Happiness?


[discography | gallery]

Roger Taylor 'Happiness?'

Released 9 September 1994, reached number 22, on chart for 2 weeks.
Later re-released in November 2013 as a download, and as part of the boxed set 'The Lot'.
Album length 48:14.

Tracklisting:
1. Nazis 1994
2. Happiness
3. Revelations
4. Touch The Sky
5. Foreign Sand
6. Freedom Train
7. 'You Had To Be There'
8. The Key
9. Everybody Hurts Sometime
10. Loneliness...
11. Dear Mr Murdoch
12. Old Friends


Non-Album Tracks:
Final Destination (but released on the Japanese album)
Dear Mr Murdoch (2011 version AKA Nude Mix)

 

Produced by Roger Taylor, Co Produced by Joshua J. Macrae
Engineered and Programming by Joshua J. Macrae
Mixed by Roger Taylor and Joshua J. Macrae
Recorded at Cosford Mill Studios, Surrey

'Foreign Sand' and 'Final Destination' recorded at One On One Recording, USA, produced by Roger Taylor and Yoshiki

Management: Jim Beach
Design by Roger Taylor and Richard Gray
Photography by Richard Gray, Simon Fowler, George Taylor, and Art Directors photo library

"everything exists in limited quantity - especially happiness"... picasso

Dedicated to the tasmanian tiger - thylacinus cynocephalus.....
but most especially.... for Freddie


The Japanese CD version adds 'Final Destination' but drops 'Dear Mr Murdoch'

 

Singles:


Nazis 1994


Track 1. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 2:35.
There are five further mixes of this track which have been released, plus one banned version, all of which have different lyrics, and full details can be found on the 'Nazis 1994' Remixes page.
This track segues into 'Happiness', but only just, as the music hasn't fully faded out when the track starts.

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Alternate Versions:
1. 2013 Remastered Version (2:38) (this is identical to the original version, with a slightly longer outro, but still segues into 'Happiness')
Lyrics:
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened (ahhhhh)
They say now it never happened

We gotta stop these stinking Nazis, yeah

And they say that it didn't happen
What the Nazis did to the Jews, yeah
If they think they've a second coming
Then we got different news, yeah

We gotta stop these stinking Nazis

They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen
They say now it didn't happen (ahhhhh)
They say now it didn't happen

We gotta stop these stinking Nazis, yeah

What the world needs is more Nazis
Like it needs a hole in the head, yeah
Your future is not safe at all
Till this disease is dead

They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened
They say now it never happened (ahhhhh)
They say now it never happened

We gotta stop these stinking Nazis, yeah

Happiness


Track 2. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 3:17.
This track segues from 'Nazis 1994' and into 'Revelations'.
On the original album, there is about 2 seconds between the last guitar burst and the scream at the start of 'Revelations'. On the 2013 remaster, there are around 19 seconds between the guitar burst and the scream, which comes 9 seconds into the 'Revelations' track.

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)

Alternate Versions:
1. Single Version (3:18) (on all singles; this is identical to the album version, but fades out after the last guitar burst)
2. 2013 Remastered Version (3:27) (this is identical to the original album version, but with a longer outro, which still segues into 'Revelations')
3. 'Best' Version (3:26) (on the 'Best' album only, this is identical to the 2013 resmastered version, but fades out fully at the end)

Live Versions:
1. Truro 1994 (3:17) (recorded at Truro City Hall, Truro, England, on 2 December 1994; available on the DVD in 'The Lot' boxed set only)
Lyrics:
There's just one thing that we all crave
From the cradle to the grave
A state of grace or state of mind
A point in space or point in time

In time of peace
In times of war
The self same goal
That we yearn for
Some have it all
But still have less
What we all need is happiness

Happiness is what you need (ahhh)
Yeah, happiness is all around (ahhh)
It's not easy to define it
It can't easily be found
No, no, no, no, can't easily be found (ahhh)
It can't easily be found
You know that it's true

'Cos happiness
Just can't be bought
Such purity more precious still than gold
And happiness
Can't just be taught
When you're young or if you're old

No matter how, how hard you try
In your own life, and through your years
With every up must come a down
Enjoy the laughter and the tears
Of happiness

Revelations


Track 3. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 3:44.
This track segues from 'Happiness'.

