Easily Fooled
Pavement Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, do you need a reason

Is there a separate season

From which to come out of the spring

I wait all summer long
And then the winter's long

Then it's longer than afterwards

I don't need a timekeeper

I don't need an interlocuter

And baby you'll look a little cuter

Day by day, day by day

If you need a trademark for your sound

You'd better look around

Treat it like a window not a do-o-or

And we'll get some more ...yeah

Baby I could be a squirt

Loosen up your magic dirt

Waiting for the excellent coming of age

Maybe then you'd squirt along

Squirt along, squirt along

Whattcha wanna do

So easily fooled

You are so easily fooled

So easily fooled

Come on now, marry me

Please marry me

Hey, I just want some respect

I might be enough to cover you up

And hold you down

Next to me and then run you around

Look at me once you might see that the color is red

Blurring up your eyes and your head

Coppertones and empire home

Everybody needs a home

Takes centuries to build

And seconds to fall

I wait so patiently for you to fall fall fall fall

But you never fall

Jimmy coconut

I am the coconut, etc





Buying the coconut,etc

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pavement’s song “Easily Fooled” are somewhat enigmatic, consisting of a patchwork of seemingly unrelated lines. The opening questions seemingly posit whether there is an appropriate time to emerge from hibernation, the spring being a logical time to do so. However, the track veers off into other topics such as the singer’s need for respect and the desire to be a stimulating presence in someone’s life. The second verse employs imagery of magic dust and coming-of-age, while the chorus repeats the titular phrase as a damning indictment of the person addressed in the song.


Despite this apparent dissonance, several themes connect throughout the song. The first is a keen appreciation for the passage of time, and the numerous ways that it can be experienced. The meandering, existential questions of the opening verse demonstrate a patience for the long stretches of waiting that the song contemplates. For their part, the final lines of the song shift from celebrating the enduring nature of empire building to highlighting the fragility of these accomplishments.


Another common thread that runs throughout “Easily Fooled” is a sense of longing or striving. The desire for respect in the middle of the song implies a dissatisfaction with one’s current state, and a hope for something more. This yearning is connected to the need for recognition, both of oneself and of others. This interpretation of the song is reinforced by the repeated use of “easily fooled,” which can be read as an accusation from the singer to the addressee, or as a plea to avoid being taken in too easily by the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, do you need a reason
Do you require motivation, an explanation, or justification?


Is there a separate season
Is there a different time or occasion?


From which to come out of the spring
To emerge from your shell or to start something new.


I wait all summer long
I eagerly anticipate your presence for the duration of the warm season.


And then the winter's long
After summer, the colder season is also lengthy.


Then it's longer than afterwards
Eventually, the interval stretches beyond its previous length.


I don't need a timekeeper
I don’t require a clock or any other method of monitoring the time.


I don't need an interlocuter
I don’t require a mediator or any other person to help me communicate.


And baby you'll look a little cuter
You will appear more adorable, childlike or attractive.


Day by day, day by day
Gradually, over time, every single day.


If you need a trademark for your sound
If you require a unique mark or symbol to represent your music.


You'd better look around
You must investigate your options and choose wisely.


Treat it like a window not a do-o-or
Consider it as a view or an opportunity, not as a restriction.


And we'll get some more ...yeah
And we'll obtain additional things or benefits.


Baby I could be a squirt
I could be a playful, mischievous or inexperienced person.


Loosen up your magic dirt
Relax and be more open to your natural or creative abilities.


Waiting for the excellent coming of age
Anticipating a remarkable, significant or much-awaited phase or period in life.


Maybe then you'd squirt along
Perhaps then you’ll also become playful or adventurous.


Squirt along, squirt along
Be playful or mischievous along with me.


Whattcha wanna do
What do you want to do?


So easily fooled
So gullible, naive, or easily deceived.


You are so easily fooled
You are very gullible, naive or easily deceived.


Come on now, marry me
Give me your unconditional loyalty, devotion, or commitment.


Please marry me
Kindly give me your unconditional loyalty, devotion, or commitment.


Hey, I just want some respect
I only require some admiration, acknowledgment or appreciation.


I might be enough to cover you up
I might be sufficient to hide or protect you.


And hold you down
And keep you from getting too excited or carried away.


Next to me and then run you around
Be close to me and then proceed to enjoy life or have fun.


Look at me once you might see that the color is red
Look at me and observe that I'm energetic or passionate.


Blurring up your eyes and your head
Making your vision or thoughts unclear or cloudy.


Coppertones and empire home
Referring to a sunscreen and an archetype of a grand, sprawling estate.


Everybody needs a home
Everyone requires a place where they can feel comfortable or belong.


Takes centuries to build
Constructing an ideal environment or lifestyle often takes a long time.


And seconds to fall
However, it can be quickly destroyed or lost.


I wait so patiently for you to fall fall fall fall
I patiently anticipate and hope for you to eventually fail or suffer a setback.


But you never fall
However, you never seem to fail or suffer a setback.


Jimmy coconut
A reference to a person of the same name and/or a coconut product.


I am the coconut, etc
I am the person in question, or I am assuming that same identity.


Buying the coconut,etc
Purchasing the same product, likely from the same individual mentioned earlier.




Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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