Formed in 1961, The Essex even… Read Full Bio ↴The Essex were 1) an R&B vocal group.
Formed in 1961, The Essex eventually included Anita Humes, Walter Vickers (guitar), Rodney Taylor (drums), Billy Hill (who went by the name of Billy Proctor) and Rudolph Johnson. Vickers and Taylor started the group while they were with the United States Marine Corps, stationed in Japan.
"Easier Said Than Done", which climbed to the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, was performed by four Marines, not including co-writer William Linton, stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. Linton said that the beat was inspired by the sound of multiple teletype machines, noisy mechanical beasts pounding out copy in the base's communications room. In 1962, a demo scored them a recording contract with Roulette Records. Recruiting lead singer Anita Humes, they recorded the song (Roulette 4494) in less than five minutes.
Three months after "Easier Said Than Done" charted in June, The Essex had another top 20 hit with the follow-up song, "A Walkin' Miracle" (Roulette 4515) in September 1963. "She's Got Everything" was another charting song. Their Marine duties made it hard for the group to take advantage of their hits; for example, before long, Johnson was shipped to Okinawa.
The vinyl recordings are collector's items. A "best-of" CD was released by Sequel Records in 1995
The Essex were 2) a little known surf band with a lone masterpiece single "Cemetary Stomp" b/w "Pray for Surf" (1963).
Easier Said Than Done
The Essex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go to him, run to him
Say sweet lovely things to him
And tell him, he's the one
Deep in my heart I know it
But it's so hard to show it
'Cause it's easier, easier said than done
My buddies tell me
Fly to him, sigh to him
Tell him I would die for him
And tell him, he's the one
Although he gives me a feeling
That sets my heart a-reeling
Yet it's easier, easier said than done
Well, I know (I know) that I love him so
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye
They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him
And just do anything for him
And tell him, he's the one
I got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
'Cause it's easier, easier said than done
Well, I know (I know) that I love him so
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye
They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him
And just do anything for him
And tell him, he's the one
I got a love so true
And yet I'm sad and blue
'Cause it's easier, easier said than done
Easier-er-er-er, said than done
The lyrics to the song Easier Said Than Done by The Essex describe the feelings of someone who is in love and finds it difficult to express their emotions to the person they love. The song starts off with the singer's friends giving her advice on how to express her love to him by saying sweet loving things and telling him that he's the one. The singer knows in her heart that she loves him but finds it hard to express it in words. The second verse is similar to the first with some slight variations in the advice given by the friends. The singer is afraid that the person she loves may never know how she feels about him because she gets too timid and shy each time she looks him in the eye.
The verses of the song are punctuated by the chorus which repeats the refrain 'Easier Said Than Done.' The chorus emphasizes that it is much easier to talk about expressing one's love than actually doing it. The phrase 'Easier Said Than Done' is repeated four times at the end of the song, giving it a catchy hook that makes it memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
My friends all tell me
My acquaintances advise me
Go to him, run to him
Approach him quickly
Say sweet lovely things to him
Explain how much I adore him
And tell him, he's the one
Declare that he is my soulmate
Deep in my heart I know it
I'm certain in my heart
But it's so hard to show it
But it's difficult to demonstrate
'Cause it's easier, easier said than done
Because it's simpler in theory than in practice
My buddies tell me
My friends suggest to me
Fly to him, sigh to him
Travel to him, express admiration
Tell him I would die for him
Proclaim my willingness to sacrifice my life for him
And tell him, he's the one
And express my conviction that he is my true love
Although he gives me a feeling
Although he makes me feel
That sets my heart a-reeling
That makes my heart pound
Yet it's easier, easier said than done
Still, it is challenging to put into action
Well, I know (I know) that I love him so
I'm entirely aware that I love him deeply
But I'm afraid that he'll never know
But I'm anxious that he will never realize
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Because I become nervous and introverted
Each time that I look him in the eye
When I directly gaze at him
Sing to him, swing with him
Sing to him, dance with him
And just do anything for him
And do anything to make him happy
And tell him, he's the one
And reiterate that he is my chosen one
I got a love so true
I possess a deeply sincere love
And yet I'm sad and blue
Despite this, I feel melancholy
'Cause it's easier, easier said than done
Because it's simpler in theory than in practice
Easier-er-er-er, said than done
Simpler in theory than in practice, repeated for emphasis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Larry Freddie Huff, William B Linton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BlueMoonSamurai
I used this in a five-paged romantic-comedy-musical along with many other songs from different decades. I'm disappointed that my teacher didn't comment on the range of music.
Here's the song list:
"Love Stinks" - J. Giles Band
"Forget You" - Ceelo Green
"Uptown Funk" (my partner's idea) - Mark Ronson
"Easier Said Than Done" - The Essex
"Do It Up Right" - Lynard Skynard
"Save the Last Dance For Me" - The Drifters
"Let's Get Lost" - Chet Baker
@mitchgawlik1175
Sixty years later and I still dig this very good tune.
@vietvet8202
It's a real shame that this lady was not recorded more......what a voice......every time I hear her sing this song, she is as clear as a bell......so special.
@ausmarine7292
I agree.
@michaelcummingsherrera1232
They recorded Walking Miracle
@vietvet8202
@Michael Cummings Herrera Michael.....very good comment.....they did make "A Walkin' Miracle" in 1963.....and it is another example of just how good she was as a singer and how good that group was.....in other circumstances, they'd of had a much longer singing career.
@michaelcummingsherrera1232
@VietVet are you a Vietnam veteran?
@vietvet8202
@Michael Cummings Herrera Yes.....but, let's just talk music.
@JohnDraiseyDJjohn
My uncle played drums in the recording of this song - my grandmother has about 50 on the 45's Wilbert S. Rainey - Thank you for uploading and sharing this.
@residentgang489
I don't believe you
@rodneyrawlings7100
Just listening to it now, I admired the drumming, relatively uncomplicated though it is--because it takes a good musician to hit those notes so surely with the right dynamics every time--and now I read your comment. I salute your uncle.