Although a vein of social and political humor runs though even his earliest work, Bern's work became more explicitly political during the 2004 US presidential election campaign, with songs such as "Bush Must Be Defeated" and "President" highlighting his sometimes surreal political takes.
Bern is reflexively literate, in the style of his favorite authors, including L.A.'s legendary bohemians Charles Bukowski and John Fante, urbane fantasist James Thurber, and yarn-spinning humorist Ring Lardner. He is in love with the power of words to turn on themselves, to frolic, to bite, and his strong, friendly voice can go from earnest to ferocious within seconds. Being captivated by Dan is the easy part; describing his music to the non-initiated is more difficult. One journalist tried: "topical-poetical-sarcastic-punk-folk." An admirable effort, further elaborated by the New York Times: "He veers from comedy to anger, conjectures to shaggy-dog stories; he takes sidelong approaches to theology, science fiction, consumer culture, art, love and baseball."
Simple
Dan Bern Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's simple to do nothing at all
It's simple to hide and it's simple to feel
It's simple to spin 'round like a wheel
But it's hard to do something that's yours
It's simple to drive a car somewhere
It's simple to sit there in that chair
It's simple to exchange diamond rings
But it's hard to do something that's yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
It's simple to walk along the path
It's simple to figure out the math
It's simple to smile and never be rude
It's simple to eat the fancy food
But it's hard to do something that's really yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
It's simple to laugh and it's simple to cry
It's simple to open up your eyes
It's simple to be too soft or loud
It's simple to sit and study clouds
But it's hard to do something that's yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
The lyrics to "Simple" by Dan Bern are centered around the idea that it's easy to go through life doing what everyone else is doing, but it's much harder to find and pursue something that is truly unique to oneself. The first verse sets up this idea, with the simple actions of running, falling, doing nothing, hiding, and spinning being contrasted with the difficulty of doing something that is truly one's own. The second verse continues this theme, with simple actions like driving a car, sitting in a chair, talking, singing, and exchanging rings being compared to the challenge of doing something that is really one's own. The third verse touches on emotions, with simple actions like smiling, eating fancy food, and studying clouds being contrasted with the difficulty of doing something that is truly unique to oneself. The repeated phrase "Some days I just like to dream" is a nod to the idea that in order to truly find something that is uniquely one's own, it may take some dreaming and imagining outside of the simple actions of everyday life.
Overall, "Simple" is a song that encourages listeners to look beyond the easy actions of daily life and think about what truly makes them unique. It's a call to action to pursue something that is uniquely one's own, even if it is harder to do than the simple actions we often fall into.
Line by Line Meaning
It's simple to run and it's simple to fall
Running and falling are easy tasks to perform
It's simple to do nothing at all
It's easy to be idle and unproductive
It's simple to hide and it's simple to feel
Concealing and experiencing emotions can be effortless
It's simple to spin 'round like a wheel
It's easy to go around in circles and accomplish nothing
But it's hard to do something that's yours
Creating something distinct and original can be difficult
It's simple to drive a car somewhere
Driving a car to a destination can be a straightforward task
It's simple to sit there in that chair
Sitting passively can be easy
It's simple to talk and it's simple to sing
Expressing oneself through words or music can be relatively easy
It's simple to exchange diamond rings
Performing a traditional act like exchanging rings can be effortless
It's simple to walk along the path
Following a pre-determined path can be easy
It's simple to figure out the math
Solving mathematical problems can be a simple task
It's simple to smile and never be rude
Being polite and courteous can be easy
It's simple to eat the fancy food
Enjoying lavish meals can be simple
It's simple to laugh and it's simple to cry
Experiencing opposing emotions can be easy
It's simple to open up your eyes
Being observant and aware can be simple
It's simple to be too soft or loud
Being either too gentle or too loud can be effortless
It's simple to sit and study clouds
Observing the clouds can be a simple activity
Some days I just like to dream
Occasionally, it's enjoyable to let one's mind wander and indulge in reverie
Contributed by Tristan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bRYEnd Oftheschtick
sing along . it's fun
=
SIMPLE
It’s simple to run and it’s simple to fall
It’s simple to do nothing at all
It’s simple to hide and it’s simple to feel
It’s simple to spin round like a wheel
But it’s hard to do something that’s yours
It’s simple to drive a car somewhere
It’s simple to sit there in that chair
It’s simple to talk and it’s simple to sing
It’s simple to exchange diamond rings
But it’s hard to do something that’s yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
It’s simple to walk along the path
It’s simple to figure out the math
It’s simple to smile and never be rude
It’s simple to eat the fancy food
But it’s hard to do something that’s really yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
It’s simple to laugh and it’s simple to cry
It’s simple to open up your eyes
It’s simple to be too soft or loud
It’s simple to sit and study clouds
But it’s hard to do something that’s yours
Some days I just like to dream
Some days I just like to dream
(lyrics: Dan Bern)
This song appears on:
Smartie Mine (1998)
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Preview YouTube video Dan Bern - Simple