Originally part of short-lived Chicago group I Rowboat, Johnson and two of his fellow Rowboat members, guitarist Dan Strack and drummer Brian Belval, created Fruit Bats as a side-project. When I Rowboat split up, Fruit Bats became Johnson's main focus. Spurred on by Califone/Perishable Records honchos Tim Rutili and Ben Massarella, the group recorded their first album, Echolocation, released in 2001.
After tours with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Modest Mouse and The Shins, Fruit Bats signed with Sub Pop in late summer 2002, recording their second album, 2003's Mouthfuls, which included new bandmate Gillian Lisee.
After relocating to Seattle, the group released their third album, Spelled in Bones, in 2005. Afterward, Eric D. Johnson played with The Shins and Vetiver. In 2008, the Fruit Bats began working together again, with revised membership of Johnson, Christopher Sherman, Ron Lewis, Graeme Gibson, and Sam Wagster. In 2009, they released The Ruminant Band and in 2011 came Tripper.
In November 2013, Eric D. Johnson announced he would be dissolving Fruit Bats. That month they played what was to be their farewell show at a sold out Aladdin Theatre in Portland, OR. The following year Johnson released an album under the name EDJ.
Reforming in 2015, Fruit Bats released their sixth official full-length LP, Absolute Loser, in 2016 via newly formed Los Angeles-based label Easy Sound.
Fruit Bats signed to North Carolina-based independent label Merge Records in 2018. Also in 2018, Johnson formed the folk group Bonny Light Horseman with Josh Kaufman and Anais Mitchell.
In 2019 Fruit Bats’ Merge debut "Gold Past Life" was released.
Fruit Bats’ 2020 album The Pet Parade was produced by Johnson's Bonny Light Horseman bandmate Josh Kaufman.
In 2021, Fruit Bats released a full-album cover of Smashing Pumpkins' 1993 record Siamese Dream.
The Fruit Bats’ double-disc, 20-year career retrospective "Sometimes A Cloud Is Just a Cloud: Slow Growers, Sleeper Hits and Lost Songs" was released in 2022.
It Must Be Easy
Fruit Bats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even easier being [?] to think about the things
That other people think
Life is easy when you've learned how to be
Even easier when not haunted or tempted by dreams
Of how you're supposed to be
Or what you're supposed to need
To be who you're supposed to be
Must be easier when you're there
Seems a little better than here
It must be easier when they pay you to play
You say how you feel today
Oh they'll pay you to sing
And tell everyone your dream
Must be easy when you [?]
Even easier when you don't have to fight for your love
The people just come
They just seem to line up
To pay you to sing
They pay you to sing
They pay you to sing
The lyrics to "It Must Be Easy" by Fruit Bats speak to the idea that life becomes easier when you reach a certain level of success. When you are paid to do what you love, it seems to make things simple. The first verse suggests that being paid to sing makes life easy, but it becomes even easier when you are not haunted by dreams or expectations of how you should be or what you're supposed to need to be who you're supposed to be. The second verse highlights the idea that life is easier when you've made it to a certain level, and it's better than where you started. The chorus suggests that being paid to play or sing allows for more freedom to express your feelings and dreams without worrying about the everyday struggles of life.
The lyrics, while simple in nature, hold a deeper meaning about the struggles and joys of pursuing one's passions. It speaks to the idea that success can make life easier, but that success does not come without its own set of challenges. It's a reminder to stay true to oneself and not to be swayed by others' expectations or ideas of what success should look like.
Line by Line Meaning
It must be easy when they pay you to sing
It is easier to sing when you are paid to do so
Even easier being [?] to think about the things
It is even easier to ponder about the thoughts of others
That other people think
Thoughts are shaped by the influence of others
Life is easy when you've learned how to be
It becomes easier to live when you learn how to do it
Even easier when not haunted or tempted by dreams
It is easier when you are not troubled or tempted by aspirations
Of how you're supposed to be
Expectations from others about who you should be can be challenging
Or what you're supposed to need
Society's standards of what you should require can be stressful
To be who you're supposed to be
It can be difficult to navigate society's expectations and still remain true to yourself
Must be easier when you're there
It can be simpler to be somewhere else
Seems a little better than here
Other places can appear preferable to the current location
It must be easier when they pay you to play
Being paid to play music can make it easier
You say how you feel today
Music can be a medium to express one's emotions
Oh they'll pay you to sing
People are willing to pay when you sing well
And tell everyone your dream
Music can also be a way to share your aspirations with others
Must be easy when you [?]
It can be easier if you have someone to love
Even easier when you don't have to fight for your love
It can be simpler when love is effortless
The people just come
People are attracted to those who are in love
They just seem to line up
Others will gravitate towards love
To pay you to sing
Your music can also attract people to pay you
They pay you to sing
People are happy to pay for good music
They pay you to sing
Singing can be a successful career path
Writer(s): Eric Johnson
Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ricardo Bello Saldaña
We already needed something like this...
Tom Drum
I LOVE the Supertramp sound! Honestly.
Andy Trullinger
At once delicate and complex. Lush arrangement...this is just beautiful. Such interesting changes.
Chef Pie
Cloudy. I really like. This is a new album Question Hope they tour small clubs but their videos are great too
Wanderboy
[Verse 1]
It must be easy when they pay you to sing
Even easier being [?] to think about the things
That other people think
Life is easy when you've learned how to be
Even easier when not haunted or tempted by dreams
Of how you're supposed to be
Or what you're supposed to need
To be who you're supposed to be
[Verse 2]
Must be easier when you're there
Seems a little better than here
It must be easier when they pay you to play
You say how you feel today
Oh they'll pay you to sing
And tell everyone your dream
[Verse 3]
Must be easy when you hover above
Even easier when you don't have to fight for your love
The people just come
They just seem to line up
To pay you to sing
They pay you to sing
They pay you to sing
surphmespicy
i believe the [?] part is "not inclined" but i could be wrong
dionicio de los angeles segura
Great