“Happier” Lyrics & Meaning (Marshmello & Bastille)

I don’t know how I feel about collaborations.

Most of the time, they don’t really work. The sum of the parts is less than each part individually.

But sometimes, collaborations work beautifully.

All parties bring their strengths to the table and balance out each other’s weaknesses.

That what happened when Marshmello and Bastille got together to make Happier.

Marshmello brought an upbeat tune and Bastille brought their customary downbeat lyrics.

So what is the Happier lyrics meaning?

Keep reading to find out. It is much sadder than the music, and the song title, would have you believe.

 

Happier By Marshmello Lyrics & Meaning

Happier is a collaboration between American DJ Marshmello and British indie pop band Bastille. Bastille frontman Dan Smith and Steve Mac originally wrote the song for Justin Bieber, but Smith was persuaded to keep it for Bastille.

They thought the song might make for a good collaboration and brought Marshmello on board. He turned the depressing lyrics into an upbeat EDM tune that somehow just works perfectly.

They released the single in August, 2018. The song is also included on Marshmello’s second studio album, Joytime II. It was a big hit with both critics and fans.

It reached the second spot on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles chart. It hit the top spot of Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Songs chart and stayed there longer than any other song in history.

That a collaboration between Bastille and Marshmallow was so successful should not come as much of a surprise. Throughout their careers, both Marshmello and Bastille have been influenced by, and collaborated with, various artists.

Marshmello has made a name for himself by blending EDM with dance-pop elements. He has teamed up with singers such as Anne-Marie, Justin Bieber, and OneRepublic.

Bastille has also worked with a range of musicians, including collaborating with dance music artist Zedd. Working with Marshmallow was thus not a big stretch.

I mentioned above that Marshmello turned the sad lyrics into a happy tune. What exactly are the lyrics talking about that is so sad? Let’s take a look at the complete song lyrics, before getting into their meaning.

 

Happier Lyrics

Intro

Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

Verse 1

When the morning comes
When we see what we’ve become
In the cold light of day, we’re a flame in the wind
Not the fire that we’ve begun
Every argument, every word we can’t take back
‘Cause with all that has happened
I think that we both know the way that this story ends

Chorus

Then only for a minute
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me
I wanna raise your spirits
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

Verse 2

When the evening falls
And I’m left there with my thoughts
And the image of you being with someone else
Well, it’s eating me up inside
But we ran our course, we pretended we’re okay
Now if we jump together, at least we can swim
Far away from the wreck we made

Chorus

Then only for a minute
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me
I wanna raise your spirits
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

Bridge

So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go
So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go

Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier
Even though I might not like this
I think that you’ll be happier, I want you to be happier

Chorus

Then only for a minute (Only for a minute)
I want to change my mind
‘Cause this just don’t feel right to me (Right to me)
I wanna raise your spirits (Wanna raise your spirits)
I want to see you smile but
Know that means I’ll have to leave

Know that means I’ll have to leave
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier

Outro

So I’ll go, I’ll go
I will go, go, go

 

Happier Meaning

The Happier lyrics meaning is a big reason for the song’s success. The song deals with something most of us have experienced: having to let go of someone you love, because you just aren’t quite right for each other.

The lyrics to Happier describe a person reflecting on their relationship and that they are better off apart. The song’s opening lines set the tone for the rest of the track:

Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been thinking
I want you to be happier, I want you to be happier.

The first verse describes why the narrator has come to the conclusion that they should split up: the relationship just didn’t work. There was too much arguing and they said things they can never unsay.

In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that breaking up will be difficult for him, too. But he knows they have to do it, even if the thought of his significant other being happier with someone else is killing him.

In the chorus, he expresses brief flashes of regret. These are the moments we all feel after a breakup, where we wish we could get back together again, even if we know that we are better off apart. The singer knows this, too, and finishes the chorus with the opening lines of the song, reaffirming his decision to end the relationship.

Throughout the song, the lyrics express the complex emotions and thoughts that can arise when a relationship comes to an end. The narrator acknowledges their significant other’s need for happiness and admits that they can’t provide it.

One of the most powerful aspects of the song is its focus on the process of moving on and finding closure. The lyrics illustrate the struggle of wanting to hold on to the relationship, while knowing deep inside that the best choice, the only choice, is to let go.

As the song progresses, the narrator ends up reaffirming the original realization that the relationship needs to end in order for them to be happy: “So I’ll go, I’ll go, I will go, go, go.”

 

Music Video

The music video for Happier was directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and it stars actress Miranda Cosgrove, as a young girl forming a bond with a Golden Retriever.

The girl gets the puppy for her birthday and the two grow up together. As she becomes a teenager, she faces challenges such as being picked last for a soccer team, but her dog is always there for her. The video’s emotional climax comes when the girl has to say goodbye to her dog, who has grown old and sick.

The Golden Retriever serves as a symbolic representation of the relationship mentioned in the lyrics, reflecting the theme of selflessness and the concept of happiness tied to it.

The video showcases the ups and downs in a person’s life and the impact a loving pet can have on our mental well-being. It reminds us that life is fleeting and unpredictable, so it is important to cherish memories with loved ones, be it a pet or a human.

The video also emphasizes the idea that sometimes, letting go of something or someone is required for their happiness.

The visual style of the video works beautifully to combine both heartwarming and heartbreaking moments in a seamless manner, further driving home the central message of the lyrics.

 

Happier Lyrics Marshmello Meaning: Final Thoughts

Happier by Marshmello and Bastille beautifully captures the emotional journey of a relationship that is no longer making the two parties in it happy. The Happier lyrics meaning tells a relatable story of love, loss, and the courage to prioritize another’s happiness above our own.

This song has resonated with fans due to its raw and honest expression of the emotions inherent in letting go of a relationship for the sake of happiness. When we hear the lyrics, we are reminded of your own experiences with heartbreak and the painful decisions that generally come with it, or lead to it.

For another wonderful and deeply emotional song about the end of a relationship, and also the loss of someone close to you, check out our article discussing the lyrics and meaning of Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi.