Don’t Worry, Be Happy Meher Baba (1894-1969) often used the expression “Don’t worry, be happy” when cabling his followers in the west. Later, in the 1960’s, this well used expression by Baba was printed up on inspiration cards and even day-glo posters of the era. In 1988, Bobby McFerrin noticed a similar poster in the apartment of the jazz band Tuck & Patti in San Francisco. Inspired by the expression’s charm and simplicity, McFerrin wrote the now famous song