Richie quit the band in 1981 for a solo career. He released his self-titled debut in 1982. The album hit No. 3 on the charts and sold over 4 million copies. His follow up album, Can't Slow Down, sold over twice as many copies and won the Grammy for Album of the Year in '84. His third album, '86's Dancing on the Ceiling spawned such hits as Say You, Say Me, Dancing on the Ceiling, and Se La, but would be the end of his commercial success.
His 90's albums such as Back to Front, Louder Than Words, and Time all failed to achieve the previous decade's commercial success. Some of his recent work, such as the album Renaissance, has returned to his older style, hoping to achieve more success.
Easy
Lionel Richie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I just can't stand the pain
Girl I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I've done all I can
See I begged, stole
And I borrowed, yeah
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That's why I'm easy, so easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
Why in the world
Would anybody put chains on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be, ah ah
But I'm not happy when I try to fake it
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy, so easy
That's why I'm easy like Sunday morning
I want to be high, so high
I want to be free to know
If the things I do are right
I want to be free
Just me, oh baby!
Now play it right here for me
Yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
That's why I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy, so easy
Yes I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy, oh-oh
I'm easy like Sunday morning (easy like Sunday morning, oh-oh yeah)
That's why I'm easy (I'm so easy, so easy)
I'm-I'm easy like Sunday morning, morning, morning
Morning
Thank you Willie
Yeah, thank you
Hahaha
In Lionel Richie's song "Easy," the singer is contemplating leaving his lover because he can no longer endure the pain caused by the relationship. He has tried his best to make things work, but his efforts have not yielded desirable results. He has begged, stolen, and borrowed to make things right, but he has ultimately concluded that he has had enough. The singer then likens himself to an easy, carefree, and relaxed Sunday morning as he no longer wants to be weighed down by the stresses of the relationship. He wants to feel free and unrestrained.
The song continues with the singer expressing his desire to be free and to live his life on his own terms. He wants to be true to himself rather than being what others want him to be. The chains mentioned in the lyrics symbolize the constraints of his relationship and the expectations placed on him by others. The singer refuses to continue faking his way through life, and he just wants to be himself. The song ends with the singer reiterating that he wants to feel free, and he wants to be easy like a Sunday morning.
Overall, "Easy" is a song about escaping the confines of a difficult relationship and seeking freedom and inner peace. The singer longs to be his authentic self and not conform to societal norms or the expectations of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I know it sounds funny
I know what I'm about to say may seem odd or unexpected
But I just can't stand the pain
I can no longer tolerate this situation, it's causing me emotional discomfort
Girl I'm leaving you tomorrow
I have made the difficult decision to end our relationship tomorrow
Seems to me girl You know I've done all I can See I begged, stole And I borrowed, yeah
It appears that you are already aware that I've done everything in my power to make this relationship work, even if it meant resorting to desperate measures
That's why I'm easy I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah That's why I'm easy, so easy I'm easy like Sunday morning
My lack of commitment to this relationship gives me a sense of ease and comfort like a leisurely Sunday morning
Why in the world Would anybody put chains on me? I've paid my dues to make it Everybody wants me to be What they want me to be, ah ah But I'm not happy when I try to fake it
I question why anyone would want to restrict my freedom, given the sacrifices I've made to reach this point. Everyone tries to dictate who I should be, but I'm not content pretending to be something I'm not.
I want to be high, so high I want to be free to know If the things I do are right I want to be free Just me, oh baby!
I long to feel completely liberated and unencumbered, to know without a doubt that my actions are authentic and true to me.
Now play it right here for me Yeah Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
I want to revel in the moment, enjoy the music, and forget about everything else for a while.
That's why I'm easy Easy like Sunday morning That's why I'm easy, so easy Yes I'm easy like Sunday morning
Once again, my lack of desire for commitment makes me feel comfortable and easygoing like a lazy Sunday morning.
That's why I'm easy, oh-oh I'm easy like Sunday morning (easy like Sunday morning, oh-oh yeah) That's why I'm easy (I'm so easy, so easy) I'm-I'm easy like Sunday morning, morning, morning Morning
My carefree attitude and lack of commitment keep me at ease and comfortable, like a laid-back Sunday morning.
Thank you Willie Yeah, thank you Hahaha
Acknowledging and thanking the inspiration for the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MUSIC.INFO FINLAND OY
Written by: Lionel Richie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BIDÏDUO
I know it sounds funny
But I just can't stand the pain
Girl, I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me, girl, you know I've done all I can
You see, I begged, stole and I borrowed, yeah
Ooh, that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
Why in the world would anybody put chains on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be what they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it, oh, no
Ooh, that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah, woah
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
I wanna be high, so high
I wanna be free to know the things I do are right
Yeah, I wanna be free
Just me, whoa, babe
That's why I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah, woah
That's why I'm easy, yeah
I'm easy like Sunday morning, whoa
That's why I'm easy, yeah
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That's why I'm easy, yeah, yeah
I'm easy like Sunday morning
I said I'm easy like Sunday, easy like Sunday
Easy like Sunday morning
I'm easy like Sunday morning, morning, yeah
I feel so easy, woah
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah, woah
I feel so easy, yeah, yeah
I'm easy like Sunday morning
Easy like Sunday morning
I'm easy like Sunday morning, morning, yeah
Ophelia Dunn
This song always relaxes me. Absolutely a stunning piece of music.
Heather Weaver
I love this song
Anubis Paulo
10/11/23 cinco anos se passaram ... tanta coisa aconteceu... tive tantas perdas... mas tive uma alegria o nascimento da minha neta. Vamos ver até quando permanecerei aqui escutando boa música
Betsy Apples
So many stories in these comments! Each of them making my eyes swim with tears.
I went looking for this song while telling my husband of the bittersweet memories it evokes in me- memories of my own sunday mornings during a bittersweet time of my life. They’re memories of the feeling of home- just as much of a time as it was a place. Memories of pain, joy, support, camaraderie, addiction, passion, belonging, so much laughter, so much learning, & a chosen family I never thought I’d lose, now scattered, who I would’ve died without & would’ve died with, if we hadn’t all gone our own ways. But more than anything, to me, this song is an ode to a friend I loved dearly, who lived on my couch & woke me every Sunday morning to stumble with me to place we both worked. He would turn up the speakers of the empty restaurant/bar before we opened, & put on this song, him quietly singing along while I belted it- it was the only time I ever heard him sing, & boy could he sing! He’s been gone a long time now, but just like everyone with a story that I’ve read here, this song brings me back into the moments of those memories attached to it- so vividly!- every time I hear it, & it’s like seeing him again.
Carlos Lopez
La canción preferida de mi mamá 😢
Green Knight
2023 and this song still hits deep 🙌🎯
geoffrey cox
In my opinion .,.. Lionel Richie is one of the greatest singer - songwriters this country has EVER produced ..... Amazing songs
Andrew Alexeff
I like playing this song almost every Sunday morning, especially when the weather is sunny. Also when I want to sleep, I play this. So calming and peaceful 🙂
Octagon Talk
This song hits you right in the feels 🤗
Antionette Houston
This is my ALL time favorite song in the world. This song has carried me through every stage of my life, even addiction.
To myself I say "girl I'm leaving you tomorrow"
My commitment to not live one more day in addiction.
There are a hundred more stories this song has carried me through.
Thank you Lionel for this life giving song
I'm Easy Like Sunday Morning and free!!!!