Wanna Be Happy? – English Lyrics

• By: Kirk Franklin
• Album: Losing My Religion

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Kirk Franklin's inspiring gospel anthem, “Wanna Be Happy?”, and discover how it blends faith with the search for joy. Learn key phrases about overcoming obstacles and finding inner peace, all while improving your English comprehension through uplifting music.

[English]

The truth can hurt you

Or the truth can change you

What would truth do to you?

I just wanna be happy

But if I keep on doing the things

That keep on bringing me pain

There's no one else I can blame

If I'm not happy

Wasted time but now I can see

The biggest enemy is me

So I'm not happy

Cry yourself to sleep

Shout and raise your hands

It won't change a thing, child

Until you understand

If you're tired of being the same

If you're tired of things not changing

It's time for you to get out the way

Don't get stuck in how you feel

Say, "Jesus take the wheel"

He knows the road that you need to take

(But it only works if)

If you wanna be happy

(Look at yourself and say)

Don't you wanna be happy?

I just wanna be happy

But if I keep on giving my heart

For people to tear apart

The healing will never start

So I can be happy

Will I ever be happy?

Cry yourself to sleep

Shout and raise your hands

It won't change a thing, child

Until you understand

(If I'm talking to you, then say)

If you're tired of being the same

If you're tired of things not changing

It's time for you to get out the way (you've been there too long)

Don't get stuck in how you feel

Say, "Jesus take the wheel"

He knows the road that you need to take (I feel this one right here)

It's so easy to complain

Addicted to the pain (yes)

You give you heart, they push it away

(But I got good news for ya)

Jesus knows just how you feel

Just let Him take the wheel (hallelujah)

The love you need, He already gave

(But the question is)

Do you wanna be happy?

(If you're tired of you, then say)

I just wanna be happy

(Now, if you really mean that)

(Open up your heart and say it)

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah

(If you're tired of going in circles)

Let me hear you say yeah (yeah), yeah, yeah

(Tired of making the same mistakes)

Let me hear you say yeah (yeah), yeah, yeah

(But now's your chance)

Let me hear you say, yeah (say yeah), yeah, yeah

If you're tired of being the same

If you're tired of things not changing

It's time for you to get out the way

(Are you ready? Come on)

Don't get stuck in how you feel

Say, "Jesus take the wheel" (what you doin'?)

He knows the road that you need to take

(It's so easy to complain)

It's so easy to complain (come on)

Addicted to the pain (yeah)

You give you heart, they push it away

(There's somebody that'll never leave ya)

Jesus knows just how you feel (yessir!)

Just let Him take the wheel

The love you need, He already gave

(But the question is)

Do you wanna be happy?

(Took a long time but I'm ready)

I just wanna be happy

(Thank You, Lord, every day ask yourself)

Do you wanna be happy?

(Yes, pull over, let Him drive)

I just wanna be happy

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being in accordance with fact or reality
happy /ˈhæpi/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	verb - to make or become different
enemy /ˈɛnəmi/ B2	noun - a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to grasp the meaning, significance, or nature of something
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future
wheel /wiːl/ B1	noun - a circular object that revolves on an axle and is used for movement or transportation
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to be aware of or experience an emotion or sensation
addicted /əˈdɪktɪd/ B2	adjective - physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance or activity
road /roʊd/ A2	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another, especially one with a specially prepared surface that vehicles can use

Key Grammar Structures

• If I keep on doing the things that keep on bringing me pain

  ➔ Zero Conditional (Present Simple + Present Simple)

  ➔ Used to describe a general truth or a habitual action.

• Say, "Jesus take the wheel"

  ➔ Imperative mood + Correct Infinitive Form

  ➔ Used to give commands or make requests.

• It's so easy to complain

  ➔ It is + adjective + to-infinitive

  ➔ Expresses that a task or action is simple or effortless.

• He knows the road that you need to take

  ➔ Relative clause / Subject + verb + object

  ➔ Provides additional information about the noun 'the road' using a relative clause.

• Addicted to the pain

  ➔ Adjective + preposition + noun (adjective phrase)

  ➔ Describes a state where someone is compulsively involved in something.

• The love you need, He already gave

  ➔ Simple past tense + object + past participle

  ➔ Shows completed action in the past with emphasis on the result.

• It's so easy to complain

  ➔ It's + adjective + to-infinitive

  ➔ Expresses that a task or action is simple or effortless.