Happy With You

Written by Paul McCartney

Album This song officially appears on the Egypt Station Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 2018

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions




Related interviews



Twitter Q&A with Paul McCartney

Sep 10, 2018 • From Twitter


The real Paul McCartney faces his demons

October 2018 • From MOJO

Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.

Song facts

Happy With You” is a track from 2018 album “Egypt Station“. From “Words Between The Tracks” YouTube series:

Yeah, I was on holiday and I was just noodling around on the guitar, and I was thinking about the days when I had a lot of free time and used to just sort of lie around basically doing nothing all day, and getting a bit stoned and… just doing nothing really. Busy doing nothing.

And so I got this little riff on the guitar and the words came to me, you know: “I used to lie around all day, I used to get stoned, I used to like to get wasted, but these days I don’t.”

So it’s a song about growing up. There’s a period in your life – in some people’s lives – when they’re not being as productive, or not being as organised or disciplined as they may later turn out to be. So this was basically it.

Paul McCartney

In an interview with journalist Jonathan Dean:

There is a lot to be happy about and when I say in that song that I used to do this, I used to do that, but I don’t need to now, that’s kind of generally true. It’s not absolutely true, but I certainly did used to lie around stoned a lot in that era when everyone was just lying around stoned. And I don’t feel the need now. I’ve got better things to do. And so I list some of them and they are just little things I like, such as hear a Robin singing. I live on a farm, so the baby lambs running to their mothers…

Paul McCartney

This was me remembering the wasted days and then thinking: ‘But now I don’t need to do that because I’m happy with you, and I’m happy about a lot of things – good things to do’. So it was a nice one to write because I think it had an interesting story. And then I list in the middle-eight all these little things: a baby calling to its mother, an ice-cold stream rushing down the mountain… They were nice images to me, so I put it together and the song turned out to be ‘Happy With You’.

Paul McCartney

Interview with producer Greg Kurstin, from Rolling Stone, July 3, 2018:

What about “Happy With You?”

That’s a very simple acoustic song. It’s one of my favorites on the album, actually. It’s some acoustic and then I think he doubles it on electric guitar. He compressed it on the Fairchild, which was a real Beatles technique. I’m a music nerd, so I love to geek out on stuff like that. It’s so fun. And the song has such a simple little melody. I love it.

Greg Kurstin
Each track of “Egypt Station” has been given individual artwork that was first published on Twitter on August 14, 2018

Last updated on December 22, 2019

Lyrics

I sat round all day
I used to get stoned
I liked to get wasted
But these days I don't
'cos I'm happy, with you
I got lots of good things to do,
oh yeah

I walked around angry
I used to feel bad
But nowadays my days
Don't have to be sad
'cos I'm happy, with you
I got lots of good things to do,
oh yeah

Like, hear the high clear robin sing
Walk a bluebell carpet
Watch the children playing games
Catch a moon and then drop it
Hear the gentle mantle roll
On a frosty morning
See the mighty ocean break
Like a sailor's warning

I used to drink too much
Forgot to come home
I lied to my doctor
But these days I don't
'cos I'm happy, with you
I got lots of good things to do

Throw a pocketful of coins in the Trevi fountain
See an ice cold running stream
Rushing down the mountain
Hear a new born baby lamb
Calling for its mother
Watching reunited friends
Loving one another

I sat around all day
I liked to get stoned
I used to get wasted
But these days I don‘t
'cos I'm happy, with you
I got lots of good things to do, oh yeah

Happy with you
I'm happy with you
Happy with you

Variations


A Album version

Officially appears on


Egypt Station (Limited Orange & Blue LP)

Official album

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station (Deluxe edition)

Official album • Released in 2018

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station (Limited Red LP)

Official album • Released in 2018

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station (Limited Green Spotify LP)

Official album • Released in 2018

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station (Orange cassette)

Cassette • Released in 2018

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station

Official album • Released in 2018

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station - Explorer's Edition

Official album • Released in 2019

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles


Egypt Station - Traveller's Edition

Official album • Released in 2019

3:34 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Bass, Co-producer, Foot stomp, Harpsichord, Piano, Vocals
Abe Laboriel Jr. :
Fuzzy toms, Tack piano bass note
Keith Smith :
Engineering assistant
Greg Kurstin :
Finger snaps, Producer, Upright piano dampened single note
Steve Orchard :
Engineering
Mark 'Spike' Stent :
Mixing engineer
Michael Freeman :
Mixing assistant
Alex Pasco :
Engineering
Billy Bush :
Engineering
Julian Burg :
Engineering
Matt Tuggle :
Engineering assistant
Paul Pritchard :
Engineering assistant
Derek Stockwell :
Mixing assistant
Kyle Stevens :
Engineering assistant
Everton Nelson :
1st violin
John Metcalfe :
1st viola
Bruce White :
2nd viola
Ian Burdge :
Cello

Session Recording:
2016-2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Session Recording:
Late 2017 ?
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
2018 ?
Studio :
Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Live performances

“Happy With You” has been played in 1 soundchecks.

Contribute!

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Sam Denny 6 years ago

Who sings with him?


The PaulMcCartney Project 6 years ago

Hi Sam, according to the official credits, he's the only one singing.


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