It Ought To Be Easier
Lyle Lovett Lyrics


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Tell your mama I love her
Tell your daddy I tried
Tell them I wish that I could explain
The way that I'm feeling

See the sun comes up on the pavement
The pavement it starts to sweat
The steam rises up from the water
And the hotter it is you know the harder it gets

And it ought to be easier
When you turn your lights down low
And it ought to be easier
To leave when you know that you have to go

I know you don't believe me
And I know you don't understand
But honey the way that you treat me
I can't even tell who I am

And you tell me I'm the one you're not to blame
And you tell me I make you feel the same way
And we talk in circles but we never say
It's just out of weakness that both of us stay

And it ought to be easier
When you turn your lights down low
And it ought to be easier
To leave when you know that you have to go

I look at you when you're sleeping
And I think about how it could be
If you would wake up and open your arms
And hold me

But you look at me when you wake up
With eyes that are angry and mean
And I turn away and walk into the kitchen
And I pray for the strength to leave

Because it ought to be easier
When you turn your lights down low
And it ought to be easier
To leave when you know that you have to go
To leave when you know that you have to go

So tell your mama I love her
I hope she knows that I tried
Tell her I wish that I could explain
The way that I'm feeling

See the suns comes up on the pavement
The pavement it starts to sweat
The steam rises up from the water
And the hotter it is you know the harder it gets




The hotter it is you know the harder it gets
The hotter it is you know the harder it gets

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lyle Lovett's song "It Ought To Be Easier" describe a relationship that is fraught with difficulties and obstacles. The singer is expressing his frustration with the situation and trying to come to terms with it. He is telling his partner's parents that he loves them and wishes he could explain the way he feels. He is struggling with the fact that he can't seem to get through to his partner, and no matter how hard he tries, he can't make the relationship work.


The imagery in the song is powerful and evocative. The hot pavement and rising steam create a sense of tension and discomfort, reflecting the singer's inner turmoil. He feels trapped and suffocated by the relationship, but at the same time, he can't bring himself to leave. He wishes things could be easier, but he knows that they can't be.


The chorus of the song expresses the central theme: that it ought to be easier to leave when you know that you have to go. The singer knows that the relationship is not working and that he needs to move on, but he can't seem to find the strength to do so. The song is a poignant and powerful exploration of the difficulties of relationships and the challenges of letting go.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell your mama I love her
Ask your mother to forgive me


Tell your daddy I tried
Tell your father I did everything I could


Tell them I wish that I could explain The way that I'm feeling
I regret not being able to explain my emotions to them


See the sun comes up on the pavement
The day begins on the pavement


The pavement it starts to sweat
The pavement is becoming hot


The steam rises up from the water
Water is evaporating


And the hotter it is you know the harder it gets
As the temperature rises, things become more difficult


And it ought to be easier When you turn your lights down low
It should be simpler when you're trying to relax and unwind


And it ought to be easier To leave when you know that you have to go
It should be simpler to depart when necessary


I know you don't believe me
I acknowledge your disbelief


And I know you don't understand
I acknowledge your lack of comprehension


But honey the way that you treat me I can't even tell who I am
Your treatment of me has caused me to lose myself


And you tell me I'm the one you're not to blame
You're blaming me for our issues


And you tell me I make you feel the same way
You're saying I'm also responsible for your emotions


And we talk in circles but we never say
We keep going round in circles without ever getting to the point


It's just out of weakness that both of us stay
We stay together due to our weakness


I look at you when you're sleeping
I watch you while you're asleep


And I think about how it could be
I think about what our relationship could be like


If you would wake up and open your arms And hold me
If you showed me affection when you woke up


But you look at me when you wake up With eyes that are angry and mean
You wake up with a hostile gaze


And I turn away and walk into the kitchen
I avoid confrontation by leaving the bedroom


And I pray for the strength to leave
I ask for the courage to end our relationship


Because it ought to be easier When you turn your lights down low
It should be simpler when you're trying to unwind


And it ought to be easier To leave when you know that you have to go
It should be simpler to leave when necessary


So tell your mama I love her
Please let your mother know that I love her


I hope she knows that I tried
I hope she realizes that I made an effort


The pavement it starts to sweat
The pavement is becoming hot


The steam rises up from the water
Water is evaporating


And the hotter it is you know the harder it gets
As the temperature rises, things become more difficult


The hotter it is you know the harder it gets
As the temperature rises, things become more difficult




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LYLE LOVETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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