Born Milton Sims Newbury, Jr. in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Mickey Newbury sang tenor in a moderately successful vocal group called The Embers. The group opened for several famous performers, such as Sam Cooke and Johnny Cash. Although Mickey tried to make a living off of his music by singing in clubs, he put his musical career on hold at age 19 when he joined the Air Force. After four years in the military, Mickey again set his sights on making a living as a songwriter. Before long, he moved to Nashville and signed to the prestigious publishing company Acuff-Rose Music.
For a time, he was one of the most influential creative minds in Nashville and it's arguable that he was the first real "outlaw" of the outlaw country movement of the 1970s. Ralph Emery referred to him as the first "hippie-cowboy" and along with Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, he was one of the first to rebel against the conventions of the Nashville music society. After being disappointed by the production methods used by Felton Jarvis on his debut album, Mickey got himself released from his contract with RCA and signed the first offer he received to comply with his condition that he could either produce his own albums or hire a producer of his choice.
He went on to record three musically revolutionary albums in Wayne Moss's garage-turned-studio just outside of Nashville. The influence of the production methods can be heard in the albums Waylon Jennings went on to record in the 1970s (with instrumentation highly unconventional for country music) and his poetically sophisticated style of songwriting was highly influential on Kris Kristofferson.[citation needed] It was Newbury who convinced Roger Miller to record Kristofferson's "Me & Bobby McGee", which went on to launch Kristofferson as country music's top songwriter. Newbury is also responsible for getting Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark to move to Nashville and pursue careers as songwriters. However, he had no desire to cash-in on the Outlaw movement.[citation needed]
In 1974, he moved to a house on the McKenzie River in Oregon with his wife, Susan, and new born son, Chris, where they welcomed three more children over the years. He recorded several albums throughout the 1970s for Elektra and ABC/Hickory, all of them critically praised, but financially unsuccessful. In 1980, he was given the distinction of being the youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Although he spent much of the 1980s retired from performing and recording music, he returned both to recording and touring in the late 1980s before he died following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis on September 29, 2002, aged 62.
Easy Street
Mickey Newbury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rewrote this one 'cause I couldn't remember the lyrics to it.
[Sung:]
Well, Easy Street,
I'd like to live on Easy Street.
If I could live on Easy Street,
I wouldn't have to sing the blues all day.
Easy Street, ain't no street
Can compete with Easy Street.
One day I will live on Easy Street.
And the sunshine will shine all day.
Yes, on Easy Street,
You're friends with everyone you meet.
Oh, and life is so sweet.
When you can live on Easy Street.
Oh, Easy Street,
I've got to live on Easy Street.
Let me live on Easy Street.
Don't wanna sing these blues all day.
[Whistling.]
Easy Street,
Oh, I wanna live on Easy Street.
Just let me live on Easy Street,
Where the sunshine shines all day.
Mickey Newbury's song "Easy Street" speaks to the human desire for comfort and ease. The song's narrator expresses a longing to live on Easy Street, free from the hardships and struggles of life that lead him to sing the blues all day. The song's title, "Easy Street," is a common idiom that denotes a life of success and comfort, often achieved through financial prosperity.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the appeal of Easy Street. He suggests that there is no street that can compete with it and that life is much sweeter when one can live there. He also suggests that those who live on Easy Street are friends with everyone they meet. In this way, the singer describes Easy Street not only as a place of comfort but also as a social utopia.
Ultimately, the song suggests that the singer's desire for Easy Street is unattainable, at least for the time being. Nevertheless, he whistles contentedly at the end of the song, perhaps indicating a sense of acceptance or resignation.
Overall, Newbury's "Easy Street" touches on the universal desire for comfort, ease, and social connection. The song's lyrics convey a sense of wistfulness and longing for a life that is currently unattainable.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Easy Street,
The persona is referring to an imaginary, trouble-free life which he calls 'Easy Street'
I'd like to live on Easy Street.
The persona desires to live a better and more comfortable life.
If I could live on Easy Street,
The persona imagines his life would have been a lot better and rewarding had he lived on an easy street.
I wouldn't have to sing the blues all day.
The persona is saddened by the sufferings and hardships of his present condition which forces him to sing the blues (sad songs) all day.
Easy Street, ain't no street
There is no actual street called 'Easy Street'. This is a metaphorical reference to a perfect, easy life.
Can compete with Easy Street.
Easy Street is unparalleled and can't be compared with any other.
One day I will live on Easy Street.
The persona believes that someday, he will be able to achieve his dream of living a comfortable life.
And the sunshine will shine all day.
The persona imagines a life where everything goes perfectly and there's no reason to feel unhappy.
Yes, on Easy Street,
The persona is reaffirming his desire for a perfect life.
You're friends with everyone you meet.
The persona believes that on Easy Street, he will have a social life that's full of friends and well-wishers.
Oh, and life is so sweet.
The persona imagines that life on Easy Street would be easy-going and full of fun times.
When you can live on Easy Street.
The persona emphasizes the fact that living on Easy Street would be the ultimate life goal.
Oh, Easy Street,
The persona repeats his desire for a life on Easy Street.
I've got to live on Easy Street.
The persona emphasizes his desire for a better life.
Let me live on Easy Street.
The persona is pleading with some higher power to grant him his desire to live a perfect life.
Don't wanna sing these blues all day.
The persona is tired of the sadness and hardships of his present life and wants to be free from them.
[Whistling.]
There's an instrumental break in the song where the persona whistles, probably indicating his hope and aspiration for a perfect life.
Easy Street,
The persona is still thinking about and dreaming of a life on Easy Street.
Oh, I wanna live on Easy Street.
The persona has a strong desire for a life of ease and comfort.
Just let me live on Easy Street,
The persona is asking for an opportunity to live a comfortable, fulfilling life.
Where the sunshine shines all day.
The persona imagines a life where everything is perfect; where there are no troubles or hardships.
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.