The band's debut self-titled album was released on April 3, 2012. The album's first single, "Ho Hey" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
The Ho Hey Songfacts reports that Schultz and Fraites were originally based in New York and started collaborating in 2002 after Fraites’ brother, Josh, who was also Schultz’s best friend died of an overdose. The pair began writing and performing to cope with their grief and they later relocated to Denver, where they met the classically trained Pekarek after advertising for a cellist.
Their self-titled debut album The Lumineers was released on April 3, 2012, on Dualtone Records.
Their second album, Cleopatra, was released in 2016.
The band's third album, titled III, was released on September 13, 2019 and debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200.
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It Wasn't Easy to Be Happy for You
The Lumineers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love was dead
You held my hand
Bit your tongue
Shut me out
Spilled my blood
All around
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah, I took the poison, praying you'd feel it too
You held your punches back, and I left the room
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
All alone
Your ax fell
We dragged you down
Gave me hell
Made your bed
Now you sleep
On your own
Guess we'll see
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah, I took the poison, praying you'd feel it too
You held your punches back, and I left the room
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
I know that you tried
But you're no friend of mine
Falling apart
You played it the best
A dame in distress, ooh
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah, wrapped my neck and prayed that you'd feel the noose
I saw the restaurant table for two
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah, I took the poison, praying you'd feel it too
You held your punches back, and I left the room
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
The Lumineers' song "It Wasn't Easy to Be Happy for You" tells a story of betrayal and heartbreak. The lyrics seem to describe a past relationship that has gone sour. The line "On the last time we met, your love was dead" implies that the relationship had already ended. The singer is holding onto past hurt and resentment, and when they see their former partner again, they "took the poison, praying you'd feel it too". The anger and disappointment that the singer feels are palpable in the line "you held my hand, bit your tongue, shut me out, spilled my blood all around". It seems that the singer is trying to come to terms with the betrayal and cannot bring themselves to be happy for their former partner.
The second verse continues the story, describing how the singer's former partner caused havoc and destruction in their life with their actions. The line "all alone, your ax fell, we dragged you down, gave me hell" suggests that the partner suffered consequences for their actions, but the singer did not find their downfall satisfying. The chorus repeats, emphasizing how hard it was for the singer to feel happy for their former partner.
The bridge of the song adds another layer of complexity to the story. The line "I know that you tried, but you're no friend of mine" suggests that the partner may have tried to make amends or ask for forgiveness, but the singer cannot forgive them. The line "falling apart, you played it the best, a dame in distress" may imply that the partner was manipulative or deceptive in trying to gain the singer's forgiveness.
Overall, "It Wasn't Easy to Be Happy for You" is a poignant and emotional song about the struggles of coming to terms with heartbreak and betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
On the last time we met
This is a reference to the final meeting with the person the singer is singing about.
Your love was dead
The love the person used to have is no longer present.
You held my hand
The person physically touched the singer.
Bit your tongue
The person refrained from saying what they wanted to say.
Shut me out
The person closed off communication with the singer.
Spilled my blood
This is a metaphor for the emotional pain the singer went through.
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
The singer found it difficult to be happy for the person after everything they went through.
Yeah, I took the poison, praying you'd feel it too
The singer hoped that the person would feel the same emotional pain that they did.
You held your punches back, and I left the room
The person didn't say everything they wanted to say and the singer left the situation.
All alone
The person is left by themselves.
Your ax fell
This could be a metaphor for a betrayal or the realization of something negative about the person.
We dragged you down
The person was brought down by those around them.
Gave me hell
The person caused the singer a lot of emotional pain.
Made your bed
The person created their own situation and now must deal with the consequences.
Now you sleep
The person is now resting or dealing with their issues.
On your own
The person is dealing with their problems alone.
Guess we'll see
This could be the singer saying that the person will have to face the consequences of their actions or that the future is uncertain.
I know that you tried
The person made an attempt at something.
But you're no friend of mine
The person is not considered a friend to the singer anymore.
Falling apart
The person is not doing well emotionally or mentally.
You played it the best
The person did the best they could in a difficult situation.
A dame in distress, ooh
This is a reference to a female in a difficult or vulnerable situation.
Yeah, wrapped my neck and prayed that you'd feel the noose
The singer wished that the person was going through the same pain they were.
I saw the restaurant table for two
This could be a memory of a happier time with the person or a realization that things have changed.
Yeah, it wasn't easy to be happy for you
The singer found it hard to be happy for the person after everything they went through.
Yeah
An exclamation of agreement or emphasis.
Yeah
An exclamation of agreement or emphasis.
Yeah
An exclamation of agreement or emphasis.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Wesley Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind