Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergro… Read Full Bio ↴Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergroup) comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star.

The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme's nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities' musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Jarret Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (the Jayhawks) were relative constants.

The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band's lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as 'The Take It To The Limit Band' played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name "Her Satanic Majesty's Paycheck."

Between these early covers shows, and Golden Smog's first album, it is unclear what happened. It's hard to claim that these early shows were by Golden Smog, but rather in hindsight they were played in the spirit of the early Golden Smog. In 1992, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman (bassist for The Jayhawks), Kraig Johnson, and Chris Mars (the Replacements) released Golden Smog's first CD, a covers EP entitled On Golden Smog. This was followed four years later in 1996 by their full-length debut, Down By The Old Mainstream, recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studio with a lineup that included Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, and Honeydogs drummer Noah Levy (all of whom recorded under pseudonyms as a result of contractual obligations). A few years later the band reformed with Jody Stephens (of Big Star) taking over for Noah on the drums (Jody had previously played with the band during a New Years Eve show in Chicago in 1996). This new incarnation of Golden Smog released Weird Tales in 1998.

In 2005 a new incarnation of the smog formed and recorded a new album in Spain. The new album is entitled Another Fine Day and was released on July, 18th 2006 on the Lost Highway Records. This album features both Jody Stephens and Linda Pitmon from Zuzu's Petals on drums. This album, like the previous couple is of a more coherent band, although Jeff Tweedy is only featured on a few songs. In the summer of 2006, the Smog played a couple of shows in Minneapolis and New York City. These shows were without Tweedy, as he had previously stated that he was too busy to tour with the band. A six-show mini-tour occured in September of 2006. In 2007 Golden Smog released an EP on Lost Highway called Blood On The Slacks.

You Make It Easy
Golden Smog Lyrics

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I want you to understand
I'm gonna be your man
You make it easy
You make it easy

I like it here by myself
But I want what no one else
Just sometimes need me

You make it easy

And I want you and I need you
And you know it's true
I can't see myself with no one else

You close down with my hand
Your fallouts be comprehend
You sometimes need me
You make it easy

It's a sad turn
To be on your own
It's a strange view
With no sight of home

And I want you and I need you
And you know it's true
I can't see myself with no one else
I don't see myself with no one else
Could you believe?

I want you to understand
I'm gonna be your man
You make it easy
You make it easy

And I want you and I need you
And you know it's true
I can't see myself with no one else
I don't see myself with no one else

Could you believe?
Could you believe?

Could you believe?
Could you believe?

Overall Meaning

The song "You Make it Easy" by Golden Smog is a love song that expresses a desire for someone to understand that the singer is committed to being their man. The repetition of "You make it easy" throughout the song emphasizes how the person makes the singer feel comfortable and happy in their relationship. The line "I like it here by myself, but I want what no one else" suggests that the singer values their independence, but ultimately desires a deep connection with the person they're addressing in the song. The bridge of the song shifts to a darker tone, mentioning how it's a "sad turn" and a "strange view" to be alone without any sense of home. This can be interpreted as an admission that the singer has experienced loneliness or heartbreak in the past and that their relationship with this person brings them a sense of stability and belonging.

The chorus "And I want you and I need you and you know it's true / I can't see myself with no one else" is a declaration of commitment to the person in the song. The repetition of "could you believe?" at the end of the song can be interpreted as the singer hoping the person they're addressing feels the same level of commitment and love towards them. Overall, the lyrics express a deep desire for a loving, committed relationship while acknowledging that relationships can be difficult, lonely, and require vulnerability.

Line by Line Meaning

I want you to understand
I need you to comprehend my feelings and desires

I'm gonna be your man
I will take care of you and be your partner

You make it easy
You simplify my life and make me happy

I like it here by myself
I enjoy solitude and independence

But I want what no one else
Despite that, I still desire to be with you

Just sometimes need me
I want you to depend on me once in a while

You make it easy
You simplify my life and make me happy

And I want you and I need you
I crave your love and affection

And you know it's true
I hope you are aware of this fact

I can't see myself with no one else
I cannot envision myself with anyone other than you

You close down with my hand
You become receptive and at ease around me

Your fallouts be comprehend
I understand your flaws and imperfections

You sometimes need me
You want me to support and assist you sometimes

You make it easy
You simplify my life and make me happy

It's a sad turn
Being alone and lonely is a sorrowful experience

To be on your own
To live and exist without a partner or companion

It's a strange view
It feels odd and unfamiliar

With no sight of home
Without a clear sense of where one belongs

And I want you and I need you
I crave your love and affection

And you know it's true
I hope you are aware of this fact

I can't see myself with no one else
I cannot envision myself with anyone other than you

I don't see myself with no one else
I cannot imagine living without you

Could you believe?
Do you trust me and my feelings?

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, KRAIG JARRET JOHNSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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