The Importance Of Being Idle
- oasis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause the land, it don't pay me
I begged my landlord for some more time
He said "Son, the bills waiting"
My best friend called me the other night
He said "Man, are you crazy?"
My girlfriend told me to get a life
But I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine
If you give me a minute
A man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine
If you give me a minute
A man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
I lost my faith in the summertime
'Cause it don't stop raining
The sky all day is as black as night
But I'm not complaining
I begged my doctor for one more line
He said "Son, oh words fail me"
It ain't no place to be killin' time
I guess I'm just lazy
I don't mind
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I'll be fine
If you give me a minute
A man's got a limit
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
Yeah, yeah
The Importance of Being Idle by Oasis is a song about the singer’s reluctance to conform to societal norms and expectations of productivity. The opening line, “I sold my soul for the second time, 'Cause the land, it don't pay me”, shows that the singer is dissatisfied with his work and feels that he is not being compensated adequately for his efforts. He is struggling to keep up with his bills and responsibilities, but he’d rather be free to pursue his own interests and passions. The chorus repeats the sentiment that he is content with a simple life as long as he has a bed to sleep under the stars, indicating a desire for a more authentic existence.
The second verse speaks to the singer’s disillusionment with society’s version of success. He has lost his faith in the summertime because it keeps raining, and so he perceives that there is no real hope or optimism in the world. His doctor refuses to give him more medication, stating that he can’t enable his drug use. The singer seems to acknowledge that his life is stagnant and unproductive, but he also reiterates that he can’t force himself to care unless he feels passionate about something.
Overall, this song gives a voice to those who feel trapped in the monotony of everyday life and yearn for something more meaningful. It’s about the importance of finding one’s own path and not letting society dictate what that should be.
Line by Line Meaning
I sold my soul for the second time
I had to compromise again and give up something in exchange to make ends meet
'Cause the land, it don't pay me
I can't make a living by working the land, it doesn't provide enough income
I begged my landlord for some more time
I asked for an extension to pay my rent because I'm struggling financially
He said "Son, the bills waiting"
My landlord told me that he needs his rent paid or he'll evict me
My best friend called me the other night
My closest friend reached out to me recently
He said "Man, are you crazy?"
He asked me if I'm losing my mind with the situation I'm in
My girlfriend told me to get a life
My partner criticized me for not having a more productive lifestyle
She said "Boy, are you lazy?"
She suggested that my current lifestyle is due to my lack of motivation and effort
But I don't mind
Despite all these comments and criticisms, I am content with my life
As long as there's a bed beneath the stars that shine
I find comfort in the little things like a place to sleep and the beauty of nature
I'll be fine
I can manage and cope with my current struggles
If you give me a minute
All I need is a little time to figure things out
A man's got a limit
I have reached my threshold and can only handle so much
I can't get a life if my heart's not in it
I can't force myself to live a certain way or pursue something that doesn't align with my passions and interests
I lost my faith in the summertime
I became disillusioned with my circumstances during the summer months
'Cause it don't stop raining
The dreary weather added to my feelings of hopelessness and despair
The sky all day is as black as night
The darkness of the sky during the day only added to my negative outlook
But I'm not complaining
Despite all this, I'm not voicing my concerns or grievances
I begged my doctor for one more line
I asked my doctor for another prescription or solution to help me cope
He said "Son, oh words fail me"
My doctor was unable to offer me any further help or support
It ain't no place to be killin' time
My current situation is not suitable for idly passing the time
I guess I'm just lazy
I understand why people might view me as being unmotivated or unproductive
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Noel Gallagher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hurleyfunbags
One of their best.
@nickharrisomyspace
Masterpiece !!!
@jmuz96
Oasis is not a band, its a generation.
@forastero4ever
There`s no doubt: this is one of the three best song of Oasis that I`ve heard ever. Superb!!=D
@communismworks
By far their best video. Superb!
@beleg123
This song describes my way of life.
@SupersonicFox
that video IS amazing, Sunday morning call is another good one
@oasispain
Their best song this decade.
@hollyw1se
Oasis forever! Noel is a fucking genius & always will be. Mad fer it!
@MrEoghan1997
Playing this on friday in front of my class :)