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Easier Said Than Done

from Maxims, Mantras & Moral Tales by Sam Steffen

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lyrics

In the beginning all was darkness, there was a black wind on the waves
God said, “Someone turn a light on, please,” and the light he called, the day
The dark he called the night-time, and then he counted to one
And when the first day, it was finished, he said, “It was easier said than done,”

It’s easier said than done
Startin off with less than none
Workin up towards having some
Getting past where you’re comin from
Its simpler lost than won
Likelier left than brung
Oftener spoke than sung
It’s easier said than done

Second day God made the heavens, set em high above the earth
Then he said, “Now I’ll make what’s left to make of this here universe,”
And when the sea below the sky above he’d separated from
He reached down to wash his hands, said “It was easier said than done.”

The Third day he made the oceans, made the rivers and the seas
The lands were carpeted with grasses and he outfitted them with trees
And out upon their branches grew the peach, the pear, the plum
And when he thought about it he thought, “It was easier said than done.”

Fourth day he installed the stars and thereby designed the night
Then he put in all the planets and he thought it looked alright
Then he sent em in a circle goin all around the sun
And when he’d had a better look, he said “It was easier said than done.”

Fifth day God made the creatures for the waters and the skies
Made the swordfish and the mollusk and the seagull and magpie
He said, “Let there be mosquitoes, and let them breed upon the scum,”
And lo and behold it was—and it was easier said than done

Sixth day God made the zebra, he made the lion and the ox,
He made the lemur and the elephant and the hound-dog and the fox
He said, “From out of dust and ashes let the human beings come,”
And so people were created—and it was easier said than done.

The Seventh day, God spoke to Adam right before he took his rest,
Said, “Do you promise to take care of this?” Adam said, “We’ll do our best,”
God was satisfied to trust him, but from the world he stood among
Adam seemed to know too well it would be easier said than done

Well I guess some time has passed since then and now the world is getting old
The oceans have been traveled and the lands have all been sold
And some would say there’s nothing new beneath that aging sun
Some would say that proving that would be easier said than done

But me I say the problems of the world ain’t yet been solved
People aint stopped killin folks, our problems ain’t resolved
Until the bells of mercy in the halls of justice have been rung
Love will always be a thing that’s easier said than done

Chorus

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from Maxims, Mantras & Moral Tales, released October 3, 2021

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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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