, I'll make You happy". Now that's advertisement.

  4. anonymous
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     Oct 30th 2020 !⃝

    this song is entirely sarcastic about the situation of happyness.

    his totally useless answer to any crap situation you're facing is to smile. which wont help.

    the ooh ooh ooh part is literally onomatopoeia of someone crying. (sounds like boo hoo hoo)

    i can't believe how many people only took this songs meaning at face value.

  5. anonymous
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     May 14th 2020 !⃝

    The song is an invitation to take easy any situation of life,though hard it may be, just taking life on the right side.

  6. anonymous
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     May 25th 2019 !⃝

    I honestly believe this song is about just truly being happy in your own way, rather than 'put on a fake smile and pretend to be happy', it's actually all about being happy in your life no matter what situation you are in. The song is standing tall for all the people who are true happy people in the world and to encourage others to feel the same in their own way of happiness and to spread on the message to everyone on this Earth.
    and feel the genuine power of happiness.

  7. anonymous
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     Mar 10th 2013 !⃝

    Yeah, this might be the most misunderstood song of all time! I´m pretty sure, Bobby McFerrin meant it sarcastically.
    If you´re deprived of everything good, it would be an inappropriate and unhealthy reaction to not worry and it would impossible to be honestly happy.
    It´s just as sarcastic as "How to fight loneliness" by Wilco.

  8. anonymous
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     Feb 2nd 2011 !⃝

    Hate to disappoint you all, but if you listen to the song more closely, the "cryptic" lyrics are full of sarcasm. Its poking fun at what your role as a citizen of your country is "supposed" to be. He says so what, you're broke...be happy! Who's not happy when they're pockets are empty, right? Nowhere to sleep? Starving, single and jobless? Weeeeee! That's FUN! GIMME A BIG SMIIIILE :) Its him being the voice of government in a comedic way. A morale amongst the masses thing. If you still don't hear it, listen when he says put a smile on your faces "Like good little children". Just sayin.

  9. CaptainVegetable
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     Feb 5th 2009 !⃝

    I do believe that this song really is about letting go of worry in order to be happy. A fun song for sure, unlike the darkness of his later career and the sequel song "I'm Worried, Send Money".

  10. anonymous
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     Nov 12th 2008 !⃝

    Its about how the moon landing was faked,if you listen to the cryptic undertones you can hear a referance to Jimmy Hoffas exact location,as well as the meaning of life.If you play it backwards it actually says worry be angry.If you speed it up it tells you when St.Helens will erupt again,right down to the second.For real though,this silly song had everyone singing it back then,and no one is stupid enough to think its about anything other than being happy.Kinda fun to make fun of though.

  11. CHAD
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     Nov 5th 2008 !⃝

    I can't believe anyone would need an interpretation for this.

  12. midnitegreen
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     May 13th 2007 !⃝

    It is about dying, painfully.


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