Pop Music

The song was written by William Linton and Larry Huff. The Essex, an R&B group, were on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps at the time, as was Linton. The rhythm , they say, comes from the sound of the Teletype machines in the communications office of their Marine post. The single was the B-Side to another song “Are You Going My Way,” but “Easier Said Than Done” became more popular. It certainly was popular — in 1963, it went to the #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Chart. It sold more than one million copies and earned an RIAA gold record. The song was also released on their 1963 album Easier Said Than Done.

The Essex formed in 1962. They were all Marines, and were Walter Vickers, Rodney Taylor, Billy Hill, Rudolph Johnson (who left three months after “Easier Said Than Done”) and Anita Humes.

Here are the lyrics:

“My friends all tell me
Go to him, run to him,
Say sweet lovely things to him,
And tell him – he’s the one.

Deep in my heart I know it,
But it’s so hard to show it
‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done.

My buddies tell me
Fly to him, sigh to him,
Tell him I would die for him,
And tell him – he’s the one.

Although he gives me a feeling
That sets my heart a-reeling,
Yet it’s easier – easier said than done.

Well, I know that I love him so.
I’m afraid that he’ll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.

They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him,
And just do anything for him,
And tell him – he’s the one.

I got a love so true
And yet I’m sad and blue
‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done.

Well, I know that I love him so.
I’m afraid that he’ll never know
Because I (I-I) I get so timid and shy
Each time that I look him in the eye.

They all tell me
Sing to him, swing with him,
And just do anything for him,
And tell him – he’s the one.

I got a love so true
But I’m sad and blue
‘Cause it’s easier – easier said than done.
Easier-er-er-er – said than done.”

For an album of songs from The Essex for your consideration, please click on the photo below:

For More Golden Oldies Music                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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