Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Thank You Bob Marley***





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,
when you worry you make it double
don't worry, be happy

dont worry be happy now
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
aint 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 litagate,
dont worry (small laugh) be happy,

look at me im happy,
don't worry, be happy

i give you my phone number,
when your worried, call me,
i make you happy

don't worry, be happy

aint got no cash, aint got no style,
aint got no gal to make you smile
but don't worry, be happy

cos when you worry, your face will frown,
and that will bring everybody down,
so don't worry, be happy

don't worry, be happy now...

don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy

now there this song i wrote
i hope you you learned it note for note
like good little children

dont worry be happy

listen to what i say
in your life expect some trouble
when you worry you make it double
dont worry be happy
be happy now

dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry
dont worry be happy
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,
i'm not worried



***

Covers and alternative versions

Versions of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" have been recorded by several artists. The Katsimiha Brothers made a Greek cover of the song with original lyrics, and Montenegrin musician Rambo Amadeus made a parody entitled "Don't Happy, Be Worry," as a critique to the optimism of the music scene in the former Yugoslavia in the face of war and economic depression. The lyrics of "Fight the Power" by hip-hop artists Public Enemy also refer to "Don't Worry, Be Happy". This song is also added into the Big Mouth Billy Bass. Hermes House Band covered the song on their "Rhythm of the Nineties" album in 2009. Reggae artist Cas Haley covered the song as a hidden bonus track on his "Favorites" album (together with former Jah Roots lead singer, Josh Heinrichs). Also in 1989 Dutch rock DJ Alfred Lagarde recorded a version in Dutch with a heavy Surinam accent under the name Johnny Camaro. This song is often mistakenly credited to Bob Marley (who had died seven years before McFerrin wrote the song), a result of frequent mislabeling among the file-sharing generation. This is why I love Bob Marley always way ahead of anything before it actually happened.

5 comments:

  1. I remember that song well! But, forgive me for doing this, I'm pretty sure the song was sung by Bobby McFarren. That's just from memory. I did just buy a remastered Bob Marley album and it's wonderful! The production values on some of Marley's early stuff weren't so good. LOL

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  2. Thanks Katie your correction have been so noted. But you've got to admire a guy who can produce work that not written until seven years after his death. Now that's forethought. lol

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  3. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY.

    WORDS FOR THE DAY.

    GRANNY

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  4. ROFL Annie! Yep! That Bob Marley was really ahead of his time! ;)

    When we were in Jamaica we ate at Mama Marley's restaurant (a small chain owned by Bob's mom). It was GOOD food! I think I got the Jerk goat. :)

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