Meaning of “Happier” by Marshmello and Bastille
“Happier” is a breakup song performed by American DJ/EDM producer Marshmello and British indie pop band Bastille. The lyrics of this song tell the story of a love affair between the narrator and his significant other that is rapidly coming to its end.
Despite being fully aware that the relationship has reached its tail end, the narrator still somehow wants to hold on. However, deep down within him, he knows that the only way his significant other can be “happier” is by abandoning the relationship and going their separate ways.
Facts about “Happier”
- “Happier” was co-written by Marshmello, Dan Smith (lead vocalist of Bastille) and British musician/songwriter Steve Mac.
- This track was produced by Marshmello only. In addition to that, Marshmello also played both the guitar and keyboards on this track.
- “Happier” was a chart success. It reached the top 10 in a number of countries across the globe, including Ireland and the Czech Republic. On the UK Singles Chart, “Happier” climbed to number 2. On the US Billboard Hot 100, it made it to number 6.
- Dan Smith is the only member of Bastille to play a role in the song’s creation and performance. However, the song was released as a collaboration between Bastille and Marshmello.
Who sings the song’s backing vocals?
The backing vocals of this track are provided by both Dan Smith of Bastille and English singer-songwriter Charlie Barnes. Barnes is best known for working as a touring musician for Bastille.
Have Marshmello and Bastille worked together before?
No. “Happier” marks the first time Marshmello and this British band have ever worked together.
Did the musicians make a music video for this track?
Yes. The official music video for “Happier” was released on September 24, 2018. The clip, which is very touching, shows the a beautiful and unbreakable bond between a woman and her dog. You can watch the video below.
Who is the woman in the “Happier” music video?
The woman in the video (the main character) is portrayed by American actress and singer Miranda Cosgrove. The other minor characters in the clip are actress Jordyn Jones and YouTuber Teala Dunn
What musical genre is “Happier”?
It is a pop song.
Which album does this song appear on?
You can find this track on the fourth mix-tape from Bastille titled Other People’s Heartache Part 4.
Does the dog die in the video? Because the dog goes to the vet and then the dog goes into a room and doesn’t come back out again. If so that’s so sad
Unfortunately, it does ):
It’s just like Marley and Me! ;-;
NO IT DOESNT
Yes it did. It’s quite sad.
But did it in the actul vid or just for the video? It so CUTE!!
<3 ;-;
When I watched the whole song I WAS CRYING 😭
It was heartbreaking.
I felt bad for the dog
And my friends dog died, and I was crying.
I felt the same way I cried and I feel bad for the dog.
I just watched it and I’m literally crying.
I was crying as well because I watched it just after my dog passed away. I am so sorry that your friends dog passed away.
My dog recently died and this song makes me feel really sad but I can’t stop listening to it
Same
My dad’s dog died ???? ????
I am sad like I am crying
yes it does
I think so
Too
I think so.it made me cry ???? ????
I always just cry when I watch Happier’s music video even though it’s my fave song
We love that song too! We are so glad to hear you also love it!
Me too I cried like 10 times
Me to artemis447 I think it is soo sad that the dog doesn’t come back
when i feel sad i listen to this and it helps me get past troubled times
Your not mello
I use this song for my service dog general even though he`s a stuffed animal I still use it till this day because he makes me happy when I`m depressed and whenever I feel that way I play the song and it always reminds me of General even though he doesn`t die and leave me but its just a meaning of symbol of a warning to tell me that if I`m not happy then he`ll have to stay home and he really wants me to be happier so just as you know General is my PTSD service dog I take him everywhere I go he`s my best friend just like the girl with golden retriever and the yellow bow he really fits perfectly with the song he is really important to me and he maybe a stuffed animal but he is a real dog in my eyes, and General is a German shepherd
What does this song mean to you?
To me, this song helps me reflect on my own life. It shows me all of the sacrifices I’ve made to make the people around me “happier”. It also helps me see the sacrifices that those around me have made. This song touches me so much and helps me see how my friends always try to cheer me up when I’m down. This song helps me realize that a smile can mean so much.
thats deep
Your comment is so true it will be beter if the dog dosent die
It would not because the dog would die anyway and that’s the meaning. The girl is putting the dog down because she wants her/him to be happier because the dog would suffer if he/she was alive.
