Lowell George met Bill Payne when George was a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Payne had auditioned for the Mothers, but had not joined. They formed Little Feat along with former Mothers' bassist Roy Estrada and drummer Richie Hayward from George's previous band, the Factory. The name of the band came from a comment made by Mothers' drummer Jimmy Carl Black about Lowell's "little feet." The spelling of "feat" was an homage to The Beatles.
Their first two albums received nearly universal critical acclaim, and "Willin'" became a standard, subsequently popularized by its inclusion on Linda Ronstadt's album Heart Like a Wheel.
While touring in support of his solo album in June 1979, at the age of 34, George collapsed in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia. The surviving members finished and released the Little Feat album "Down on the Farm" before disbanding.
The surviving former members of Little Feat reformed in 1987 when Paul Barrere, Sam Clayton, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne added songwriter/vocalist Craig Fuller, formerly from the band Pure Prairie League (who also provided some rhythm guitar), and Fred Tackett on guitar, mandolin and trumpet.
With a seemingly constant tour schedule, Little Feat is easily one of the hardest-working and enduring bands in the industry today. With a history that spans more than 30 years, Little Feat is regarded by many rock music critics as a "band's band", and as one of the greatest rock bands in American rock music history. Best known for their combination of California rock and Dixie-inflected funk-boogie, they craftily blend folk, blues, rockabilly, country and jazz to create a unique style all their own, garnering a faithful grass-roots following. Simply put, Little Feat's sound transcends traditional music boundaries and they offer fans an unforgettable live performance.
Richie Hayward became the second founding member of the band to die, passing from pneumonia and other complications of lung disease on August 18, 2010.
Easy to Slip
Little Feat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's so easy to fall
And let your memory drift
And do nothin' at all
All the love that you missed
All the people that you can't recall
Do they really exist at all
All the magic's gone away
And our time together melts away
Like the sad melody I play
Well I don't want to drift forever
In the shadow of your leaving me
So I'll light another cigarette
And try to remember to forget
It's so easy to slip
It's so easy to fall
And let your memory drift
And do nothin' at all
All the love that you missed
All the people that you can't recall
Do they really exist at all
Little Feat's song "Easy to Slip" is a poignant expression of love lost and the struggle to move on. The opening lines suggest how easy it is to slip into a state of inaction and let memories take control of one's life. The singer reflects on missed opportunities and forgotten people while questioning whether they ever really existed. The sense of loss is palpable, with the world feeling cold and the magic gone. The sad melody reinforces the melancholy mood of the song.
However, the singer is not content to simply drift aimlessly. Despite the pain of separation, there is a determination to not let the shadow of the past dictate the future. Lighting another cigarette is a symbolic act of taking control, a small way to push back against the overwhelming emotions. There is an acknowledgement that forgetting is not easy, but it is necessary for the singer's emotional well-being. Ultimately, the lyrics offer a message of hope in the midst of despair.
In summary, "Easy to Slip" is a beautifully written song that captures the complexities of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from the past. It offers a message of hope, urging the listener to find the strength to let go and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so easy to slip
It's effortless to lose one's footing and stumble in life
It's so easy to fall
It's effortless to lose control and collapse emotionally
And let your memory drift
And allow your thoughts to wander aimlessly
And do nothin' at all
And achieve nothing worthwhile
All the love that you missed
All the affection that you failed to receive
All the people that you can't recall
All the individuals who have faded from your memory
Do they really exist at all
Do they truly belong to your past?
Well my whole world seems so cold today
I'm feeling lonely and depressed today
All the magic's gone away
The enchantment of life has vanished
And our time together melts away
The precious moments we shared are turning into a blur
Like the sad melody I play
Just like the mournful tune I'm playing
Well I don't want to drift forever
I don't want to aimlessly wander in my mind for eternity
In the shadow of your leaving me
In the aftermath of your departure
So I'll light another cigarette
I'll smoke another cigarette for comfort
And try to remember to forget
And attempt to recollect to let go of my past
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LOWELL GEORGE, FRED MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Representing the Mambo
Heard this song right before I had to go on a buiness trip to Rio. The progression of the song up the mountainside to the dangerous favelas above the city to the isolated hidden samba clubs make this song a trip you can truly take in your mind to that place.