Mission Bible Class

Free Teaching Resources for Sharing the Bible with Children

Happy all the Time (Inright, outright) Song

Lyrics:

I’m inright [point in], outright [point out],
upright [point up], downright [point down]
Happy all the time [clap with each word]

I’m inright [point in], outright [point out],
upright [point up], downright [point down]
Happy all the time [clap with each word]

Since Jesus Christ came in
To take away my sin I’m…
I’m inright [point in], outright [point out],
upright [point up], downright [point down]
Happy all the time [clap with each word]

Note:

This is a very old and traditional song but one person visiting this site was concerned that singing “happy all the time” discounts other legitimate emotions that we feel and that God understands. As always, teachers should be sensitive when choosing which songs are appropriate for what the children are going through.

The song might be more accurate if you substitute the word “joyful” for the word, “happy.” Joy goes deeper than surface emotion. With God, we experience deep joy even in hard times.

“Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.” Philippians 4:4, ICB

“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad today!” Psalm 118:24, ICB

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  1. Emilie avatar
    Emilie

    What an awful song to sing with kids, and teach them that it’s only ok to be happy all the time. Don’t you dare be sad, or scared, god forbid angry, if you are then jesus probably hasn’t saved you from sin and you need to repent a little bit harder – in the meantime keep trying to pretend to be happy. Must. Be. Happy. All. The. Time. Look it’s a fun song due to the speed increasing but it’s about time we really examined the lyrics of songs were making children sing and the messages it’s sending to them, the music combined with the repetitive nature of the lyrics and the authority those who are teaching it hold, all at a time when their brains are mailable and yet not able to think critically yet.

    Reply
    1. Mary avatar
      Mary

      Hello Emilie,
      I appreciate your obvious passion about this traditional song. I can’t agree with the assumptions you seem to make about teachers “making” children sing songs or singing songs mindlessly without explanation or context. I’m sorry if you have experienced that.
      In reading the Bible lessons throughout this website, however, I think you would see that we agree on God’s presence ALL the time, no matter the ups and downs of our lives. Sometimes a lament is more appropriate.
      In Philippians 4:4, Paul says to rejoice all the time. Joy is deeper than “happiness.” I suggest just substituting the word “joyful” because it fits well with the song. To help teachers, I added a note about this at the bottom of that song page just now.
      May you find joy in the Lord,
      Mary

      Reply