Album: Have A Nice Day (2005)

Charted: 6 53

License This Song 

• Why, you want to tell me how to live my life?
  And who, are you to tell me if it's black or white?
  Mama, can you hear me? Try to understand
  Is innocence the difference between a boy and a man
  My daddy lived the lie, it'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, look 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
  With anybody, pray enough to take a stand
  I've knocked on every door, on every dead end street
  Looking for forgiveness
  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) 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
  I've gotta raise my hands, gonna stand my ground
  I say, hey, have a nice day
  Have a nice day
  Have a nice day Writer/s: John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
  Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TuneCore Japan KK, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

• Brandon from Los Angeles, CaliforniaThis song is about not letting people’s perception of you define who you are, but instead creating your own reality and being your own man.
  
  This idea is expressed in the opening lines “Why you wanna tell me how to live my life? And who are you to tell me if it's black or white?”
  
  Instead of simply following the labels that society gives us (“my daddy lived a lie it’s just the price that he paid”) this song urges us to do things on our own terms and not compromise who we are for anyone.
  
  Looking at the chorus: “shining like a diamond, rolling with the dice, standing on the ledge, I show the wind how to fly”
  
  The first 2 lines suggest that we should strive to be the best version of ourselves and take chances (rolling with the dice).
  The third line states how instead of blindly following the crowd (flying with the wind), we should redirect the crowd with our actions and start a new movement (showing the wind how to fly).
  
  The chorus continues to build, and then ends with the famous “Have a Nice Day” which is a classy way of saying “go F**k yourself” aka don’t try to label or confine me.
  
  Overall a very catchy and powerful song, and one of Bon Jovi’s best from the 2000s.
• Beau from Phoenix, AzBon Jovi took this saying from pro wrestler Mick Foley, who used this as his catchphrase for years.
  
  It basically is another way of saying 'f--k off'.
• Keeri from Airdrie, Abif you watched the interview on the have a nice day disc you would know the song is geared towards stickin it to the man. the meaning is very sarcastic and ironic. its all about doing your own thing and not giving a f--k what people think. if you also watch the interviews Richie says have a nice day with a big sarcastic smile on his face and gives the camera the finger. the song says f--k off, i do the f--k i like!
• Bob from Las Vegas, NvThis song stinks! George Bush rocks! Bon Jovi is awesome but i hate this song!
• Bradley from Savannah, Gapreety cool vidio, we did that at my high school on the last day of school. we made alot of face sticky notes about 1000. it was sweet, they were everywhere :)
• Sofija from Novi Sad, SerbiaBon Jovi was only glam on their first two to three albums. Their sound turned a lot more towards rock later on. Besides, glam metal artists don't like the term hair metal, because when grunge came along, glam metal bands were called 'hair farmers' because the industry was now promoting grunge. And, Krista, if you've seen the video you could notice Jon's hair is short and blonde, which wasn't the case back in the 80s. Then it was long, curly and somewhre between dirty blonde and brown.
  
  And it is really an Anti-Bush song, Jon mentioned that in more than a couple of interviews.
• Michael from Morris County, NjPersonally, i doubt think the whole idea is Anti-Bush. Bad Ass song though
• Krista from Elyria, Ohi agree emily! i like the meaning! i thought this was an 80s album!
  bon jovi is king of hairbands!
• Emily from Abingdon, VaInteresting . . .
  Never knew.

More Songfacts:

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeElton John

Recording "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," Elton John was frustrated and sang the line "don't discard me" with an exaggerated American accent, which is why is sounds strange.

King TutSteve Martin

The comedian Steve Martin had a hit in 1978 with "King Tut." The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who Martin would open for on tour, were his backing band on the song.

Mistress For ChristmasAC/DC

AC/DC's 1990 song "Mistress For Christmas" is about Donald Trump, who was in the news because of his affair with the model Marla Maples.

Hot For TeacherVan Halen

The voice of Waldo in Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" video was the late Phil Hartman of Saturday Night Live Fame.

No Woman No CryBob Marley & the Wailers

Bob Marley gave the songwriting credit for "No Woman No Cry" to his friend Vincent Ford, who ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown, the area of Kingston where Marley grew up.

The Long and Winding RoadThe Beatles

"The Long and Winding Road" became The Beatles' last US #1 song on June 13, 1970.

Editor's Picks

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.