I would like to get a reasonable theory regarding
the lyrics of the Commodores' song, "Easy", written by Lionel Richie.

The phrase "....that's why I'm easy, easy like Sunday morning..."
makes me think that the person singing the song (the storyteller, if
you will) is laidback and "easy".

However, in the first verse, the storyteller says that he is "leaving
(her) tomorrow", and in the second verse, the storyteller sounds
frustrated, saying "why in the world would anybody put chains on me?".
 Seems more confrontational and frustrated than "easy" to me.

So, what is the storyteller trying to tell us with these lyrics?  And
what the heck is "easy like Sunday morning" supposed to mean anyway?

Thanks.

Dear michellemck-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question about this beautiful song. It brings back a lot of great
memories (and sad ones too).

Here are the lyrics:

Know it sounds funny
But, I just can't stand the pain
Girl, I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I've done all I can
You see I begged, stole, and I borrowed! (yeah)
Ooh that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning!
Why in the world would anybody put chains on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it! no!
Ooh that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning!
I wanna be high, so high
I wanna be free to know
The things I do are right
I wanna be free
Just me! Whoa, oh! Babe!
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, whoa
'Cause I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah
'Cause I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning

In this transcript of an interview with Lionel Ritchie (originally
from Tuskegee, Alabama) talks of his southern heritage and says that
if he had been from anywhere else “I probably wouldn't have come up
with half of those phrases like ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’, that's
southern!”
LIONEL RITCHIE FAN CLUB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LionelRichieFanClub/message/4101

In the deep south (and I am from the south) Sunday is traditionally
the day of rest. Sunday is stress free, uncomplicated, unchallenging
and not intended to be a day of worry or concern. The phrase “easy
like Sunday morning” then is a southern metaphor for “everything is
serene”, “I’m ok”, “I’m guilt free” or “I gladly accept the
circumstances”. If someone were to ask “How are you?”, for example,
one might metaphorically reply “Hey, I’m easy like Sunday morning.”

In the song (refer to the lyrics) Ritchie is saying to the woman, I'm
leaving you tomorrow…I've done all that can possibly be expected of
me…I begged, stole, and I borrowed! Because I’ve done all I can do and
I’ve given it my best effort, and even though it hurts, I’m not going
to carry any guilt for this failed relationship. No one can lay the
blame on me so I’m not going to try anymore and I’m not going to worry
about it anymore. “I’m easy like Sunday morning” (I am as stress-free
and guilt-free about this as anyone would be on a normal Sunday
morning).

Consider these lyrics with some explanation:

Know it sounds funny
But, I just can't stand the pain
Girl, I'm leaving you tomorrow
Seems to me girl
You know I've done all I can
You see I begged, stole, and I borrowed! 
EXPLANATION: I’ve done my best to make our relationship work so I’m
not the one to blame because it’s over. My conscience isn’t going to
bother me.

Ooh that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning!

Why in the world would anybody put chains on me?
I've paid my dues to make it
Everybody wants me to be
What they want me to be
I'm not happy when I try to fake it! no!
EXPLANATION: I’ve done the best that I could do and I refuse to be
anyone else but “my true self”. My integrity won’t allow me to pretend
I’m someone I’m not. Even if it keeps me from being successful I’m not
going to lie. Because of that my conscience is clear.

Ooh that's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning!

I wanna be high, so high EXPLANATION: I want to be happy.
I wanna be free to know
The things I do are right EXPLANATION: I want to be able to live with
my choices.
I wanna be free Just me! EXPLANATION: I want to be free to choose, on
my own.

That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, whoa
'Cause I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah
'Cause I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning
EXPLANATION: So be it. Whatever happens now, my conscience is clear.


Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Take it easy;
Tutuzdad-ga


INFORMATION SOURCES

LIONEL RITCHIE FAN CLUB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LionelRichieFanClub/message/4101

OFFOFF
http://www.offoffoff.com/film/2001/101reykjavik.php3
(See a use of the phrase in this article)


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

LIONEL RITCHIE

“I’M EASY”

“I’M EASY” METAPHOR

“EASY LIKE SUNDAY MORNING” METAPHOR

LIONEL RITCHIE TRANSCRIPT

Very very happy with the level of detail and explanation - thanks!