Unhappy Birthday

Today is my birthday.

I was just remembering my 15th birthday. My friend and I loved the Smiths, and I loved the song, “Unhappy Birthday.” So my friend, especially for me, called our local favorite radio station, 91X, and requested that they play the song for my birthday.

That morning, I turned on my radio and waited. “For Margaret’s birthday,” the DJ said. They played it! I had my cassette deck ready and hit “RECORD” so we could listen to it thousands of times afterwards and did many dances of joy.

The DJ, on the other hand, probably wondered what I’d done to my friend to make her hate me so much she had to PUBLICLY tell me to have a freaking Unhappy Birthday.

But she didn’t! She wanted me to have an awesome birthday, see, so she wished me an unhappy birthday. We were so ironic! Or something.

 

 

Lyrics:

 

I’ve come to wish you an unhappy birthday
I’ve come to wish you an unhappy birthday
‘Cause you’re evil
And you lie
And if you should die
I may feel slightly sad
(But I won’t cry)

Loved and lost
And some may say
When usually it’s Nothing
Surely you’re happy
It should be this way ?
I say “No, I’m gonna kill my dog”
And : “May the lines sag, may the lines sag heavy and deep tonight”

I’ve come to wish you an unhappy birthday
I’ve come to wish you an unhappy birthday
‘Cause you’re evil
And you lie
And if you should die
I may feel slightly sad
(But I won’t cry)

Loved and lost
And some may say
When usually it’s Nothing
Surely you’re happy
It should be this way ?
I said “No”
And then I shot myself
So, drink, drink, drink
And be ill tonight

From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Oh, unhappy birthday
Behind
Behind
Behind

So cheerful, right?

That’s why, in general, I don’t think parents should be too concerned if teens listen to completely morbid music– it brings them Great and Utter Joy.

And while I was looking for the Smiths clip, I found Joy Division. I forgot how much I liked this song! Here you go.

The lyrics, ’cause the lead’s kind of mumbling:

When routine bites hard,
And ambitions are low,
And resentment rides high,
But emotions won’t grow,
And we’re changing our ways,
Taking different roads.

Then love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.

Why is the bedroom so cold?
You’ve turned away on your side.
Is my timing that flawed?
Our respect runs so dry.
Yet there’s still this appeal
That we’ve kept through our lives.

But love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.

You cry out in your sleep,
All my failings exposed.
And there’s a taste in my mouth,
As desperation takes hold.
Just that something so good
Just can’t function no more.

But love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.
Love, love will tear us apart again.