Built to Spill – Happiness

• +1
  General Comment:Almost, alovelyfadeout, but this is actually correct (corrections in the second verse):
  
  --
  Haven't had a half a hand in half of what I am
  Haven't heard of half the things that happened in the past
  Haven't given half the time to half the people half the things I planned
  You dont have to be so cruel, cause all I do is a little less than what I can
  
  Happiness will only happen when it can (x2)
  
  Haven't had the half a mind it takes to start to take a stand
  Haven't held on half as long as I had hoped, as I had hoped and planned
  Haven't missed half the shit they said I had to have to have a chance
  You dont have to be so cruel, cause all I do is a little less than what I can
  
  Happiness will only happen when it can (x4)
  --
  
  The wordplay in this song loses a lot if you get the lyrics wrong.
  
  Lots and lots of "h" words and sounds here. "Haven't given half the time to half the people half the things I planned." Half of half of half. That's 1/8th, and he hasn't even given that. He has a lot of things he doesn't have time to do.
  
  I believe the speaker in this song is a person who believes that happiness will come when it can, and therefore cannot make his/her own happiness. He hasn't "had half a hand in half of what [he] is." Maybe a person unable or unwilling to take full responsibility for his/her own actions. Or someone contemplating how little he/she is actually in control of his life, attitudes, and plans. Apathetic and defiant at the same time. Call ("haven't...") and response (enormous guitar riff). I personally don't think this song is a mistake.

  Flag shophappilyon April 02, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:i think it is about being in a depressed and unmotivated state. Having a half assed attitude towards everything. and its true "Happiness will only...happen when it can." It's hard to be happy when the motivation isn't there. it can't be forced.

  Flag kelsey3671on March 11, 2008   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I agree with you, awsugarcomeon, this song is about not trying to force things (happiness) because you can't. ultimately, you can't control happiness. I think it's hopeful and relaxing in a way, at least to me.
  Also, the lyrics posted here are wrong, I believe they should be:
  
  haven't had a half a hand
  in half of what i am
  haven't heard of half the things
  that happened in the past
  haven't given half the time
  to half the people
  and half the things i've planned
  you don't have to be so cruel cause
  all i do is a little less than what i can
  
  happiness will only happen when it can
  happiness will only happen when it can
  
  haven't had the half of mind to stay
  and start to take a stand
  haven't held on half as long as i had hoped
  as i had hoped and planned
  haven't heard of half the shit
  they said, I haven't had half a chance
  you dont have to be so cruel cause
  all i do is a little less than what i can
  
  happiness will only happen when it can
  happiness will only happen when it can
  happiness will only happen when it can
  happiness will only happen when it can

  Flag alovelyfadeouton June 04, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I really love BTS but I think this song was a mistake. A typo in their songography if you will. I think they were like, Let's try something completely new, something we've NEVER done before --- and I think it was a bad idea this time. Also I regret to say that the beginning gives me a mental picture of two cowboys on opposite ends of a dusty deserted wild west street with those boots with the sharp spinning things on the heels, calling each other on for a cowboy fight. Sorry Doug and others. I still love you so much and I always will.

  Flag loveloveloveron January 02, 2007   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I think it's about being annoyingly apathedic and easy-going. He doesn't care or really try kinda an ah well, we'll see what happens attidude"

  Flag Samalamadingdongon January 14, 2006   Link

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• 0
  General Comment:I always thought this song was about not worrying about things and waiting for them to happen (a watched pot never boils), but just letting things happen in their own time and about not regretting so many things. But lately I've been feeling more mixed on what it is about...who knows..I am probably completely wrong about this song.

  Flag awsugarcomeonon August 01, 2005   Link

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