The band continued to tour Germany and the UK in 1992 with Louis Clark playing keyboards to duplicate the strings of the absent orchestra. In 1993, Pete Haycock and Neil Lockwood left the band, and were replaced by guitarist/vocalist Phil Bates, who had been in the band Trickster which were the opening act for ELO's 1978 world tour. An ambitious world tour was undertaken by ELO Part Two in 1993, including dates in the USA and Eastern Europe.
Now a six-piece band with a slightly altered name, Electric Light Orchestra Part II recorded a second studio album, Moment Of Truth, which was released in 1994. The album was not a commercial success, but was generally considered superior to their first album. The band continued its rigorous tour schedule over the following years, sometimes augmenting the core band with a backing orchestra. On these occasions, they took only a small number of string players on the road and added local musicians to the orchestra at each venue to cut down costs. This was one of the features that distinguished ELO Part II from ELO, as the original band never played live with orchestral accompaniment. Another live album with orchestral backing was recorded in Sydney, Australia in 1995 and was released the following year in Germany as a double album One Night, and the year after that in the USA as a single album One Night - Live In Australia. The band sold the master tapes of this album, and it has since been remixed, remastered, and re-released under so many guises that the original CD may prove difficult to acquire.
Bates remained with the band until 1998 and was replaced by Parthenon Huxley (guitar, vocals). As the decade progressed, the percentage of original material in the band's set list tended to decrease, and their concerts often consisted of 90 per cent ELO songs. Bevan started to get frustrated, especially with their inability to break through in the United States, where the band sometimes performed in bars or at festivals where they were not the centre of attention. In November 1999, Bevan played his last show with the band at the Sands Hotel in Atlantic City.
Unlike the original ELO, which were under the creative control of writer/producer Lynne, ELO Part II were often portrayed as more of a democracy, with various band members sharing songwriting and lead vocals. But Bev Bevan was still the leader of the band, and he issued a press release in early 2000 indicating that ELO Part II were disbanded.
Easy Street
Electric Light Orchestra Part II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've had enough
I've had enough being always pushed around by the likes of you
I'm making some plans of my own now
And you know what you can do
I'm so tired
Tired of the man giving me such a hard, hard time
You make a man work so hard every day,
Don't you know it's a crime
Always got to hit the deadline
When will i ever get some peace of mind
I'll find a girl that's rich and pretty
I'll get myself the key to the big city
Find a way to make some money
Move into the land of milk and honey
Everything's sweet and life's a treat
Feel the heat on easy street
I'm movin' on
Movin' on to a place that i see all the time in my dreams
I'm movin' on
Gone, gone, gone from the misery
I've taken all that i can now
Gonna take my time on easy street
I'll find a girl that's rich and pretty
Get myself the key to the big city
Find a way to make some money
Move into the land of milk and honey
Everything's sweet and life's a treat
Feel the heat on easy street
I've found a girl that's rich and pretty
Got myself the key to the big city
Found a way to make some money
Moved into the land of milk and honey
Everything's sweet and life's a treat
Feel the heat on easy street
(repeat)
The lyrics of Electric Light Orchestra Part II's song "Easy Street" speak to the frustration of being controlled and pushed around by others. The singer is tired of always being told what to do and say and wants to make plans of their own. They express exhaustion from working hard every day to meet deadlines and want to find peace of mind. The song then takes a turn as the singer shares their aspirations of finding a rich and pretty partner and moving to the land of milk and honey where everything is sweet and life is a treat.
The singer is determined to leave behind the misery they have experienced and take their time on Easy Street. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes this desire for a better life and drives the message home. The lyrics of this song highlight the desire for personal agency and financial stability, and the fantasy of a life free from worries or stress.
Line by Line Meaning
I've had enough of forever being told what to say and do
I'm tired of constantly being controlled and ordered around.
I've had enough being always pushed around by the likes of you
I can't take being bullied by people like you anymore.
I'm making some plans of my own now
I'm taking charge and making my own decisions for the future.
And you know what you can do
I don't care what you think or suggest anymore.
I'm so tired
I'm exhausted and fed up.
Tired of the man giving me such a hard, hard time
I'm weary of the typical pressures and stresses from society.
You make a man work so hard every day,
You expect men to work excessively every single day.
Don't you know it's a crime
This is unjust and immoral treatment of people.
Always got to hit the deadline
There's a constant pressure to meet every deadline immediately.
When will i ever get some peace of mind
Will I ever have a moment where I can relax and have a clear mind?
I'll find a girl that's rich and pretty
I hope to attract a wealthy and attractive woman.
I'll get myself the key to the big city
I want to have access to the opportunities and luxuries of the big city.
Find a way to make some money
I need to discover a method to earn money.
Move into the land of milk and honey
I will move to a place where wealth and success exists.
Everything's sweet and life's a treat
Life will be wonderful and enjoyable.
Feel the heat on easy street
I'll feel the eagerness and anticipation of living comfortably.
I'm movin' on
I'm leaving my current situation behind.
Movin' on to a place that i see all the time in my dreams
I'm heading towards a place I've envisioned in my aspirations.
Gone, gone, gone from the misery
I'm done with the hardships and challenges of my past.
I've taken all that i can now
I've reached my breaking point.
Gonna take my time on easy street
I'm going to enjoy my newfound leisure and comfort slowly and steadily.
I've found a girl that's rich and pretty
I've found a woman that's wealthy and attractive.
Got myself the key to the big city
I've obtained access to the opportunities and luxuries of the big city.
Moved into the land of milk and honey
I've relocated to a place where wealth and success exists.
Everything's sweet and life's a treat
Life is wonderful and enjoyable.
Feel the heat on easy street
I'm experiencing the eagerness and anticipation of living comfortably.
(repeat)
The song repeats the same lyrics and meaning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAN HARTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind