Monday October 4, 2021 “Let Me Down Easy” Gang of Youths

When you need help, advice and direction I'll bet you may have an analyst or you go to a clergy member or a doctor, but not me...I go to rock & roll.  And the reason is that here we have often drug adeled misfits sharing their lack of wisdom in recordings that they hope will make them rich enough to support their bad habits and get them women who otherwise wouldn’t look at them.

Reasons enough for me.

So this week we are going to Doc Rock to get the guidance and direction that we crave.  First up is a recommendation from song of the dayer John S. who didn’t know about the advice theme but said this band, Gang of Youths is exciting, which they are, but it turns out they also do offer a bunch of really fine advice in today’s song, “Let Me Down Easy”.

Seems to me that if Jim Morrison of the Doors and Michael Hutchence of INXS had a baby it would likely have been Dave Le'aupepe, lead singer/songwriter of Gang of Youths.  Classic good looks, great voice, deep lyrics and fine rock & roll moves.  And it seems a bit of a cliche but Gang of Youths are huge in their home country of Australia and are just gaining some traction in the US with their most recent single “The Angel of 8th Avenue”.

I have always maintained that if a ‘new’ artist is getting any airplay in the New York radio market they must be number one everywhere else in the world, it’s just not a market for unproven music and artists. 

In addition to some fine advice in “Let Me Down Easy” I defy you to find another song that has lyrics that contain both “solopsism”* and “motherf&cker”.

And contrary to my opening piece about rock and rollers not being able to get women, I am pretty sure that is not one of Gang of Youths lead singer David Le’aupepe’s problems.  

Stay safe and well...and with all the deep philosophical and often difficult to understand lyrics in this song I’m going with their advice that ‘not everything’s as easy as making lemonade’ and ‘just put on some Whitesnake’.  And ‘thank you’ to John S. for the recommendation.

*solopsism - the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist. Thought I would save you the trouble, I had to look it up also.

You want someone who wants you for who you are

I want someone to try, then let me down easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

Honey, it's no secret that with matters of the heart

Unreserved, I'm irrational and rarely ever start

But since the world's dark and often inhumane

Relish our condition, come drinking in the rain

'Cause you remember when, after Paris

We all decided the best way to fight it was

Drink wine, dance here and pray

And make love that lasts with a vengeance

So you can join the cowards all aboard the outrage train

You can stay afraid, or slit the throat of fear and be brave

And scratch the little itch

'Til you're moving like a motherfucker up in this bitch

You wanted to fight for a cause

Then go out and fall in love

Don't stop, don't stop believing

In truth and grace in the grievance

You want someone who wants you for who you are

I want someone to try, or let me down easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

So look at me and tell me what I already know

That I trialed and I failed and it's good to let it go

Sometimes life sucks, everything is lame

Not everything's as easy as making lemonade

And so dismembering our state of balance

With lust requited, a gaze undivided

With a cool mind and warmth in your face

A good heart, a grace under pressure

You give me a good reason to be heartsick again

To be here, to be strong, to be oddly and boldly estranged

From the loss and bitter years

I found myself descending into tedium and fear

You wanted to fight for a cause

Then go out and fall in love

Don't stop, don't stop believing

In truth and grace in the grievance

You want someone who wants you for who you are

I want someone to try, then let me down easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

If it's late, you're drunk and wanting

A reason, some reason to live

I always, I always say

Just put on some Whitesnake

Honey, it's no secret that I've been losing my way

In the weirdest of moments and the stupidest of ways

But hey, I'm still young and it's gonna be okay

I got solipsism, baby, and I brought lemonade

I'll surrender then, all my balance

And be excited and drink to tonight

It's not a, a bad time, time spent with you

There's cool lights and songs with good lyrics

We never have to talk again, whatever, up to you

But since you're putting up with me

Here's another toast just to you

Let's dance, off the beat

Then mosey out together and say goodbye on the street

You wanted to fight for a cause

Then go out and love someone

Don't stop, don't stop believing

In truth and personal freedom

I want someone to want me for who I am

I want someone to try, or let me down easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight

Easy, easy tonight