Easy To Be Hard
Hair Lyrics


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How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold

How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no

And especially people
Who care about strangers
Who care about evil
And social injustice
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd?
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend

How can people be so heartless
You know I'm hung up on you
Easy to give in
Easy to help out

And especially people
Who care about strangers
Who say they care about social injustice
Do you only
Care about the bleeding crowd
How about a needing friend?
I need a friend

How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold




Easy to be proud
Easy to say no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the song Easy To Be Hard by Hair is a commentary on the lack of empathy and compassion in society. It starts by questioning how people can be heartless and cruel, and then goes on to ask how people can have no feelings and ignore their friends. The chorus emphasizes how easy it is for people to be hard and cold, to be proud and to say no.


The song then turns to a more specific target, people who claim to care about social injustice and bleeding crowds but only care about strangers. The singer asks how about a needing friend, suggesting that true compassion and empathy require personal connection and friendship. It concludes by reiterating the message that it is easy to be hard and cold, but true kindness and compassion require effort and personal connection.


Line by Line Meaning

How can people be so heartless
How is it possible that some individuals are lacking in compassion or empathy towards others?


How can people be so cruel
How do some people find it easy to be intentionally unpleasant, causing pain or harm to others?


Easy to be hard
It's effortless to present oneself as cold or indifferent towards other people's problems or situations.


Easy to be cold
It's effortless to be emotionally detached or indifferent to others, without any warmth or kindness.


How can people have no feelings
How is it possible that some people are incapable of empathy or expressing emotions towards others?


How can they ignore their friends
How do some people manage to neglect or disregard the needs and emotions of their close friends?


Easy to be proud
It's effortless to be excessively self-assured or arrogant, disregarding the needs or feelings of others.


Easy to say no
It's effortless to reject or dismiss someone's request for help or support, without any consideration or empathy.


And especially people Who care about strangers Who care about evil And social injustice
This refers to people who claim to be concerned about global issues such as poverty, injustice, and cruelty towards others.


Do you only Care about the bleeding crowd?
Is it that people who care about global issues are only focused on helping those whose suffering is in the public eye or is widespread?


How about a needing friend?
What about someone in one's immediate network who needs emotional, physical or financial support from their friends?


I need a friend
The artist expresses a personal need for a friend to help them through a tough or trying time.


You know I'm hung up on you
The singer is obsessed or preoccupied with someone they have feelings for.


Easy to give in
It's effortless to succumb to someone's emotional blackmail or persuasion tactics.


Easy to help out
It's effortless to assist or give aid to someone in need or distress.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GALT MAC DERMOT, GEROME RAGNI, JAMES RADO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@BoscoBoots

In 1979 I was 17 years old.
Music was a big part of my life. I would sit in my room late at night with headphones on listening to every word and every note on my record albums.
I had already seen Hair performed live on stage and that was what introduced me to what I saw as a musical production that represented my generation and those that were slightly older than I was. (besides my double album: The Who's 1969 Tommy rock opera that I listened to probably hundreds of times)
Then, when Hair was released in the theaters, I was there on opening day.
I didn't want to go with any friends so I could enjoy the film by myself without any conversations or distractions.
Within minutes, I knew this film was special, and early in the movie, when the camera is doing 360° sweeps around Renn Woods as she sings "Aquarius" I thought this was really something!
I was mesmerized, I was hooked.
Then, further into the movie, comes "Easy To Be Hard" and Cheryl Barnes pours her heart out onto the big screen and by the end of the song, my skinny young body sat there with tears streaming down my face.....she absolutely slayed me with her performance.
Speaking of being slayed....the young (28 years old at the time) Beverly D'Angelo's (Sheila) eyes were smoking hot and I simply stared at her...probably missing much of her dialog. When she rides by Claude Bukowski (John Savage) on horseback, he does a double-take at her.....I would have done the same.
When the film ended, I just sat there trying to compose myself and reflect on this musical journey I just witnessed. The theater began to empty out and I was sitting there so long that the next group of patrons were already taking their seats.
So I stayed and went another round with it.
Many years later I bought the DVD which I still watch from time to time.
And when "Easy To Be Hard" appears......it still punches me right in the gut.



@megmc9644

How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold
How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no
Especially people who care about strangers
Who care about evil and social injustice
Do you only care about being proud
How about I need a friend, I need a friend
How can people be so heartless
You know I'm hung up on you
Easy to be proud
Easy to say no
Especially people who care about strangers
Who care about evil and social injustice
Do you only care about being proud
How about I need a friend, I need a friend
How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be proud, easy to say no
Easy to be gone, easy to say no
Come on, easy to get read
Easy to say no
But too easy to be cold
Easy to say no
But too easy to say no
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Galt Mac Dermot / Gerome Ragni / James Rado



All comments from YouTube:

@sparklebrown9082

This is absolutely the best rendition of this song ever! She sang this song from the bottom of her heart!

@JohnJones-ej1ux

Is there a remake in the works

@swankybutters8371

I had no idea this was from "Hair" I though this was a Three Dog Night original... This version here is great!

@vijitc1209

Brings me to tears

@Zariamma

You are so right

@annah8728

Yes it is a strong song.. the half of it..😏

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@MrGuenterGruber

the tear in the eye of the little boy... so unbelievable emotional. one of the very best songs in its decade

@colinrunciman5166

I don't know ladies and gentlemen, but, it's too good, rgds Colin.

@marinette6894

I was 12 when I saw this and about to have open heart surgery for a cogential heart defect. This was on HBO and I watched it constantly. I had a crush on Treat Williams and John Savage. This song brought tears to my eyes. I will never forget how special this show is to me. In 2018, I had to have heart surgery again to repair wear and tear on my heart. I watched this almost every night in the last two weeks before my surgery.

This musical has meant so much to me and is my comfort

@livinglifecan

I happy you are well. Yes, it is mesmerizing and beautiful.

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