They began writing and recording their own music in 1956, and their first hit song came in 1957, with "Bye Bye Love", written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. The song hit No. 1 in the spring of 1957, and additional hits would follow through 1958, many of them written by the Bryants, including "Wake Up Little Susie", "All I Have to Do Is Dream", and "Problems". In 1960, they signed with the major label Warner Bros. Records and recorded "Cathy's Clown", written by the brothers themselves, which was their biggest selling single. The brothers enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1961, and their output dropped off, though additional hit singles continued through 1962, with "That's Old Fashioned (That's the Way Love Should Be)" being their last top-10 hit.
Long-simmering disputes with Wesley Rose, the CEO of Acuff-Rose Music, which managed the group, a growing drug usage in the 1960s, as well as changing tastes in popular music, led to the group's decline in popularity in its native U.S., though the brothers continued to release hit singles in the U.K. and Canada, and had many highly successful tours throughout the 1960s. In the early 1970s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings, and in 1973 they officially broke up. Starting in 1983, the brothers got back together, and would continue to perform periodically until Phil's death in 2014. Don died seven years later.
The group was highly influential on the music of the generation that followed it. Many of the top acts of the 1960s were heavily influenced by the close-harmony singing and acoustic guitar playing of the Everly Brothers, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Simon & Garfunkel. In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everly Brothers No. 1 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1986, and into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Don was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019, earning the organization's first Iconic Riff Award for his distinctive rhythm guitar intro to the Everlys' massive 1957 hit "Wake Up Little Susie".
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Everly_Brothers
Lay It Down
The Everly Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' hard to leave the load
We take it there but we can't let go
It's so hard to lay it down
Back in Eden we were tried
Found ourselves dissatisfied
Seeking wisdom she denied
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Hide in me, confide in me
Don't you think it's time to be
Everything we tried to be
You and me should lay it down
So speak to me, be unashamed
There's no need in playing games
After all we're all the same
Tryin' hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Wish my words could make it well
Wish that I could break the shell
Take us from our self-made hell
Find a way to lay it down
Burdened by the things I've learned
Hurting 'cause I'm too concerned
Nonetheless I confess I yearn
To find a way to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down...
The lyrics of The Everly Brothers' song "Lay It Down" express the difficulty of letting go of past grievances and embracing forgiveness. The opening lines describe the struggle of individuals who are traveling on different paths but still carrying emotional baggage that they are trying to release. The lyrics evoke a sense of frustration and helplessness, conveying that although the burden is there, they cannot seem to let it go. The metaphor of Adam and Eve's banishment from Eden encapsulates the theme of dissatisfaction and the search for meaning beyond the pain that the characters in the song experience.
The chorus urges the listener to "lay it down," signifying the need to unburden oneself of emotional baggage so that new beginnings can be embraced. The second verse highlights the importance of trust and openness, encouraging the characters to confide in each other and strive towards being the best versions of themselves. The song's message seems to be that we must stop hiding from our pain and instead acknowledge it, release it, and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Travellin' down our different roads
We are each on our own journey through life, taking different paths.
Tryin' hard to leave the load
We are struggling to let go of our emotional baggage and move forward.
We take it there but we can't let go
We continue to carry our burdens with us, even though we know we should leave them behind.
It's so hard to lay it down
We find it very difficult to let go of our emotional baggage and move on.
Back in Eden we were tried
In the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, they were tested and tempted.
Found ourselves dissatisfied
Despite having everything they could ever need, they were ultimately unhappy.
Seeking wisdom she denied
They sought knowledge and enlightenment, which was forbidden by God.
Tryin' hard to lay it down
They struggled to overcome their desires and do what was right.
Lay it down brother, lay it down
The artist is encouraging someone to let go of their emotional baggage and move forward.
Hide in me, confide in me
The artist is offering a safe space for someone to share their feelings and fears.
Don't you think it's time to be
It's time for us to take action and make a change in our lives.
Everything we tried to be
We have been striving to be our best selves.
You and me should lay it down
The singer is suggesting that they both let go of their emotional baggage and move forward together.
So speak to me, be unashamed
The singer is encouraging someone to open up and be honest about their feelings without fear of judgment.
There's no need in playing games
We should be honest with ourselves and others about our feelings and intentions.
After all we're all the same
We are all human and experience similar struggles and emotions.
Wish my words could make it well
The artist wishes they could say something to make everything better.
Wish that I could break the shell
The singer wishes they could help someone come out of their emotional shell.
Take us from our self-made hell
We are creating our own emotional pain and suffering.
Find a way to lay it down
We need to find a way to let go of our emotional baggage and move on.
Burdened by the things I've learned
The artist feels weighed down by the knowledge and experiences they have accumulated.
Hurting 'cause I'm too concerned
The artist is in pain because they care too much about other people and their problems.
Nonetheless I confess I yearn
Despite the difficulties, the singer admits they have a strong desire for personal growth and healing.
Lay it down brother, lay it down
The repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of letting go of our emotional baggage and moving forward.
So hard to lay it down
Despite the importance of doing so, it is still very difficult to let go of our emotional baggage and move on.
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Moch Regia Assidiq Hidayat
"Lay It Down"
Travellin' down our different roads
Tryin' hard to leave the load
We take it there but we can't let go
It's so hard to lay it down
Back in Eden we were tried
Found ourselves dissatisfied
Seeking wisdom she denied
Tryin' hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Hide in me, confide in me
Don't you think it's time to be
Everything we tried to be
You and me should lay it down
So speak to me, be unashamed
There's no need in playing games
After all we're all the same
Tryin' hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Wish my words could make it well
Wish that I could break the shell
Take us from our self-made hell
Find a way to lay it down
Burdened by the things I've learned
Hurting 'cause I'm too concerned
Nonetheless I confess I yearn
To find a way to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down...
Moch Regia Assidiq Hidayat
"Lay It Down"
Travellin' down our different roads
Tryin' hard to leave the load
We take it there but we can't let go
It's so hard to lay it down
Back in Eden we were tried
Found ourselves dissatisfied
Seeking wisdom she denied
Tryin' hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Hide in me, confide in me
Don't you think it's time to be
Everything we tried to be
You and me should lay it down
So speak to me, be unashamed
There's no need in playing games
After all we're all the same
Tryin' hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Wish my words could make it well
Wish that I could break the shell
Take us from our self-made hell
Find a way to lay it down
Burdened by the things I've learned
Hurting 'cause I'm too concerned
Nonetheless I confess I yearn
To find a way to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down
Lay it down brother, lay it down
So hard to lay it down...
Tommy Cambell
I love the songs they sing. They sing songs from the heart .
Roque Soto
Sin quitar mérito a la versión de Gene Thomas, me encanta la interpretación de los hermanos Everly y el toque de steel que impregna toda la pieza.
Daniel Svensson
R.I.P. Phil Everly. A Beautiful voice.
Annette Moyle
And now Don and Margaret
hummel ne
And He is a wonderfull man
mauidreamer2801
Thank you Mary for sharing this with me, and thank you Mark for posting. One of my very favorites.
Jennifer Cannell
Love this song. ❤
Michael J.R
I'm listening to this (July 15, 2023) on the 50th anniversary of the Everly's heartbreaking on-stage breakup at Knott's Berry Farm ("The Everly Brothers died ten years ago.") Considering that, contrary to tellings, the brothers had already planned and announced their split before that day, this song from their last studio album (Pass The Chicken and Listen) for 11 years does seem to be their goodbye to their audience, intentional or not.
juanita hyde
RIP Don Everly Thank you for the Beautiful Music