A self-described skate punk, Lindell grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He began playing in bands at the age of 15. Among his early musical influences were Fishbone and Black Flag.
Lindell started playing in bars, first with the guitar, and later moving to bass, while working as a baker during the day to make ends meet. After a few years he had decided to move to New York City briefly, then moved in 1999 to New Orleans, where his creativity was able to flourish further. In New Orleans he met up with Johnny Vidocovich and Harold Brown. He also plays with Ivan Neville and Galactic's Stanton Moore in Dragon Smoke. By 2005, he was well-known on the New Orleans blues scene, and had gained enough attention to have Alligator Records sign him.
His popularity has remained steady and he has made appearances, including on the television program Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Lindell's musical style borrows from 1970s blues-rock, soul, and R&B. His style has also been called "blue-eyed soul", a common short-hand used for Anglo blues singers that has been applied to artists including Daryl Hall (of Hall and Oates fame) and Van Morrison, among others.
Lazy Days
Eric Lindell Lyrics
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All work and no play
Babe, you work too much
All work and no play
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Girl, you work too hard
I see you're gone all day
Girl, you work too hard
Girl, you're gone all day
I think you need a couple lazy days
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Come on, baby, please
Just like your mama and your pop
Girl, you just won't stop
Just like your mama and your pop
Babe, you just won't stop
I think we need a couple lazy days
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
The general meaning behind Eric Lindell's "Lazy Days" is quite clear, as the lyrics talk about a girl who is working too hard and not taking the time to relax and enjoy the simple things in life. The song begins with Lindell telling the girl that she works too much and needs to take some time off to take it easy. He suggests that she needs a couple of lazy days to rest and recharge, specifically mentioning drinking lemonade in the shade as a way to do this.
The verses repeatedly underline the point that the girl is working too hard and needs to slow down. Lindell speaks directly to her, noting that she's gone all day and works too hard. He suggests again that she needs some lazy days, to take time for herself and relax. The chorus repeats this idea, with Lindell telling the girl that she won't stop working and that he thinks they both need some time to unwind and enjoy life.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you work too much
You are overworking yourself, my dear female companion
All work and no play
You are working too hard without taking a break to enjoy yourself
Babe, you work too much
You are working excessively, my beloved partner
I think you need a couple lazy days
I suggest you take some time off to relax and take it easy
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Sipping on some refreshing lemonades while sitting under a cool shade
Girl, you work too hard
You are putting in too much effort, lady
I see you're gone all day
You are away from home for extended periods of time
Girl, you're gone all day
You are out and about all day long
Come on, baby, please
Honey, listen to me
Just like your mama and your pop
You have inherited the same work ethic as your parents
Girl, you just won't stop
You are persistent and determined in your work
Babe, you just won't stop
My darling, you cannot be deterred from your work
I think we need a couple lazy days
I believe that we should take some time off together to relax and unwind
Drinkin' lemonade in the shade
Enjoying each other's company while sipping fresh lemonade in the cool shade
Contributed by Nathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.