Easy
Joanna Newsom Lyrics


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Easy
Easy
My man and me
We could rest and remain here, easily
We are tested and pained by
What's beyond our bed
We're blessed and sustained by
What is not said

No one knows what is coming
Or who will harvest what we have sown
Or how I've been dulling and dumbing
In the service of the heart alone

Or how I am worn to the bone by the river
And in the river, made of light
I'm your little life-giver
I will give my life

Haven't you seen what I've seen?
Don't you know what you ought to do?
I was born to love
And I intend to love you

Down in the valley where the fields are green
Watch my luck turn, fro and to
Pluck every last daisy clean
Till only I may love you

I am easy
Easy to keep
Honey, you please me
Even in your sleep

But my arms want to carry
My heart wants to hold
Tell me your worries
I wanna be told

Sit and see how the fog from the port in the bay
Lays like snow at the foot of the Roanoke
Hear the frog going courtin'
Till the day he croaks
Saying even then

How there is light in the river
And there's a river made of light
C'mon, you little life-giver
Give your life

Who asked you?
Who asked you if you wanna be
Loved by me?
Who died and made you
In charge of who loves who?
All the livelong day
If I have my way I will love you
But one can't carry the weight
Or change the fate of two
I've been waiting for a break
How long's it gonna take?
Let me love you

How about it?
How about what I have to say?
How about that livelong day?
How am I gonna stay here without you?

Easy
Easy
You must not fear
You must meet me to see me
I am barely here
But like a Bloody Mary
Seen in the mirror
Speak my name
And I appear

Speak my name
And I appear




Speak
And I appear

Overall Meaning

"Easy" is a song by Joanna Newsom that tells a story of a couple that is happy to remain in the safety of their bed since they are agony and blue wherever they wander beyond their beds. They find peace in what they don't say rather than in what they say. There's a feeling of confusion concerning the future; they are getting old and have no idea who will inherit the fruits of their labor. She reflects on how much she has compromised and stifled herself to please her lover, and how exhausting it has been dwelling in the river (metaphorically), yet she is willing to offer her life for love. The song progresses into the idea that we can't compel someone to love us since it is something that comes naturally. She longs for love, and although a break would be great, they cannot alter their destiny or force things to go their way.


The lyrics of the song are in a traditional poetic form, with a clear story structure, and numerous components that can be analyzed. The song employs the theme of love and the idea of freedom. The melodic voice is a combination of sweetness and strength, with an accent that is both eccentric and enticing. The song is melancholic, and the singer's tone is apologetic when she speaks about her situation. The song contains vivid imagery, inducing specific sensations, and making us long for the places Joanna mentions. It is a hauntingly beautiful melody that gets under your skin, making you forget all about your problems.


Line by Line Meaning

Easy
Life is easy with my man


Easy
Life is easy with my man


My man and me We could rest and remain here, easily
My man and I are happy to stay in bed and rest


We are tested and pained by What's beyond our bed
We struggle with life beyond our bed, but we face it together


We're blessed and sustained by What is not said
Unspoken love keeps us happy and content


No one knows what is coming Or who will harvest what we have sown Or how I've been dulling and dumbing In the service of the heart alone
The future is uncertain, and I don't always make the best choices, but I follow my heart


Or how I am worn to the bone by the river And in the river, made of light I'm your little life-giver I will give my life
I am tired and weary, but I still give my all to you


Haven't you seen what I've seen? Don't you know what you ought to do? I was born to love And I intend to love you
I have seen love, and I want to share it with you


Down in the valley where the fields are green Watch my luck turn, fro and to Pluck every last daisy clean Till only I may love you
I will do anything to be with you


I am easy Easy to keep Honey, you please me Even in your sleep
I am happy and content with you, even when you're not awake


But my arms want to carry My heart wants to hold Tell me your worries I wanna be told
I want to support and comfort you, so please share your worries with me


Sit and see how the fog from the port in the bay Lays like snow at the foot of the Roanoke Hear the frog going courtin' Till the day he croaks Saying even then
Let's appreciate the beauty of nature together, even when it's fleeting


How there is light in the river And there's a river made of light C'mon, you little life-giver Give your life
There is beauty and light in nature, and I want to share it with you


Who asked you? Who asked you if you wanna be Loved by me? Who died and made you In charge of who loves who?
I don't need your permission to love you


All the livelong day If I have my way I will love you But one can't carry the weight Or change the fate of two I've been waiting for a break How long's it gonna take? Let me love you
I want to love you forever, but we can't control everything


How about it? How about what I have to say? How about that livelong day? How am I gonna stay here without you?
I need you, and I want you to consider my feelings


Easy Easy You must not fear You must meet me to see me I am barely here But like a Bloody Mary Seen in the mirror Speak my name And I appear Speak my name And I appear
Don't be afraid of me, come closer, and I will always be there for you




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Joanna Newsom

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

NickDrake93

I saw her live at Greenman and the fact that hundreds of people were standing- watching her in complete silence, with the rain pouring down... Was the most magical thing I've ever experienced.

Lucy Cadena

I was there too!!!!! No one would move a muscle. It is one of the best gigs I've ever been to :D

Patrick Lee

I was there! It was great

Crime and Punishment

That’s beautiful.

Melba Natalia

The magic about Joanna is that when you revisit her music, you always discover something new. Definitely music to grow old with.

Maliha

Her albums are basically beautiful giant onions with an infinite amount of layers. I don't think I'll ever stop discovering new things.

RandomMusicAddict

This woman is something else. I was listening to this pretty passively, enjoying the music, and then I caught a few lyrics, which caught me off guard, and looked them up for the whole song. And they just blew me away. This woman never fails to blow me away.

m8cct

Sometimes you become a firsthand witness of true genius and can do nothing but admire what the human race is capable of. This album is such a moment for me.

Caramel Unicorn

Love her voice when it reaches those high notes. Soft as chalk

Caramel Unicorn

@Vaughn Colestock yes! :)

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