Alternate Versions:
1. 2013 Remastered Version (3:52) (this is identical to the original album version, but features a longer intro, which in reality should be included in the 'Happiness' track)
2. The Hungry Mix (4:01) (available on the 'Journey's End' USA 10" EP only, slightly retitled to 'Revelation'; this is a very good and much more basic mix, which replaces most of the music with basic percussion, electric guitar and keyboards)

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Phil Spalding (bass)

Lyrics: (the Hungry Mix adds the lyrics in red but loses the lyrics in blue)
Owww

I went to the Ukraine
They don't have much to eat
No sugar on the table
But the people stay sweet

I've been to the third world
They've got nothing but hope
Through the starving and dying
Sometimes somehow they cope

It was a revelation
A revelation
A revelation to me

I've been to the US

(Tell me where you're from, man)
Promised land of the free (alright)
With the workless and homeless
Begging on every street

It was a revelation
A revelation
A revelation to me

Revelation

It was a
Revelation

And right here in Europe
Far as can be seen
Butter mountains and wine lakes
That much food it's obscene

Now you can label me stupid
Or naive with this song
But when children are starving
I know what's right and what's wrong (what's wrong)

It was a revelation

Yeah - a revelation
A revelation to me,
yeah

Revelation
It was a
Revelation

Oooh
Revelation
It was a
Revelation
It was a revelation
A revelation to me


Oww

Touch The Sky


Track 4. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 5:05.
This track features a long, slow, instrumental build up, the true song length is just 3:32.

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)

Lyrics:
Ahhh, oooh, oh, oh, oh

When you smile - honey it's a cinch
I'd crawl for miles - it's worth every inch
I'd touch the sky, honey - for you
The way you turn you head
And the way you walk
I know it's a cliche, honey
The way you talk
And when you smile
You set the world alight (yeah)
When you throw your magic switch
You make me feel alright

Yeah, when you smile - it's a cinch
Paint won't dry - comes to the clinch
Politicians don't lie, honey, it's you

The way you fix your hair
Even - the way you boil your eggs
You got a certain something honey
Goes straight to my legs
And when you laugh
The whole world grins (yeah)
You get right through to my soul with just the little things

And when you smile - honey, I feel
Mountain high - honey, you make
The bad guys die, honey, it's you
It's the little things you do

Yeah, when you smile - honey, you make
Brave men cry - honey, you are
Something wild honey, it's you

Yeah, when you smile
I'd crawl for miles
We'll touch the sky, honey
It's you
It's the little things
The little things
You do

Foreign Sand


Track 5. Written by Roger Taylor and Yoshiki. Length 6:52.
Additional Assistance:
Yoshiki (arrangement, drums, piano and synthesiser)
Jim Cregan (guitars)
Phil Chen (bass)
Dick Marx (strings arrangement)
Brad Buxer and Geoff Grace (programming)
Rich Breen (mixing and recording)
Mick Ging (recording)

Alternate Versions:
1. Single Version (4:32) (on all formats of the single, the 'Solo Singles 1' album and 'The Lot' boxed set; this is a shortened version but has been remixed, losing instruments from some parts and gaining new instruments in others. It is approximately equivalent to the album version from 0:30 to 1:31, 2:27 to 5:45 and 6:11 to 6:23, fading over 15 seconds)
2. Video Version (5:02) (on the promo video, available as part of 'The Lot' boxed set only; this is the same as the single version but with a slightly longer outro, containing the album version sections from 0:30 to 1:31, 2:27 to 6:05, 6:18 to 6:32, and 6:45 onwards)

Lyrics: (the single version loses the lyrics in red, but adds the word in blue. The video version is the same as the single version, but in the outro, it retains the five lines in red, and loses the last three lines in white)
Here we go, ain't it grand
Here we stand on foreign sand
And we're not alone


Why do we fear what we don't understand
Can't we reach out our hands to try just say hello
Try to plant a seed, fulfil the need
To make it grow just say hello

And when you're far from home try to learn from what you see
Your eyes will tell you everything you need

