Jeremy Messersmith is an American indie pop musician, based in Minneapolis.… Read Full Bio ↴Jeremy Messersmith is an American indie pop musician, based in Minneapolis.

Messersmith is not only a musician is half-truth, but also a storyteller. His first full-length release The Alcatraz Kid is a moving collection of acoustic-driven lullabies with titles like “Novocain” and “Beautiful Children” that innocently question the purpose of things to come. The integrity of these delicate songs immediately struck a chord with critics and fans alike, and captured the attention of Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who offered to produce Messersmith’s follow-up album, The Silver City.

The Silver City was a natural progression in sound and reflection: the compositions grew fuller and more dynamic with a classic-pop feel inspired by the Beach Boys and Beatles: While the topics focused on midlife struggles with tracks like “Dead End Job” and “Miracles.” Local and national attention soon followed with NPR and college stations around the country, followed by U.S. tours and sold-out shows in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.

The Reluctant Graveyard bookends this trilogy of lifelong (ahem, literary) observations with songs like “Lazy Bones” and “Organ Donor,” and sonically continues on the ’60s chamber pop path Messersmith set out with his sophomore release. He continues to share stages with notables such as Sondre Lechre and The Watson Twins, and has been featured on MTV and Ugly Betty.

Easy Lovers Hardly Friends
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Such a tired face
Seattle eyes
Oh so blue and green
But never dry

It started with a tiny whisper
In my ear
Ended like a roller coaster

At the county fair

We were easy lovers, hardly friends
Never works out in the end

You always fooled me with
December kisses
Oh so red and white
Cold and twisted

Now that we've both grown up
I hope you're happy
For my part I like to say
I'm so so so sorry

We were easy lovers, hardly friends
Never works out in the end

Overall Meaning

The song "Easy Lovers Hardly Friends" by Jeremy Messersmith is a bittersweet reflection on a past relationship. The first lines of the song set the tone with the description of a tired face and Seattle eyes that are never dry. The singer is clearly nostalgic, and perhaps even melancholic, about the relationship. The next lines describe the beginning and the end of the relationship: it started with a tiny whisper in the ear of the singer and ended like a roller coaster at the county fair. The metaphor of the roller coaster is particularly apt as it suggests the ups and downs of a romantic relationship.

The chorus sums up the relationship as "easy lovers, hardly friends", implying that the physical attraction was stronger than the emotional connection. The singer admits that this type of relationship "never works out in the end". The second verse describes the physical attraction between the couple: the December kisses that were "cold and twisted" yet "fool[ed]" the singer. However, the song ends on a note of maturity: the singer hopes that the other person is happy, but also takes responsibility by saying "I'm so so so sorry".

Overall, "Easy Lovers Hardly Friends" is a poignant reminder of the complexities of past relationships and the way they can shape us. The simple melody and the clear, melancholic voice of the singer add to the emotional impact of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Such a tired face
The person he's referring to looks worn out

Seattle eyes
The eyes are blue and green, much like the colors of the city

Oh so blue and green
He's emphasizing the colors of the eyes

But never dry
The eyes are never dry, indicating they may be full of emotion

It started with a tiny whisper
Their relationship began with a small sound

In my ear
The whisper was directed at him

Ended like a roller coaster
Their relationship was a wild ride, with ups and downs

At the county fair
Their tumultuous relationship ended in public

We were easy lovers, hardly friends
They had an uncomplicated romantic relationship, but didn't spend much time being friends

Never works out in the end
The fact that they weren't good friends probably led to the end of their romantic relationship

You always fooled me with
He was deceived by the other person's actions

December kisses
The kisses took place in December, during the holiday season

Oh so red and white
The colors of the holiday season, which makes the kisses seem festive

Cold and twisted
The kisses may have seemed warm and loving, but ultimately were twisted and unhealthy for the relationship

Now that we've both grown up
He's acknowledging that some time has passed since their relationship

I hope you're happy
Despite any past issues, he wants the other person to be happy

For my part I like to say
He's about to apologize

I'm so so so sorry
He's apologizing for his part in how their relationship ended

Writer(s): Jeremy Matthew Messersmith Copyright: Inkompetent Kosmonaut Publishing, Universal Music Corp.

Contributed by Mateo D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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