“There Is A Happy Land;” Is the youthful observances of the fleeting nature of happiness within our lifetimes, and the idea of a metaphysical place which children can retreat to when they’re feeling lonely. Reminiscent of “Castle on A Cloud” from Les Miserable in its concepts, it is seemingly told from a child’s point of view. It is stated that “Adults aren’t allowed there [in the ‘Happy Land’]” Which comes back to the idea of youthful innocence, and its ability derived from need to escape the dismal surroundings for somewhere nice. Perhaps adults simply cannot find the happy land, as they are too caught up in their physical lives to see the overriding problems with their existence.
I enjoyed the ease with which Bowie encapsulates the essence of innocence, and carefully arranges the lyrics to fit to the thought processes of a child’s mind. I also liked the theme of children almost accidently encountering more adult concepts, and thus exploring them in an utterly childlike way. What I didn’t like about this song was its general sameness. Undistinguished from the other tracks despite its uniqueness when compared to most music, this song is quaint on its own, but dulled by the other similar, yet more powerful tracks on the CD.