Why do we dread what we don't really know
Come not as concubine, come not as foe
Come with intentions clearly shown
Try to plant a seed, fulfil the need
To make it grow just say hello

And though you're far from home try to learn from all you see
Your
mind eyes will tell you everything you need
Everything you need

Here we go, ain't it grand
Here we stand on foreign sand
We're not alone
Red, yellow, black and white
Every man stand in the light
Stand not alone

It's not a lie, it's not a sham
We play for keeps, it's not a scam
No bigotry, we're hand in hand
It ain't a cinch, we make a stand
We learn to live
On foreign sand
Just say hello

Why do we despise when we can't even speak
We keep on spreading lies
Far as we know it's the only way to be
Try to plant a seed, fulfil the need
To make it grow just say hello, hello, hello

And though you're far from home
Try to learn what you could be
Your heart will tell you everything you need
And though you're far from home
Try to learn what you could be
Your heart will tell you everything you need

Even though you stand
Here you stand
On foreign sand

Ain't it grand
Here we stand
On foreign sand
Together we stand
On foreign sand

Together we stand
Here we stand
On foreign sand

Freedom Train


Track 6. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 6:13.
This track originates from sessions for the Queen 'Innuendo' album.

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)

Alternate Versions:
1. 2013 Remastered Version (6:15) (this is identical to the original album version, but with a slightly longer intro)
Lyrics:
It's been a long time coming
Now it's time to dance
By the golden thread of circumstance
You're destiny come dressed as chance
We've been a long time coming
To this romance

Now I'm an honest man
But the time has come
And I'm a peaceful man
Peace before the storm
I think I hear my train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train

Now the world is changing
Faster than we know
In these troubled lands
Where hate dies slow
I think a train of change
Is coming down the track
It's coming right this way
It ain't turning back

Now I'm an honest man
With a message of hope
And I'm a peaceful man
On a slippery slope
I think I hear my train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train

I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train
I think I hear my freedom train

Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track
Coming down the track

'You Had To Be There'


Track 7. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 2:56.
Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Lyrics:
The sweetest moments that I ever had
The most magic memories that I recall
When the man came out and complained in the hall
When I met you, when I met you
'You had to be there'

The darkest hour that I ever lived
And the longest fall that I ever fell
And the sun went in, and the night was hell
When you left me, when you left me
'You had to be there'

The sweetest thoughts that I entertain
Are of happy days that might come again
I don't know your face, I don't know your name
Till we meet again, hope we meet again
'You have to be there'

The Key


Track 8. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 4:24.
Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)
Phil Spalding (bass)

Lyrics:
There once was a king of Paris
There was an emperor of Brazil
There was maybe a Loch Ness monster
There once was a Buffalo Bill

Now you can search the whole wide planet
Scratching in the mud and worms
But an honest politician
Is just a contradiction in terms

And if I had the keys to the kingdom
I'd hand them straight to you
In another time, another time
Another place, another place
Another life, another life
Another waste, another waste
Sometimes the last thing you wanna know is the truth

With your bishops, priests and mullahs
And all the mumbo, jumbo clans
When you're not accepting women
How can you love your fellow man

Well you can search the whole wide planet
Down to viruses and germs
A sensible religion
Is just a contradiction in terms

And if I had the keys to the kingdom
I'd hand them straight to you
In another time (another time)
Another place (another place)
Another life (another life)
Another waste (another waste)
Another love (another time)
Another lie (another day)
Another small way to die
Sometimes the last thing you wanna know is the truth

Everybody Hurts Sometime


Track 9. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 2:52.
Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Cathy Porter (backing vocals)

Alternate Versions:
1. 2013 Remastered Version (3:01) (this is identical to the original album version, but with a longer outro)
Live Versions:
1. Shepherd's Bush 1994 (3:39) (recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, on 15 September 1994; available on the 'Happiness' 12" single, the 'Solo Singles 1' album and 'The Lot' boxed set)
2. Truro 1994 (3:46) (recorded at Truro City Hall, Truro, England, on 2 December 1994; available on the DVD in 'The Lot' boxed set only)

Lyrics:
Well everybody hurts sometimes - you know it (you know it)
And everybody loves sometimes - don't be afraid to show it
If you don't get a little hurt sometimes
If you don't dig a little dirt sometimes
You ain't living at all

