[Verse 1]
Well, I've been pacin' this room for forty hours
Crawlin' up the walls and tryin' not to call
And I saw you walkin' in a supermarket aisle
I didn't say a word 'cause you had the biggest smile

[Verse 2]
And I've been thinkin' of you in the mornin' times
You woke me up so soft, I forgot the world ain't kind
I'd pull you in and you'd kiss me through a grin
And you'd say you missed me when you were busy sleepin'

[Chorus]
But what if I said happy instead
Is the way that I reckon it should be
And if you call, you'd say that you're okay
And I'd be wishin' I was dead
'Cause you're happy instead
Happy instead

[Verse 3]
And I've been dreamin' of the life we woulda had
Happy at times but mostly just mad
Maybe it'd worked out, maybe it'd been fine
But every day your smile ain't showin' seems a waste of time
[Chorus]
So what if I said happy instead
Is the way that I reckon it should be
And if you call, you'd say that you're okay
And I'd be wishin' I was dead
'Cause you're happy instead
Happy instead

[Bridge]
It's been ten years, I haven't called you once
But you called last night and my child up and jumped
He asked who you were and you did the same
Handed me the phone and I couldn't recall your name

[Chorus]
But what if I said happy instead
Is the way that I reckon I should be
And if you call, you'll hear that I was okay
And you'd be wishin' you was dead
'Cause I'm happy instead
Happy instead
Oh, I'm happy instead
Happy instead

[Outro]
What if I said happy instead
Is the way that I reckon I should be
And if you call, you'd hear that I'm okay
And you'd be wishin' you was dead
'Cause I'm happy instead