WHY THE SONG DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY IS SO MAGICAL

‘“Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also. ‘ John 14:1

Bobby McFerrin was 38 years old and the son of a Baptist minister when he wrote the song, Don’t Worry Be Happy. The song went #1 on the pop charts and won song of the year as well as album of the year. It captured America’s attention.

What’s interesting to note is that although he hadn’t hit super stardom when he wrote the song — he had already garnered 4 Grammy’s. After Don’t Worry Be Happy was released — everything changed, super stardom was at his doorstep. I mean, it kind of has to happen when you take the #1 spot from Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N Roses. Here’s some lyrics to get you humming along.

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
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now

Ain’t 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 litigate
Don’t worry, be happy

Oh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh don’t worry, be happy
Here I give you my phone number, when you worry, call me, I make you happy, don’t worry, be happy)
Don’t worry, be happy
Ain’t got no cash, ain’t got no style
Ain’t got no gal to make you smile
Don’t worry, be happy
’Cause 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
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don’t worry
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don’t worry, be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don’t worry
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) be happy
(Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh) don’t worry, be happy

Now there, is this song I wrote
I hope you learned note for note
Like good little children, don’t worry, be happy
Now listen to what I said, in your life expect some trouble
When you worry you make it double
But don’t worry, be happy, be happy now

I thought of a lot of things to write about — but I honestly feel like this song right now has much more to say than I can. Worry is attacking us from every direction — however, don’t worry be happy.

If you’ve read anything I’ve written before, you’ll know that Philippians 4 is my jam chapter of the Bible. I don’t have many favorites but this chapter to me is one that I read every single day.

Why?

Because I get attacked with worry and anxiousness every day. Thoughts like, “what will my life be like? Will I be able to put my kids through college? Will I be able to take the family on vacation? Will I be able to adapt and educate myself in the workplace? Will I stay relevant?”

Yes — all of that — every single day — at some point.

Here is one of the verses that I sink my brain into every day.

‘Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One ! ‘ Philippians 4:4

In a nutshell — Don’t Worry Be Happy.