Easy Street
History
One day as I was driving home from work, I was sulking over a particular financial challenge Sandi and I were facing and thinking “Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to deal with such problems.” I then mumbled to myself, “It seems we’re always living just one block down from easy street.” Sparked by that tongue-in-cheek comment, the song explores the points at which the so-called American Dream is often in conflict with the Kingdom dreams God places in our hearts.
Lyrics
I am your average dreamer dreaming the American dream
Trying to cut myself a piece of that American pie
Taking my skills to the marketplace and bringing bacon home to my kin
And rushing around while the years go rushing by
But it seems the harder I chase it it’s just beyond my reach
Like a forward pass that’s fallen incomplete
Still I keep on chasing that old carrot on the stick
And living one block down from easy street
I’m always searching hard for all the things I think I want
Sometimes losing sight of what I need
A total infatuation with my wealth accumulation
An uncomfortably close approximation of greed
But every shiny toy I buy is bound to see some rust
Or forgotten in the closet and the dust
Yesterday’s treasures gone to market with the fleas
When you’re living one block down from easy street
Easy street easy street where everybody wants to be
Easy, breezy, please-y street
That happy address where we’re free from all duress
But I guess I made a wrong turn on my way to easy street
But there’s another vision before me dreamed by the Lord of Love
With a path that leads to treasures up above
It is the road less traveled, it’s narrow and it’s tough
And it doesn’t involve the accumulation of stuff
God’s dream is all about loving and giving your life away
And being thankful each and every day
And even in your hardship you’ll never face defeat
When you’re walking miles above old easy street
But then how can a person travel on two roads at one time
And expect to make it home at the end of the line?
Illusion just can’t coexist with the dream God has for me
One’s a dead-end street and one will set me free
When I wake up every morning I’ll kneel down and pray
For the grace and strength I need to seize the day
I’m gonna to do the work I’m given and for righteousness I’ll thirst
And trust in God and seek His kingdom first
And whatever the Good Lord sees fit to place into my hands
I’ll use it to fulfill His great command
‘Cause the treasures up in heaven are beyond my wildest dreams
And it’s there I’ll walk God’s easy street
Easy street easy street where everybody wants to be
Easy, breezy, please-y street
That happy address where we’re free from all duress
And it’s time I make the right turn on my way to easy street
‘Cause I know a house divided is surely gonna fall
And so I’ll listen close and heed the call
To know and trust in Jesus yes it ‘tis so sweet
Until one day face to face we’ll meet
On that golden glow of easy street