Shiny happy people laughing
Meet me in the crowd
People people
Throw your love around
Love me love me
Take it into town
Happy happy
Put it in the ground
Where the flowers grow
Gold and silver shine

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

Everyone around love them, love them
Put it in your hands
Take it take it
There's no time to cry
Happy happy
Put it in your heart
Where tomorrow shines
Gold and silver shine

Shiny happy people holding hands
Shiny happy people laughing

It's a relentless, mindless, upbeat happy song. There's not much you can do with something like that. It's inherently a jolly little song. Michael would try and undercut that on past albums, make it a little darker, but I don't think you could make that song a very dark song. It makes you happy to play it, and he came up with the jolliest little melody and lyrics he possibly could.
Peter Buck

I laughed for two weeks when I heard the guitar line. I thought it was the happiest guitar line I'd ever heard in my life. And the challenge for me was to write a song that was as happy as the music. It's so much harder to write a happy song than it is to write a sad song. It's so easy to think sad thoughts. Emotionally speaking, to put that across in an intelligent way is very simple, compared to intelligently commenting on happiness. Because happiness is not something you can really define.
Michael Stipe

The last thing I wanted to do was write a song that was ostensibly happy but very tongue-in-cheek. I just don't want to be a cynical person at all. There are elements of cynicism in myself I'm sure trickle through, but I just don't think this is a time for cynism. It's too easy to say, 'The world is a mess and I don't give a shit and why even bother?' That's why I think music like this is so important. It's not a diversion tactic, it's not a distraction from the world at large, but it is a sign of hope, and I say that with no irony.
Michael Stipe

So relentlessly upbeat you want to throw up. Sometimes you can revel in a little bit of naiveté, and that's just me and Michael's little wish.
Peter Buck

With everything that's going on on a global level right now, a song that will make people happy, and lift them out of the general mêlée of the world, is not a bad thing. Maybe we can help turn the tide a little bit with a really good, really positive, really happy song.
Michael Stipe

We tried over and over to get the parts to fir together right, and in the end I still don't think we nailed it exactly.
Bill Berry

Quotes collected from 'R.E.M. - In Their Own Words' by Peter Hogan

Lyrics are based on fans interpretations and are not official.

All R.E.M. originals written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe.

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By KriS The song "Shiny Happy People" is what turned me into a die-hard R.E.M. fan. It held me spellbound. I still can't listen to it without becoming spellbound.

By Judson P.Eneas A friend of mine once said to me that R.E.M. didn't sing Shiny Happy People, it's too jolly for them! Hmm. Id like to know what anyone else thinks.

By David Oldman

I really like this song alot. It's been so long since I've heard it, but I remembered it,and realized how awesome that song is.
Also I found out that my professor loves this song as well.
If I had the CD "Out Of Time" I would literally listeen to it 24/7.
I absolutely love the song Shiny Happy People!!!!!!!!!!

By Katryna Its things like this song that make me go on living in this world.

By Victor I absolutely LOVE this song! It's the very first R.E.M. song I ever owned, I've had it since I was four! I recently found my tape of it and was surprised to find it still worked! I have a good mind to frame it. No matter how many times I listen to this song, it brightens my day, and you know I can't listen to it without dancing as well!

By Birdy I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!! Even when I'm crying, if I hear this it always makes me laugh. It's just one of those songs that always make you smile.

By R.E.M.forever Its a song about people being happy in their relationships. "Plant it in the ground" or "Put it in your heart" is like, keep your relationship while it is so great and so nice.

By Candis Kennedy this song came out when i was in high school, and me and my friends would jump up and down like crazy everytime they played this song at the pep rallys and the dances. and hearing it now some 10+ years...it brings back crazy memories and still keeps me shiny and happy everytime i hear it. (we used to dance the "Stand" dance at MC D's as well...we loved REM!!!) lol ;)

By lizzie I love this song- It's so happy and cheers you up when you are down!

By Kara