Posts Tagged ‘take er easy Thursday’

Well loyal reader, here we are again. It’s our weekly Dudesday celebrating the ethos of one Jeffery Lebowski (at least that’s the handle his lovin’ parents gave him). Yes, I know I didn’t do a Take ‘Er Easy Thursday post last week, but that was only because I was working on publishing the May issue of the magazine. But enough of that. Let’s get on with takin’ ‘er easy.

Will you just take it easy, man?

Will you just take it easy, man?

The Dualers is a band I featured once upon a Ska Saturday, but this band has a song that fits right in there for our theme. Before writing about the song, I should say that this post is largely inspired by my four-year-old son who discovered The Dualers in my iTunes and really grooved to this song. “Take It Easy” (no, it is most certainly not a cover of The Eagles, man!) has the perfect combination of melody and message. The melody is a real easygoing one that is perfect for just relaxing. Then you get the message and it’s just one great line after another. The chorus states, “Take your time, no need to hurry. Take it easy, there’s no need to worry.” Is that Dudely or what? After a brief freakout in which The Dude and Walter don’t make the exchange for Bunny, The Dude realizes that the whole thing is out of his control and he just needs to take it easy.

Then chew on these lyrics:

If you fall from the race

there’s no disgrace

just pick yourself from off the ground.

Sure, those are words we should all live by. When you look at The Dude, he gets knocked out, drugged, and hit in the head with a coffee mug. But he just keeps abiding. And really, isn’t that how the whole durned human comedy keeps perpetuating itself? You fall, you pick yourself up, and ultimately you abide. I take comfort in that. That about wraps ‘er up, don’tcha think? Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

I know you’re expecting another installment of Take ‘Er Easy Thursday. Don’t worry. I haven’t retired it yet. I was working on publishing the May issue of the magazine last night and didn’t get around to writing a Take ‘Er Easy Thursday post. But fear not, loyal reader. We have an interview that you’re really going to like.

Stay in bed and take 'er easy

Stay in bed and take ‘er easy

Welcome once again to our weekly celebration of the ethos of The Dude. Our very own weekly Dudesday if you will. I found this particular song by Daphne Martin and Raise the Rent when I was searching ReverbNation for songs about sleeping in. After all, it’s not like The Dude has any pressing appointments. He can sleep as late as he wants.

The Dudeist philosophy is immediately evident with the first lyrics being “You’ve got your coffee and your robe…” OK, so The Dude would have a White Russian, not a cup of coffee, but still…a leisurely beverage while wearing a robe. It’s off to a good start, and it gets better. “Let the worries of the world just be the worries of the world. There ain’t no room for them here.” Sound familiar? It should. How about when The Dude says, “I can’t be worried about that shit! Life goes on, man!” Daphne carries on the Dudeist philosophy when she sings about having bills and errands to take care of, but decides to stay in bed all day. Hey, do you think The Dude gets weighed down by errands? We know he doesn’t get weighed down by bills because he gets a very gentle reminder about his rent…on the 9th of the month.

This song can be your anthem the next time your alarm goes off and you’re filled with dread about having to go to some job that you can’t stand. Just ask yourself, what would The Dude do? OK, The Dude would probably fix a White Russian and do a J. I’m not necessarily advocating that. However, if you feel like  you need a day to stay in your robe and sip White Russians, who am I to stop you? Let the worries of the world be the worries of the world. Well, that about wraps ‘er up. Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

"Quit your job."

“Quit your job.”

I’m not going to lie to you, loyal reader. I had a hard time finding a tune for Take ‘Er Easy Thursday. Granted, this one is not about The Dude like last week’s selection, but it does celebrate The Dude’s ethos. For starters, the song is called “Quit Your Job,” which is something The Dude would most certainly applaud. And then about 30 seconds into the song, the vocalist says, “money is only as important as you make it out to be.” Think about it. Do you ever see The Dude handle money? Not only that, but when he’s in Maude’s limo, The Dude tells the driver, “You can’t worry about that shit. Life goes on, man.” Indeed. The vocalist also questions whether making it to the upper class qualifies you as a success. Seriously, can you think of a better example of that than The Big Lebowski?

Even though Overdose on Vitamins doesn’t specifically reference The Dude, this band does a pretty good job of singing all about The Dude’s ethos. All in 3:44. Well, that about wraps ‘er up for this week. Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

Helping us all abide

Helping us all abide

Once upon a time, loyal reader, someone told your humble narrator, “Someone’s gonna write a song about you one day.” (By the way, if you want to be that person, I’ll start accepting submissions immediately. Oh, and you’ll be rewarded with some Incognito gear.) Well, sometimes there’s a man (and I’m talking about The Dude here) and even if he’s not a hero, he’s worthy of having a song written about him.

This isn’t the first song written about The Dude, but it’s a good one. It makes me laugh to beat the band. Max Random has managed to encapsulate…well, maybe not the entire movie…but a lot of the ins, outs, and what have yous of the film in a little less than four minutes. Not to say that there are any spoilers exactly. Except maybe when he mentions Bunny’s toe (or is it?). Awwww…look at me. I’m ramblin’. The thing is, sometimes there’s a song and it’s the song for its time and place. With the weekend right around the corner and all of us trying to get through one more workday before the weekend, this-a here song I’m about to innerduce just might help us all abide a little better. And I take comfort in that. I done innerduced it enough so that about wraps ‘er up for me. Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know you will.