Yea and no. Yes she had to let the dog go to end it’s suffering but the dog was there to end hers as well. It gave her the companionship and confidence she needed to become truly happy. Even in the dogs dying moments when it sees her upset it licks her to comfort her.
This song is kinda saying that you need to not be sad on what ended but happy for what’s begining.
hi my name is jeff
hi my name is jeffery
Glad to meet you Jeffery.
I thought u were theo
This video was really sweet and definitely shows the relationship between the girl and dog. It shows how they have an unbreakable bond but my question is does their relationship resemble how the dog is making her happy even when you get sick? Since the song is supposed to be about a relationship that makes sacrifices
I know it’s about a break-up, but wouldn’t it be cool, if it was actually written from the dogs POV? Like the dogs saying “I love you and I’ll miss you and you having someone else is painful to think of, but I have to move on. Even when I’m gone, I know everything we went through will get to you, every argument, disagreement, etc. But I have to go, it’s my times. All I want is for you to be happier.” Wouldn’t that be cool?
This would actually be cool and heart touching for all those out there who lost their best friend
I agree. This song had got me though a lot my parents told me they were getting divorced and my best friend had just died from cancer. This song helped me feel 1% better and that’s a lot for what I went though and still are going though. I’ll never feel 100% again. But this song is my go to song it makes me feel that no matter what you have to try to be as happy as possible.
I agree. I just lost my dog last January and this song really makes me cry. It’s true they want us to be happier even if it means they have to leave. But it really is so painful. If it was really possible, i would definitely want my dog around forever.
song is sad but good I kinda cryed but I LOVE IT
I don’t think the video goes with the song because the song is about two lovers who know they have to breakup to be happier but the video is about a girl who’s been bullied all her life and she gets a dog which cheers her up until her dog dies and she gets sad.
The song is about a relationship that has to end in order to be “happier”. I’m pretty sure they used a girl and her dog to make it more vulnerable and make it have a different perspective instead of romance.
Is this songs also about a dog and its owner?
Kinda sad about it.
Bastille wrote the lyrics and the initial song … sent it to marshmallow who then messes around with the beat 15 times till he hit on the one we hear … it was a total collaboration between the two and they have been interviewed and confirmed this … great song
I think this song is under cleverly disguised as a break up song… but i feel confident from video that it’s flipping both ways and the other is about knowing nothing is permanent and acceptance. In the sense that losing those we care about is so painful that we ask is it worth having things to lose. That in the moments of loss, the the things we go through seem less significant. I think the changing mind thing is about the thought process of it’d be easier just to not be involved, but realising you can make people happier by being present in their lives in the first place, and to make the most of that time.
I cried the first time I saw it.
123 all the kids bully me
I can relate to this song SO much.
I love the song… Break up songs are always ma best songs.. The video is quite cool and goes in line with the lyrics of the song just that a dog was used… It’s more of a soul song to me.. Nice one bastille and marshmello
Is the video from the dogs perspective bc the lyrics say ‘I want to see you smile but know that means I’ll have to leave’
I think this is not only about a break-up, but about friends. This could be about taking drastic measures – such as killing one’s self to make the other happier, or leaving your friend because you know you just hurt them over and over. I tend to think of things on the dark side, but that’s just my view.
I can relate to this song.I was messed with as a kid,so when I came home my dog comforted me so much and made me happier.My dog died in the summer of 2018. Fortunately I got over that.But I bust out crying each time I watch the music video.
No matter what happens in Our lives we should Always Bear a SMILE to appreciate what w’ve still Got.
