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Easy Street

from Roubles and Kopecks by Sam Steffen

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lyrics

I heard there’s a place not too far from this block where you can get anything that you want
A new pair of shoes and a suit and a wife and three kids and a house and a job
And when you get tired there’s places to sleep,
and when you get hungry there’s plenty to eat
I’d sure like to go, say, friend do you know, how to get to Easy Street?

I heard there’s a man there, he’s a doctor of sorts, he can cure almost any disease
Ailments, addictions, afflictions and worse—all you gotta do is say please
He won’t charge you nothing, he works pretty cheap;
when he gives you his promise, you know it’ll keep
I’d sure like to go, say friend do you know, how to get to Easy Street?
Easy Street—where the livin is easy
Where the door’s always open and you don’t gotta pay
Where I’ve been going, all of my lifelong
Just waiting for someone—to show me the way

The houses out there don’t belong to no one, you don’t gotta lay low or hide
If anyone sees you hangin around, they’ll tell you to just come on inside
They won’t ask where you been on your runaway streak;
if the cops come around, they won’t make a peep
I’d sure like to go, say, friend, do you know, how to get to Easy Street?

I heard that they’ve got more than enough to go round, they won’t make you stand in no lines
You can stand where you like and come as you are, there ain’t no “No Trespassin” signs
There’s no trials or contests in which to compete
There ain’t any forms that you’ll need to complete
I’d sure like to go, say, friend, do you know—how to get to easy street?
Chorus

I met a young man who knew the place well, he smiled, remembering it
I asked, “Can I go?” he shook his head no, said, “you haveta be born into it—
“And if you ever get out by making the leap—you’ll never get back in, the climb is too steep—
“I’m sorry to say but there’s no other way for to get to easy street.”

I met another man claimed he came from that place, said he’s born there in some ancient year
I asked him the way and all he could say was, “Friend—you can’t get there from here,
“So if you get beaten, just turn your cheek—what you sew in joy in sorrow you’ll reap
“I’m sorry to say but there’s no other way for to get to easy street.”
Chorus

Have you heard of this place you can make up a dream and pursue it until it comes true?
Where whatever you’ve done and where ever you’re from cant in anyway be held against you?
is there anywhere I can kick up my feet? Or get out of this rain and this godawful heat?
I’d sure like to go, say, friend, do you know how to get to easy street?

credits

from Roubles and Kopecks, released September 14, 2020

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Sam Steffen Boise, Idaho

Sam Steffen is a Pennsylvania-bred, Boise-based singer-songwriter whose songs are the torch-wood for a new generation of folk music that has learned from the best stuff in the tradition and aims in spite of everything to keep the human spirit alive and kicking. A versatile musician and skilled finger-picker, Sam is at heart a story-teller, and a prolific one. ... more

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