Love and affection (sweetest thing) is the sweetest thing
When love turns sour, it ain't a sin
It's a bitter pill but I tell you, turns to bitter sweet within
And it's on any street, everybody hurts sometimes

Happiness is a young man's dream
But it don't come easy - you know what I mean
Gotta chase it down the street, right to the last scene
Run down that illusion, and try to live your dream

'Cos everybody hurts sometimes (you know it) you know it
And everybody loves sometimes - don't be afraid to show it
And if you don't get a little hurt sometimes
If you don't dig a little dirt sometimes
You ain't living at all

'Cos everybody hurts sometimes (you know it) you know it
And everybody loves sometimes - don't be afraid to show it
If you don't get a little hurt sometimes
If you don't dig a little dirt sometimes
You ain't living at all

Loneliness...


Track 10. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 2:23.
Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Lyrics:
Loneliness - is the greatest curse
And loneliness - is hell on earth
They say it's all in the mind, well I'm sure that's true
But knowing isn't a cure, it don't help me or you

You don't know what it's like
Till you're truly alone
No, you don't know what it's like
Until you're alone
But then it's all in the mind - loneliness

Loneliness - can be so unkind
And loneliness - hope you never find it
They say it's all in the mind
See how it falls off the tongue
They say you reap what you sow
They must be putting us on

No you don't know what it's like
Until you're really alone
Cos you don't know what it's like
Until you're truly alone
No you don't know what it's like
Wait till you're really alone
But then it's all in the mind
Loneliness
Loneliness
Loneliness
Loneliness
Loneliness

Dear Mr Murdoch


Track 11. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 4:19.
This track was originally recorded by The Cross, but their version remains unreleased. It was not included on the Japanese version of the album.
The track was re-worked and re-released in July 2011, in response to the News International phone hacking scandal.

Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)

Alternate Versions:
1. Promo Version (4:27) (on an early Japanese promo album only; this version is very similar to the album version, but has a few lyric changes, a longer outro, and adds a short burst of horns at the end of the track)
2. 2013 Remastered Version (4:27) (this is identical to the original version, but has a longer outro with horns, similar to the promo version)
3. 2011 Re-working AKA Nude Mix (3:17) (released as a download in July 2011, and available on the 'Solo Singles 2' album, 'The Lot' boxed set, and the 'Fun On Earth' vinyl album; this is a re-worked version, which retains the original vocal (but it is 'straight', instead of having effects applied to it) and the music is stripped down to give it a much more basic feel. The track contains the lyrics to the promo version, but drops a few of the verses, including the 'carrion crow' verse, which is the most venemous)

Lyrics: (the Promo version adds the lyrics in red but loses the lyrics in blue. Click here for the lyrics to the 2011 version)
Dear Mr Murdoch, what have you done?
With your news of the screws and your soaraway sun
You sharpen our hatred
You've blunted our minds
We're drowning in nipples and bingo and sex crimes

How many times must they poke and they pry
Must they twist and lie
Just to add to the grime they even screwed up the times
Love to kick their ass goodbye, oh wouldn't I?

Dear Mr Murdoch you play hard to see
But with your bare arsed cheek you should be on page three

And dear Mr Murdoch you're really the pits
Bad news is good business, you're the king of the tits

They stain all they touch, they're real woman haters
But we're on their trail
They go straight for the lowest common denominators
How could they fail - go straight to jail (no bail)

Dear Mr Murdoch you're a powerful man
You control half our media whose
values don't scan life blood is scam
Dear Mr Murdoch we're not so amused
Just line up the people whose lives they've abused

Dear Mr Murdoch what do you know?
With your minions like vultures and carrion crow
They've sunk just as low as humans can sink
For
money profit they tell us how mass murderers think

And dear Mr Murdoch you come down from on high
You even bought up the air waves, you control all our sky

Dear Mr Murdoch you're a dangerous chap
With your jingoist lingo we're drowning in crap

Dear Mr Murdoch where are you coming from
Getting so hard to tell if you're a yank, oz or pom

And dear Mr Murdoch, um, you're really the pits
Bad news is good business, you're the king of the tits

Dear Mr Murdoch, um, you do it with zing
At lowering the standards you're really the king


And dear Mr Murdoch what have you done
You're not quite as nice as Atilla The Hun


Murdoch, Murdoch, Murdoch, Murdoch

2011 Version Lyrics:
Dear Mr Murdoch, what have you done?
With your news of the screws and your soaraway sun
You sharpen our hatred
You've blunted our minds
We're drowning in nipples and bingo and sex crimes

How many times must they poke and they pry
Must they twist and lie
Just to add to the grime they even screwed up the times
Love to kick their ass goodbye, oh wouldn't I?

