“Blue skies, smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see”….for a while that song meant everything hopeful. I had a glimmer of a wonderful future that seemed to be possible. For a short time I began to believe that life could really bring exciting, joyful experiences my way. I was really happy, until I was hit with some difficult life upheavals and it took me a long time to get my balance back. I allowed external situations to influence my feelings, my reactions.

Now I have learned that responding often means just allowing, just observing and not turning everything into a stress, not feeling that I have to fix or control what is going on around me. As I learn to ride the waves of life more languidly, I find that I am happier. I see those Blue Skies again!

In the Spring of 2015 I was in Basel, Switzerland, for a week and while I was there, surrounded by fresh air–redolent with roses and flowering trees–I turned some of the images of relaxation and allowing into original lyrics for Oscar Peterson’s version of Easy Does It, a song by Sy Oliver and Trummy Young.

Easy Does It
©2015 Laurie Early

Take a tip from me,
and you will find that life can go so easily
if every day you smile and say
“I’ll wait and see”
then easy does it,
yes, it does!

Life can be so sweet,
if you just stay laid-back and elevate your feet
your heart is telling you
appreciate each beat
Oh, easy does it,
[Oh, man!] yes it (sure) does

Don’t hold on too tight,
just let it go and trust it all will be alright
look deep within yourself and
see that inner light
Easy does it,
yes, it does!

Float out with the tide,
no need to struggle, feel the flow, enjoy the ride
be like the water rolling off a duck,
just slide
oh, easy does it,
oh baby yes, you know it sure does!

Leave some room for fate,
live out your dreams and destiny will not be late
and if you find someone who loves you,
man, that’s great!
but, easy does it,
(yeah come on, you know it does)

[[break]]

IMPROV/PIANO SOLO:

Take it easy, take it easy,
take every day easy
Oh, yeah, easy does it every time
Easy does it, yes it does.

Take it easy, take it easy,
make every day breezy
Oh, yeah, easy does it every time
Easy does it, my, oh yes it sure does!

Take it easy, take it easy,
Baby, take it easy,
easy does it every time;
Take it easy, take it easy,
Baby, take it easy,
‘cause easy will do it every time

Take it easy, easy does it, baby
Take it easy, ‘cause easy does it every time
Easy does it, easy does it, my, oh, yes,
it sure does!