"Have a Nice Day" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. Written, composed and produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and John Shanks, It was the first single released from the band's 2005 album of the same name. The overall message of the song can be taken several ways, but reflects an overall theme of both tolerance and defiance, and its title has a discordant effect from its message. Musically, the song features a propulsive blast of power chords, drum beats, and sneering vocals, as well as choruses and hooks similar to Bon Jovi's previous material. It received a positive reception from critics, some of whom praised the song's arrangement and message; both favorable and unfavorable comparisons were made to the band's previous hit "It's My Life".
Jon Bon Jovi regarded the overall point of the song as to promote tolerance between those of different beliefs. Bon Jovi commented in an interview that "You can take [the message of the song] literally... or the way it's taken here, 'have a nice day' – end of conversation. That's really the point of the song. In order to not seem on a moral high ground, the best way to say is you have a difference of opinion is to end the conversation. We all can live in the world together.... everybody should get along." However, the song is also a sarcastic and defiant reaction to Jon Bon Jovi's disappointment over George W. Bush's re-election in 2004.
Lyrics
Why you wanna tell me how to live my life? Who are you to tell me if it's black or white? Mama, can you hear me? Try to understand. Is innocence the difference 'tween a boy and a man? My daddy lived a lie. That's just the price that he paid. Sacrificed his life just slavin' away. Oh, if there's one thing I hang onto, That gets me through the night, I ain't gonna do what I don't want to. I'm gonna live my life. Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice, Standing on the ledge I show the wind how to fly. When the world gets in my face, I say, "Have a nice day! Have a nice day!" Take a look around you. Nothing's what it seems. We're living in the broken home of hopes and dreams. Let me be the first to shake a helping hand Of anybody brave enough to take a stand. I've knocked on every door on every dead-end street Looking for forgiveness and what's left to believe? Oh, if there's one thing I hang onto, That gets me through the night, I ain't gonna do what I don't want to. I'm gonna live my life. Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice, Standing on the ledge I show the wind how to fly. When the world gets in my face, I say, "Have a nice day! Have a nice day!" Oh, if there's one thing I hang onto, That gets me through the night, I ain't gonna do what I don't want to. I'm gonna live my life. Shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice, Standing on the ledge I show the wind how to fly. When the world gets in my face, I say, "Have a nice day! Have a nice day! Have a nice day!" When the world keeps trying to drag me down, Gotta raise my hand, gonna stand my ground. I say, "Have a nice day! Have a nice day! Have a nice day!"
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