‘Happy Together’ is a song written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon and recorded by American rock band the Turtles. It was released as a single, b/w "Like the Seasons", in January 1967, and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first and only chart-topper there. The song also reached the top 20 in diverse countries, including number 2 in Canada and number 12 in the UK. It was later included on their third studio album, Happy Together (1967).
‘Happy Together’ was released as a single in January 1967, backed with the Warren Zevon-penned ‘Like the Seasons’. To promote the single, the band members performed in a couple of shows, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in February. The Turtles would be called to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in May 14, 1967, and again, as a quintet, on November 12 (Tucker had left for personal reasons). During this time, Douglas had left the Turtles to produce the Monkees. His replacement was Jim Pons, formerly from the Leaves. With Pons, they participated in a film shot in March that consisted of "the group running, jumping, rolling and mugging in a park in Los Angeles". Guitarist Tucker said in an interview that the park location was possibly Griffith Park.
Bonner and Gordon composed the song while still members of The Magicians. The lyrics, despite the joyous sound of the music, express an unrequited, imagined love. The demo was offered to and rejected by a dozen artists, due to its primitive sound. The Turtles, who had come from commercial and personal problems, found the demo and, thinking the song a potential hit, initially rehearsed it in live performances. They recorded their version in the Sunset Sound studio, with the newly-arrived bassist Chip Douglas arranging the horns and backing vocals.
Music critics have continued to praise the Turtles version for its pop qualities. The song was inducted into the list of the most-performed songs in the United States of the 20th century by BMI in 1999, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007. Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, singers of the Turtles, were involved on various legal battles due their attempts to copyright ‘Happy Together’ against unauthorized broadcasts, notably with Sirius XM Radio.
Label – White WhaleSongwriters – Alan Gordon, Garry Bonner
Producer – Joe Wissert
SONG LYRICS
[Intro][Verse 1]
Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together
[Verse 2]
If I should call you up, invest a dime (Call you up)
And you say you belong to me, and ease my mind (Ease my mind)
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine (Very fine)
So happy together
[Chorus]
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
[Verse 3]
Me and you, and you and me (You and me)
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be (It had to be)
The only one for me is you, and you for me (You for me)
So happy together
[Chorus]
I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life
[Verse 3]
Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
[Bridge]
Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba, ba
Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba
Ba-ba-ba, ba
[Verse 3]
Me and you, and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together
[Outro]
So happy together
And how is the weather?
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together
So happy together
So happy together (Ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba)