Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later reissued as Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken in 1986, While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.
In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track and it's video of missing teens that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.
In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From A Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years. During the interim singer Dave Pirner released a solo album and Dan Murphy toured and recorded with Golden Smog.
They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album, The Silver Lining, brought together by the news of Mueller being diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Murphy, Mueller, and Pirner, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Mueller passed away after finishing his work on several tracks on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Murphy expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."
In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and current Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum in tribute to the late Karl Mueller. They completed their American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on their American tour. On March 10th, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse to hold a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the legendary reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant.
http://www.soulasylum.com
Easy Street
Soul Asylum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the last moment he picked up the phone and gave you a call
You thought about letting it ring, but you answered after all
And there you were, put on the spot at the end of the other line
For questions that you never thought you'd ever have to answer to
Who do you turn to when the ones you always turn to go and turn on you
There are no easy answers, the questions remain tough
There's no shortcuts to easy street, no corners you can cut
Can you cut this diamond in the rough
And it's good to see you alive
Sign your will to survive
A look into your heart before it sees its final hour
Lived each day like there is no tomorrow
Beyond this mess ahead there is a street so very hard to find
Though I have got to lay my head down at this dead end so many times
And if we ever get to easy street, you can say with a smile
I came just for the ride
The lyrics to Soul Asylum's song "Easy Street" are a powerful portrayal of the struggles one can encounter in life. The song describes the story of a friend of friend who contemplated suicide, but at the last moment called for help. The singer is the person receiving the call, and while he hesitated to answer, he ultimately did. The lyrics highlight the complex emotions involved in such situations, where there are no easy answers to the problems at hand.
The song expresses how difficult it can be to deal with such situations, where once reliable people have turned away, leaving one feeling alone and in the dark. The singer acknowledges that there are no shortcuts to Easy Street, no easy solutions, but there is a will to survive that is important to cultivate. Each day must be lived without taking it for granted, for there are no guarantees that there will be a tomorrow.
In the end, the song holds no illusions that life itself can be an easy street to follow. It is a bumpy road where every corner can bring unexpected challenges around the bend, but with perseverance, each one of us can find the strength to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you hear the one about the friend of a a friend who tried to end it all
Have you heard the story about the person who tried to commit suicide?
At the last moment he picked up the phone and gave you a call
Just before committing suicide, the person called for help.
You thought about letting it ring, but you answered after all
You considered not answering the call, but decided to pick up the phone anyway.
And there you were, put on the spot at the end of the other line
You found yourself in a difficult situation while talking to the person on the other end of the line.
For questions that you never thought you'd ever have to answer to
You were asked unexpected and challenging questions.
Who do you turn to when the ones you always turn to go and turn on you
When the people you rely on the most betray you, who do you go to for help?
It leaves you in the dark, feeling for a switch to turn it on again
Betrayal can leave you feeling lost and searching for a way to make things right.
There are no easy answers, the questions remain tough
Finding a resolution to difficult questions is never easy.
There's no shortcuts to easy street, no corners you can cut
Success and happiness cannot be achieved through quick and easy methods.
Can you cut this diamond in the rough
Are you capable of uncovering something valuable from a difficult situation?
And it's good to see you alive
It's comforting to know that the person who almost committed suicide is still alive.
Sign your will to survive
Make a decision to live and fight for your life.
A look into your heart before it sees its final hour
Take a moment to reflect on your life before it's too late.
Lived each day like there is no tomorrow
Live every day to the fullest as if it could be your last.
Beyond this mess ahead there is a street so very hard to find
Although there may be obstacles ahead, there is a path to happiness and success.
Though I have got to lay my head down at this dead end so many times
Despite being faced with many difficult situations in the past, I'm not willing to give up.
And if we ever get to easy street, you can say with a smile
If we achieve our goals and find happiness, we can look back on our struggles with a sense of accomplishment.
I came just for the ride
I'm here for the journey, not just the destination.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANIEL DAVID MURPHY, DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia Saltara
There are no easy answers, the questions remain tough
There's no shortcuts to easy street no corners you can cut
Can you cut this diamond in the rough
And it's good to see you alive
Sing your will to survive
A look into your heart before it sees ts final hour
Lived each day like there is no tomorrow
Before this mess ahead there is a street so very hard to find
Though I have got to lay my head down at this dead end so many times
And if we ever get to easy street, you can say with a smile
I JUST CAME FOR THE RIDE <3
Grop Rock Videos
I saw Soul Asylum several times in the 90's- some of it in relatively smaller venues. They were such an incredibly tight live band even back the--, like a Swiss clock. Horse They Rode In On is an incredible, combo of Americana roots rock, punk energy and ambitious melodic turns. When they got their moment of big fame you had to explain to folks watching MTV and listening to FM rock hit radio "No, Runaway Train is nothing like classic Soul Asylum. That song is not what makes them great. Listen to 'Horse'!"
Matthew Barr
Very well said!!
GreenCanvasInteriorscape
Long way home is my go to pick me up, great album
Classic Cars Classic Rock
Well, I just discovered them 4 years ago and love all of it. I have seen them twice and will go again as soon as I am able. Their new album is wonderful. I found them because of the Runaway Train video which is so important for missing kids still today. The lead guitarist now is really a great person and good at playing in the group. Loved Dan, but Ryan is wonderful. Horse is a great album also as you say. I know your comment was five years back, but I want everyone to know they still rock after all these years.
Heather O
You can just see how happy Soul Asylum is in this video and how much fun they're having just playing music and doing what they love. It warms my heart.
Sam Smith
Of course, this is before the grunge era...
Scooped Mids
kinda ironic considering the song's subject mater...
Spiffy
Soul Asylum is one of the greatest american rock and roll bands. So many great songs.
unojsn
Yes you are correct, and this is a very underrated album. Lot of great songs on it
LdKinbote
This is the song that introduced me to Soul Asylum when it came out and instantly became a fan.