Probable line-up:

Drums: Jimmy Miller
Bass: Keith Richards
Electric guitars (incl. slide): Keith Richards & Mick Taylor
Lead vocals: Keith Richards & Mick Jagger
Background vocals: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards
Electric piano: Nicky Hopkins
Saxophone: Bobby Keys
Trumpet and/or trombone: Jim Price
Maracas: Bobby Keys
 

Well I never kept a dollar past sunset
It always burned a hole in my pants
Never made my school mama happy
Never blew a second chance, oh no

I need a love to keep me happy
Baby, baby (please) keep me happy

Always took candy from strangers
Didn't want to get me no trade
Never wanted to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day

Never got a flash out of cocktails
When I can get some flesh off the bone
Never got a lift out of Lear jets
When I can fly way back home

Baby, won't you keep me happy?

Ah keep on dancing, keep me happy
Now, baby, won't you squeeze me?
Baby, got the feeling...
Now, now... keep me happy
Come on now, keep me happy
Keep on dancing, keep me happy...
 
 

TrackTalk

Happy was something I did because I was for one time EARLY for a session. There was Bobby Keys and Jimmy Miller. And we were in the South of France, it was at the time we were recording Exile. We had nothing to do and  had suddenly picked up the guitar and played this riff. So we cut it and it's the record, it's the same. We cut the original track with a baritone sax, a guitar and Jimmy Miller on drums. And the rest of it is built up over that track. It was just an afternoon jam that everybody said, Wow, yeah, work on it.

That happened in one grand bash in France for Exile. I had the riff. The rest of the Stones were late for one reason or another. It was only Bobby Keys there and Jimmy Miller, who was producing. I said, I've got this idea; let's put it down for when the guys arrive. I put down some guitar and vocal, Bobby was on baritone sax and Jimmy was on drums. We listened to it, and I said, I can put another guitar there and a bass. By the time the Stones arrived, we'd cut it. I love it when they drip off the end of the fingers. And I was pretty happy about it, which is why it ended up being called Happy.

That's a strange song in a way 'cause if you play it you actually become happy (laughs). Even in the worst of circumstances. There's a little magical bounce on it... I can play it now and it gives you a lift, you know. I don't know why, except maybe the word (laughs).

Back to Exile On Main Street.

Back to Main Page.