By Daniel Tarade
There are stretches of times in the not-too-distant past where I faced immense stress and anxiety. Nestled within these eras are those times I would listen to “Three Little Birds” or “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” on repeat. Puncta that are emblematic of the whole. There are many similarities between these songs; “Three Little Birds” was written and recorded by Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley in 1980. Obvious thematic and lyrical similarities have resulted in many thinking that Bob Marley also penned “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” which was actually recorded by Bobby McFerrin in 1988. Both songs urge the listener to be happy in the chorus. The ditty about the birds refrains;
Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
And eight years later, ears were treated to the following;
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh
(Don't worry)
Ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh
(Be happy)
Ooh oo-ooh oo-ooh
(Don't worry, be happy)
Ooh, ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh
(Don't worry)
Ooh oo-ooh ooh ooh oo-ooh
(Be happy)
Ooh oo-ooh oo-ooh
(Don't worry, be happy)
Don’t worry, they plead. But why? For Bob Marley, he approaches comfortingly, assuring that all problems worthy of worry will dissipate. Now, Bob McFerrin takes a different approach. He does not guarantee your satisfaction or the easing of your burdens. He does not say things will be alright. He just asks that you be happy. Bob Marley describes. Bob McFerrin prescribes.
Perhaps you think I am over analyzing. But let’s keep going on with this exercise. Bob Marley sandwiches his delightful chorus with a description of the simple beauty in the world;
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Sayin', this is my message to you
Bob Marley says not to worry because everything will be alright. And the surest sign that things will be alright is that the birds are singing. Fair enough. In comparison, Bob McFerrin’s tune is downright gritty;
Ain't got no place to lay your head
Somebody came and took your bed
Don't worry, be happy
The land lord say your rent is late
He may have to litigate
Don't worry, be happy
(Look at me I'm happy)
And later on;
Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style
Ain't got no gal to make you smile
But 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
Don’t let the upbeat melody and heart-warming voice provided by Bob McFerrin shield you from the social injustice he casts light upon. In a terribly cheerful song, we hear described foreclosure, poverty, loneliness, and sheer square-ness. Yet, despite all the reason in the world to be upset, Bob McFerrin prescribes happiness. Why? Because misery perpetuates more misery, And;
Listen to what I say
In your life expect some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy, be happy now
Quite simply, the message of the song is that you cannot control your circumstances but you can control how you react. All things equal, might as well cultivate zen. This is the reason why I always preferred Bob McFerrin’s tune to Bob Marley’s hopelessly optimistic, albeit uplifting, song. No, things will not always be alright. Beyond simple inaccuracy, I believe the idea to be borderline dangerous. Much like the false ideal of the american dream, the firm grasp on everything-will-be-alright-just-smile stifles social change. The burden is shifted to the impoverished, the ill, the downtrodden. If things don’t turn out ok, it must be your fault.
Now, Bob McFerrin does imply that injustice can befall people despite their best efforts. I commend him for that. But more and more I realize that his own metaphysics of worry falls short. His prescribing happiness despite the circumstances of one’s life is akin to questioning why a person suffering from depression is so fixated on being sad. Bob McFerrin recognizes the insidious role of determinism in an unjust society but fails to see the connection with our own psychology. Does a person suffering from manic depression or paranoid schizophrenia have agency in being happy? Phrased less callously, should a person with severe mental illness be blamed for not being happy? No more than a person with metastatic cancer warrants blame for not being physically healthy. Now, what would a song about worry sound like when it’s author recognizes the determinism of not only our surroundings but also our very mindset? Probably not a number one hit.
Postscript on Determinism
Recursiveness at my very seat. Every deterministic thread I follow now leads back to my initiating said thread. Not of my own free will but because. Eddies break off from the maelstrom and carry forth infinite Matryoshka dolls; I think because I heard because I went because I thought because I did because I was because.