Pursuit of False Happiness

Stabilo

"Flawed Design"

When I was a young boy

I was honest and I had more self control

If I was tempted I would 

Run

Then when I got older I began to lie to get exactly what I wanted when I wanted it

And I wanted it

Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I want and what I need to make me

Happy

So instead of thinking I just act before I have a chance to contemplate the consequence of

Action

And I will turn off

And I will shut down

Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground

And I will turn off

And I will shut down

The chemicals are restless in my head

Cause I lie

Not because I want to

But I seem to need to all the time (need to all the time)

Yeah I lie

And I don't even know it

Maybe this is all a part of my

Flawed design

And ever since I figured out that I could control other people

I've had trouble sleeping with both 

Eyes closed

And if I ask permission if I make sure it's ok I promise I won't slip up this time you can 

Trust me

But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious and just confessed to 

Treason 

And I would also never ask a question that I cannot ask myself for it might dirty up your

Conscience

Cause I lie

Not because I want to

But I seem to need to all the time (need to all the time)

Yeah I lie

And I don't even know it

Maybe this is all a part of my (flawed design)

And how can you say those things why can't you just believe

And how can you say those things and keep a straight face

And how can you say those things why can't we just believe

And how can you say those things and keep a straight face

And I will turn off

And I will shut down

Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground

And I will turn off

And I will shut down

The chemicals are restless in my head

Cause I lie

Not because I want to

But I seem to need to all the time (need to all the time)

Yeah I lie

And I don't even know it

Maybe this is all a part of my (flawed design)

Cause I lie

And if I could control it

Maybe I could leave it all behind (leave it all behind)

Yeah I lie

And I don't even know it

Maybe this is all a part of my 

Flawed design

Adults and children have very different perspectives upon what happiness means and how to obtain it. As seen within "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane" children have simple desires, such as the little boy's companionship of a cat. The ambitions of adults however, are on grander scales, as when you grow up you obtain more power and see that you have more control over the world. The majority of the adults begins to desire money, as they believe this is what will bring them happiness. As said by the little boy "All the fighting and the dreams. It's about money, isn't it?"(31) Ursula Monkton goes on to try and tempt the boy with money, as she wants him to be under her control as she says "Everyone wants money [...] It makes them happy. It will make you happy, if you let it."(58) However the boy rejects this, which is depicted within the song "Flawed Design" as it states that children are more certain of what happiness is, and are better able to resist false desires. The song also states "Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I want and what I need to make me Happy". This states that as children turn into adults, they lose sight of true happiness, and begin to search reality for material things that will fill this hole inside them. As seen in the picture above, there are many hooks within life that will bait you into following them and committing yourself to various illusions. However, as seen in the picture, the is a very solemn mood, and the person himself looks very unhappy, showing that this bait will bring nothing but sorrow, and makes a person feel empty on the inside. Sadly, people are willing to do many horrible things in order to achieve this false happiness, as Ursula Monkton in the book says "I ONLY GAVE THEM WHAT THEY NEEDED [...] I MADE THEM HAPPY [...] I NEVER MADE ANY OF THEM DO ANYTHING, it told me. For a moment I thought it was laughing at me" (128) Overall, the lose of true happiness and the pursuit of false wishes due to a distortion of reality is greatly depicted within "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane".