Kenny Chesney Taps Simple Wisdom in New Single ‘Happy Does’
"Happy is as happy does!"
Kenny Chesney finds reason to smile through uncertain times in his latest single, releasing the musical deep breath of “Happy Does.”
Feeling like a play of the famous wisdom of Forrest Gump’s mama — “happy is as happy does” — the feel-good track was written by Brock Berryhill, Brad Clawson, Greylan James and Jamie Paulin. With an acoustic melody, swaying rhythm and Chesney’s comforting voice, it’s all about loving life for what it is and not worrying about what it isn’t, but to Chesney, it’s not about burying your head in the sand. It’s more about doing your absolute best when times get tough, and then putting your feet up on the bar.
“I don’t believe in preaching, and I sure don’t want to tell anyone how to live,” he says of the track. “But right now, I think we can all use something to lift us up. … To do what you love, to chase a dream is a really special thing. When you’re doing that, you find a whole lot of happiness with just a little bit of something. The chorus with the rope swing, the palm tree off the rearview mirror, a kiss from someone you love. With all this unknown and all this who knows, it felt like the song people were going to need this summer.”
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“Happy is, as happy does / Grab a six-string, find a rope swing, hang a palm tree in your truck / Drink a beer, just because / Steal a slow dance in a rainstorm, and a kiss from who you love / Laugh and live with a half-full cup / Yeah, happy is as happy does,” goes the grinning chorus.
“Happy Does” is the third single from Chesney’s Here and Now album, and the follow up to his 31st career Number One, “Here and Now.” The album also debuted at the top of both the Billboard Country Albums chart and the all-genre Billboard 200 when it was released in May.
