Happy Man

The reason we go to college is to hopefully obtain a job that pays well. It is hard to ignore that money is at the center of many of the decisions we make, and it influences the types of people we become. The reason we go to college is to make money, but the real importance of college is finding out what makes us happy. Money should not be the source of our happiness but rather it should be something else that brings us real joy. This is what the song “Happy Man” by Jungle seeks to make people understand – money won’t make us happy.

The opening lines of this song directly contrast the title “Happy Man”.

I’m a troubled man, changed by the things I do
True, but it’s funny how they all remember you
It all could be different, time to do something new
I’ve given everything, I want to be a happy man too

Written by the duo of Tom McFarland and Josh Lloyd-Watson, it is evident that the man in this story is not happy at all. From the first line, we can gather that money has changed this man and made him troubled. This raises confusion for the listener because the man in this story is not a “Happy Man.” Just like everyone else, the man wants to be happy, but money has clouded his vision. The man realizes this and begins searching for “something new” which will bring him real joy.

The destructiveness of money is also seen in the lines,

Got to understand, blamed by the friends I lose
Who’s getting outta hand, do you think they depend on you?

Because of the man’s quest for money, he lost his friends. His judgement was so clouded by money that he didn’t recognize his friends were more important to him. Right of the bat, the listener gets a feel for what the rest of the song is going to be about and the destructiveness of money.

The chorus of the song also shows the dangers of money.

Buy yourself a dream, how’s it looking?
Buy yourself a car and a house to live in
Get yourself a girl, someone different
Buy yourself a dream and it won’t mean nothing

The lines here are especially powerful. For many people, their dream is to one day become really rich. With money, they could buy the nicest car, the nicest house, the nicest clothes, etc. etc. However, the last line shows that none of these material possessions will mean nothing in the end. A person’s success in life shouldn’t be judged on the things they have but rather the quality of life they have. Although being rich may bring financial security which is comforting, ultimately there is something else out there that makes us happy.

The last lines of the song show the man’s movement towards being happy.

No, I won’t let it tame or twist me
I just got told that I gotta move on
No, I won’t let it tame or twist me
I just got told that I gotta move on

The man in this story, after living a lavish life, chooses to do things differently. He’s not going to let the money take control of him so that he doesn’t lose any more friends. He realizes that money didn’t bring him happiness but rather it was his friendships that were truly important. In the end of this song, there is hope that the character in this story will indeed one day become a “Happy Man.”

So as one can see money doesn’t bring us happiness. The reason we go to college is to not only obtain a job but also to figure out what brings us fulfillment. Being rich in it of itself isn’t a bad thing but we must be cautious with how we use our money. This song is a reminder that we must keep close the things that are truly important to us like our friends. Things aren’t going to make a happy man, but relationships will. “Happy Man” can help form the decisions we make every day by showing how to live a good life. In the end, our dreams can’t be bought but they can be worked towards if we know ourselves and what truly makes us happy.