In this episode, Oregon’s “The Comforters” share the story behind their song, “Lazy Sundays.”
I would love to be able to say that when the muse strikes, I just have to get out of the way, that I’m merely a conduit for the song to get out. The truth is, I’m more like that annoying faucet that drips in the bathroom. The story behind Lazy Sundays is pretty much the same story behind most of our songs. That is, it’s not the result of a singular moment of inspiration and it didn’t come quickly. As I recall, we had Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Lucinda Williams), Transcendental Blues (Steve Earle), and Crossing Muddy Waters (John Hiatt) on heavy rotation at the house around that time. I think I was also reading Capote’s In Cold Blood. All of that stuff filters through and creates a certain mindset or mood, which I think contributes to Lazy Sundays’ mix of swagger, detachment, and a dim sense of hope and solace.
The verse section probably came first with the chord progression and its slightly syncopated melody being interesting enough for us to pursue. I’d keep playing the chords on guitar while Pia sang or hummed ideas. The nonsense words or sounds that served as placeholders for lyrics would have been there for a good while until a phrase popped out and a direction for the lyrical content of the song became evident. After that, it’s just a lot of work trying to make it sound like it’s not a lot of work. That way, if someone asked, I could say that I picked up the guitar and it just came to me – words and music together – as if I were merely a conduit…
- Jason Robbins
Download a free MP3 of “Lazy Sundays” at Last FM by clicking HERE
Lazy Sundays (Pia and Jason Robbins)
I’ve been hanging around the house
I’ve been shooting off my mouth
Sleeping, dreaming, mostly just keeping to myself
Ain’t this the life?
Long live lazy Sundays
On the porch with the radio real low
Sunday morning hallelujah
Thank god for silent prayer
Thinking, being, mostly just drinking by myself
Ain’t this living?
Long live lazy Sundays
On the porch with the radio real low
Sunday
Sunday is the world
Frozen in a pose
Close to heaven I suppose
Long live lazy Sundays
On the porch with the radio real low
On the porch with the radio real low
On the porch with the radio
December 16th, 2009
Love, love The Comforters. One day, there will be a commercial advertizing the simple life and such and such product, and Lazy Sunday will be playing in the background. All those influences, all those tonal qualities will grab you and make you rush right out and buy that…product. We’ll have to send our check to The Comforters. They can really get you in the mood.