So there I was scanning Bandcamp for a song or a band to feature for Take ‘Er Easy Thursday, when what did I see? A new album from Murder by Death. But not just any album. The band did a Kickstarter project in which those who pledged a certain amount got to request a song that Murder by Death should cover. Well, loyal reader, one of those that pledged the proper amount must be a Dudeist. Yes, that’s right. One of the cover songs on this album is “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Is In).”

Just Dropped In...

Just Dropped In…

And to be honest, this is exactly what a cover should be. It is pretty true to the original while at the same time, the band puts its own stamp on it. I’m willing to bet that even though this is slightly different than the original, you’ll still have visions of The Dude swimming through the air and floating between the legs of women wearing bowling-pin headdresses. Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

How to take 'er easy at work

How to take ‘er easy at work

Greetings, loyal reader, and welcome to another edition of Take ‘Er Easy Thursday. Or as we like to refer to it, Dudesday. This is the day of the week where we celebrate the ethos of the sultan of taking ‘er easy, The Dude. Now, I should say that “Clockmilker’s Union” by Strangefellas is about a job, so it’s not entirely Dudelike. That being said, it’s about taking a very Dudely approach to your job. Just dig these lyrics.

I’m going on strike

if I have to work too hard early in the morning.

If he did have a job (perish the thought!), that certainly sounds like something The Dude would say. But wait! There’s more!

I am here for a check

not to have to break a sweat.

Again, not exactly like The Dude, because The Dude didn’t want Lebowski’s “bullshit money.” Still, when it comes to not breaking a sweat, The Dude is king. Not just because he doesn’t work, but also because he almost always remains calm. So, the next time you get stressed about your job, just remember this song, and of course, The Dude. That oughta help you get over the stress you’re feeling. Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

The narrator of this song is a genuine dude

The narrator of this song is a genuine dude

Loyal reader, by now you’ve gathered that I have a strong affinity for The Dude. I have no trouble admitting that I am a Dudeist. Thus Take ‘Er Easy Thursday, where we present a song that sings the praises of the Dudeist ethos. Now, at the beginning of The Big Lebowski, The Stranger describes The Dude this way:

“And even if he’s a lazy man – and The Dude most certainly was that – quite possibly the laziest in Los Angeles County, which would place him high in the running for laziest worldwide…”

If you’ve ever been to Los Angeles County, you know how much truth is in that statement. That being said, the narrator of this particular song would give The Dude a run for his money on the laziness scale. Maybe you’re not the world’s biggest bluegrass fan. However, if you like songs about takin’ ‘er easy (and why would you be here otherwise?), well, all I can say is that you’d be hard-pressed to find a song that better embraces the Dudeist philosophy. Oh, and if you do like this song, you can find a lot more like it at the Bluegrass Preservation Society weekly podcast. Without further ado, I give you “Lazy Man’s Lament” by Chris Warner.

Lazy Man’s Lament

Until next time, you take ‘er easy. I know that you will.

Dudeism laid down to an easy ska melody

Dudeism laid down to an easy ska melody

Yes, I know “Career Opportunities” is a song by The Clash, but I thought I’d present a version of this song that you’re less familiar with. Last week, I featured a song that I think is a fist-pumping anthem for Dudeists everywhere. This song frankly is  an encapsulation of all things Dudeist set to a laid-back ska melody. Frankly, it’s almost like The Clash envisioned The Dude before the Coen brothers did. I should mention that King Django (from New York) modified the lyrics to suit his time and place.

The offered me the office, offered me the shop
They said I’d better take anything they’d got
Do you wanna make coffee at NBC?
Do you wanna be, do you really wanna be a cop?

Career opportunities, the ones that never knock.

I hate the army an’ I hate the Marines.
I don’t wanna go fighting in the desert heat.
I hate the civil service too
And I won’t open anthrax letters for you.

They’re gonna have to introduce conscription
They’re gonna have to take away my prescription
If they wanna get me making toys
If they wanna get me, well, I got no choice

See what I mean about this being an encapsulation of the Dudeist ethos? Do you really want to be a cop, you know, like the fascist The Dude encountered in Malibu. He hates the army and Marines and won’t go to fight in the desert heat, so he is clearly a pacifist like The Dude. Furthermore, The Dude just isn’t looking for any career opportunities, and I have to give props to anyone who falls into that category.

A fist-pumping anthem for Dudeists

A fist-pumping anthem for Dudeists

I know that generally Friday is the weekday to celebrate. (Just count how many times you hear “It’s Friday” when you ask someone how he or she is doing on the last day of the work week.) But we like to celebrate Thursdays because those are the days we pay tribute to the ethos of The Dude.

Now, maybe when you think about takin’ er easy, you don’t immediately think of Nashville Pussy. After all, this band rocks pretty hard. Still, the song “Lazy White Boy” is a pretty good (if intense) take ‘er easy tune. I mean, the song is called “Lazy White Boy” and The Dude himself (the model of taking ‘er easy) is described as “most certainly a lazy man.” That’s not all though. Blaine Cartwright sings,

“Sit around getting high all day

Don’t let work get in my way.”

Whether you condone that sort of thing or not, the truth is if that isn’t following The Dude’s lethargic lead, I don’t know what is. The Dude doesn’t let much of anything (let alone work) get in his way of abiding. So yeah, this is an unusual take ‘er easy tune, but it is a fist-pumping (if they can be troubled to expend that sort of energy) anthem for Dudeists everywhere.