Dear Mr Murdoch you play hard to see
But with your bare arsed cheek you should be on page three
Dear Mr Murdoch you're really the pits
Bad news is good business, you're the king of the tits

They stain all they touch, they're real woman haters
But we're on their trail
They go straight for the lowest common denominators
How could they fail - go straight to jail (no bail)

Dear Mr Murdoch you're a powerful man
You control half our media whose life blood is scam
Dear Mr Murdoch we're not so amused
Just line up the people whose lives they've abused

Dear Mr Murdoch you come down from on high
You even bought up the air waves, you control all our sky

Dear Mr Murdoch where are you coming from
Getting so hard to tell if you're a yank, oz or pom

And dear Mr Murdoch, um, you're really the pits
Bad news is good business, you're the king of the tits

Old Friends


Track 12. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 3:33.
Additional Assistance:
Jason Falloon (guitars)
Mike Crossley (keyboards)
Phil Spalding (bass)
Cathy Porter (backing vocals)

Live Versions:
1. Truro 1994 (3:03) (recorded at the Gosport Festival, Gosport, England, on 28 July 1994; available on the DVD in 'The Lot' boxed set only)
2. Shepherd's Bush 1994 (2:58) (recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, on 15 September 1994; available on the 'Happiness' 12" single, the 'Solo Singles 1' album and 'The Lot' boxed set)

Lyrics:
When the sun got big, and the night came down
We used to share a drink, and let the demons out
We let the good times rock - you made the bad times roll
We used to laugh a lot, you had a lot of soul

Old friends - in better times
Old friends of mine

And when the going got hard
And when times were tough
We put our backs to the wall
You used to strut your stuff
With a head held high and a heart so big
One fist at the sky - and shake a leg

Old friends - in better times

Even though, even though we miss you now
Look forward, don't look back
We'll get by somehow

Old friends of mine
Yeah

And so I raise my glass in a last goodbye
Sleep in peace old friend, for me you'll never die
The best thing I can say, after all this time
You were a real friend, of mine

Old friends - in better times

Final Destination


Non-Album Track. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 5:25.
This track is available on the 'Foreign Sand' 12" and CD singles, the Japanese CD album, the 'Solo Singles 1' album and 'The Lot' boxed set.
The track was originally recorded by The Cross, and appears on the album 'Mad, Bad And Dangerous To Know'.

Additional Assistance:
Yoshiki (arrangement, piano and synthesiser)
Jim Cregan (guitars)
Phil Chen (bass)
Dick Marx (strings arrangement)
Brad Buxer and Geoff Grace (programming)
Rich Breen (mixing and recording)
Mick Ging (recording)

Alternate Versions:
1. 2013 Remastered Version (5:29) (available on the 'Solo Singles 1' album and 'The Lot' boxed set, this is identical to the original version, but features a slightly longer outro)
Lyrics:
Maybe it's just a feeling every time we meet
But you hit me right out of the blue
From all those people out on the streets
And if one time you told me that you cared for me, heaven knows
You would renovate my soul

This could be my destination
You could be my destination
Till the end - end of the line
Till the end - end of my time
Till the end - end of the line
Till the end - end of my time

This could be my destination
You could be my destination, yeah

And if one time you told me that you loved me, heaven knows
You would renovate my soul
You could be my final destination (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh)
You must be my final destination (ahh, ahh, ahh)
In the day time, in the night time (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh)
In the summer time, in the winter time (ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh)
About anytime

For all time
Say you'll be mine
You'll be my final destination
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Till the end of time
Till the end of time
Till the end of time, end of time
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Say you'll be mine
Yeah