Did it all get real, I guess it's real enough
They got refrigerators full of blood
Another century spent pointing guns
At anything that moves
Sometimes I worry that I've lost the plot
My twitching muscles tease my flippent thoughts
I never really dreamed of heaven much
Until we put him in the ground

But it's all I'm doing now
Listening for patterns in the sound
Of an endless static sea
But once the satellite's deceased
It blows like garbage through the streets
Of the night sky to infinity

But don't you weep (don't you weep for them)
Don't you weep (don't you weep)
There is nothing as lucky
Honey, don't you weep (don't you weep for them)
Don't you weep (don't you weep)
There is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free

Don't be a criminal in this police state
You better shop and eat and procreate
You got vacation days then you might escape
To a condo on the coast

I set my watch to the atomic clock
I hear the crowd count down til the bomb gets dropped
I always figured there'd be time enough
I never let it get me down

But I can't help it now
Looking for faces in the clouds
I got some friends I barely see
But we're all planning to meet
We'll lay in bags as dead as leaves
All together for eternity

But don't you weep (don't you weep for them)
Don't you weep (don't you weep)
There is no one as lucky
Honey, don't you weep (don't you weep for them)
Don't you weep (don't you weep)
There is nothing as lucky, as easy, or free
Or free, or free, or free
There's nothing, there's nothing, there's nothing...


Lyrics submitted by apocalypse84

Easy/Lucky/Free Lyrics as written by Conor Oberst

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Easy/Lucky/Free song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

154 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    Song Meaning

    If you read interviews with Conor Oberst He says that it is his optimistic outlook on death. That is what the song is about. And it is beautiful in how chaotic it is and how the songs beauty kills its self in the end.

    PlugUgly78on July 08, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is deep. Conor really took a philosophical approach to this record. It came out quite good.

    Does the simple line "Don't you weep..." really hit hard to anyone else?

    SimpleKindOfBoyon December 27, 2004   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    it sounds like he's talking about the world getting nuked and everyone knows about it, but instead of being worried they are just celebrating it like they would a new year.
    "I set my watch to the atomic clock. I hear the crowd count down till the bomb gets dropped."

    Does anyone else think so?

    on your porchon January 30, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    i think its a political statement against the people who wage war in america, and the unconcerned public.

    i sense a deep sarcasm in the whole thing

    pikachu1559on February 01, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I'm going through this now. Beautiful lyrics

    sx edgeon December 12, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I am currently obsessed with this song.

    daddysgunon February 15, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It does sound like he's kind of saying that when the world ends. But i think it might just be about how the world is always at war. And that we shant cry for those who die, because they're in a much better place, atleast thats what we all want to believe...

    jvenrickon January 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe that Conor has shown a shift in his beliefs with this new alubm (Digital Ash...). On previous albums he's definitely been a cynic about the existence of an after-life, faith, ect. But with this album and this song in particular he's saying that some people close to him have passed away and he's done some thinking. "...But it's all I'm doing now, looking for patterns in the sound". Especially if you check out "Arc of Time" earlier on the album, it's undeniable. This whole album is a positive message, and actually talks about believing in something bigger than we are...which is a nice change for Bright Eyes.

    livewithconvictionon March 31, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I know there are political references and pessimistic comments, but that's a given with Conor and I don't think that's what he's getting at here. He's talking about the time people waste working, and not focusing on the important things in life such as time with friends. I definitely agree with the person above who said so delicately Conor's just talking about "not having to put up with life's shit anymore." I love the line "You might escape to a condo on the cost" it shows how consumed people become with work, and how really we're lucky if we get away for a while. So clever. Anyways i'm rambling. Beautiful song, definitely nothing depressing about it...Although some of the messages are negative really he's just trying to make you think. I think that's all Conor really wants to do. Just lookin out for people. What a guy.

    livewithconvictionon March 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "my twitching muscles tease my flippin' thoughts"

    and

    "we'll lay in bags as dead as leaves"

    Mopnuggeton November 19, 2004   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.