This is the most moving song especially since the coronaviris is around I cry every time I hear this song my sister’s dog Carson is really old almost 10 I can not imagine how she will feel when he dies she will call apart I will miss that dog ,this video is a comfort
This is the most moving song especially since the coronaviris is around I cry every time I hear this song my sister’s dog Carson is really old almost 10 I can not imagine how she will feel when he dies she will call apart I will miss that dog ,this video is a comfort thank you for making this song Allan that is so true
I love this song but it’s so sad
I love this song but it’s so sad thanks for this meaningful song
When the singer says “I think that we both know how the story ends, THEN ONLY for a minute I want to change my mind”… does that mean that only for a certain period he’ll leave, just to later come back. Because they know how the story ends: Both of them together. Am I right? OR am I just looking for an answer that doesn’t exist lol
The second one
It.means that he doesnt want to let go and for a minute almost.decides.to be selfish but then does “the right thing”
When I first heard this song, i thought it could have been about suicide or drug addiction. That’s why i love music. Every song has a different meaning for everyone who hears it. <3
I’m doing a song project and i chose this song for it cause its the best ever! I came to find the meaning but found more people who think like me about this song.
Just cried to the music video again. but i can’t stop listing to the song its my fav.
is this music important?
…If you know how to feel then it doesn’t matter.
My class makes me watch it just to see me cry. I love the song but I wish the dog came back or she got a new dog and hated that dog forever. not her daughter gets a dog. That’s just what I think. Sorry if everyone hates it.
I understand the song’s meaning, but the music videos meaning is confusing to the song. I also understand that the dog died.
I love the music video, it’s so touching. But what I don’t get is, How is a breakup related to the relationship of a dog and its owner? Cuz that is so much bigger than a breakup. Can you please clear this confusion for me
I cried when I saw this.
Happier always makes me happier when i hear it everyday and it’s what thrives me and marshmello just had to say his feelings towards that one person.
This song made me cry for a hour just why what’s the meaning somebody telll me pls
I’ve been listening to this song since I was 4, and it’s so moving and sad but I can’t stop watching it…but why does the dog think she’ll be happier if she dies? She loved it and was so sad when it died, why would she be happier when it was dead?
Because the dog was going to die anyway in the video there where meds for the dog Mello so that shows he/she was sick and he/she was going to just suffer being alive so she did the right thing by putting him down because it would make Mello happier by not suffering
Ehh I love this song even though it is a sad story. Actually it’s kind of inspiring.
This song always makes me cry because I have a dog and I know someday he will go on and I just know I will never have a friend like him again
I love this song and its so heart touching. It makes me feel that I am going to cry. Well tears start to form but I wipe them off. It makes me think our 4-5 months old puppy, Kuki that what is going to happen with him. And I wish also that dogs could stay like us like 70-80 years. And by the way he is taken to a vet right? Then why does everyone say he is going to die?? Maybe he did because he looked old……………………………….
IT WAS SO SAD I WAS CRYING AND AFTER I WATCHED IT I COULDNT CUDDLE WITH MU DOG CUZ I WAS OUT OF TOWN!!!! Yes the dog dies.
This is so sad because I know it will happen to my dogs one by one and the puppy version of Mello (the dog) looks kinda like one of my dogs….
Don’t watch this if you have dogs or if u react to sad things very strongly. I don’t and it still made me cry
It’s because through body language they communicated Mello wasn’t gonna make it. The dad shaking his head, the girl crying as they carried him away… and then 20 years later her daughter got a dog and she cried a little bit cause she remember Mello…
I know this is so sad. But I didn’t cry, I’m not emotional. But this is so sad. By the way, I’m a Muslim and in school my friends, value friends dance to this song. Value meaning: Hindus, Christians,Jews.
I have to let my daughter go…..since 2020 when she was 2 now she’s 4 I never wanted to call them until now I realise its the only way for her to be happy…… when she’s with his father’s family but it’s Killin me deep inside …….
This is so emotional…me and my brother, when we first watched this, both of us teared up. But at the same time, this song is so sweet…
This was so emotional. When my brother and I first watched it, we teared up badly. Despite that, I love this song, it hits on so many different levels. How the dog was there for her, how they had each other’s backs…that combined with the fact that the dog had to die is saddening. But the ending brings a sort of comfort, when the woman’s daughter had her own dog, it was likely a feeling of nostalgia for the woman. Then again though, her daughter will most likely go through what she went through…the good and bad.
Some songs really love to mess with our feelings, right?