I haven’t been writing much lately because I’ve been busy at work. I have always intended to write only when I have something worth sharing, and not worry about keeping a specific schedule. This is a quick and hopefully fun one to share.
I was recently remembering Bruno Mars’ earworm “The Lazy Song.” It’s generally considered irritatingly catchy and slight. Demonstrating my tendency to be very lyrics focused, I think there’s a much more serious story hiding carefree exterior.
I can’t claim that my reading of the song matches their original intention, but I would argue that it’s plausible. The story behind the song matches the mood
That song began one day when we were hanging around the studio and hadn't written a song for a few days and we were kind of burnt out and didn't feel like working. We felt lazy. … Due to the frustration of not being able to [write a classic], Mars said "Today I don't feel like doing anything at all", which according to him was an eye-opener.
However, if you read the lyrics and imagine a character who is not necessarily Mars, it suggests a different mood. I tend to imagine the song as being directed towards a recent ex, after a breakup. That adds an element which isn’t specified in the text, but doesn’t seem like much of an extrapolation. Once you have that thought the song is less about a person indulging in idleness, but trying to put up a good front while they’re absolutely crushed emotionally.
Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
'Cause today, I swear, I'm not doing anything, uh
I have days when I don’t want to talk to anyone, even if a friend calls, and those are not good days. Those are the moods when it feels like nothing is going right.
I'm gonna kick my feet up, then stare at the fan
Turn the TV on, throw my hand in my pants
Nobody's gon' tell me I can't, nah
I'll be lounging on the couch, just chillin' in my Snuggie
Click to MTV, so they can teach me how to dougie
'Cause in my castle, I'm the freaking man
He doth protest too much. This is verse that most suggests a recent break-up to me. It implies that, recently, there was someone telling him, “don’t just sit around in your sweatpants all day.” He purports to be happy in his independence, but that just means saying, “I’m choosing to sit on the couch and watch MTV all day. That makes me happy.” It sound petulant rather than indulgent.
Yeah, I might mess around and get my college degree
I bet my old man will be so proud of me
But sorry, pops, you'll just have to wait
It isn’t only his ex who worries about him. It sounds like he’s dropped out of school, and knows that his parents would like to see him go back, and he’s not ready to think about that right now. As I said above, if you don’t think this person is a famous, wealthy pop star, they sound like someone who’s barely able to get out of bed and won’t answer the phone when people call to check in on them.
In the video Mars is surrounded by his gorilla-masked friends, but the lyrics suggest someone more alone.
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I keep getting into conversations on substack, and want a place to store longer thoughts.
Fun song and fun post, Nick!
I read it as from the point of view a teenager. Maybe there was a breakup to deepen the wanting to avoid the world, but I think the line about "turn on the TV, throw my hand in my pants/nobody's gonna tell me I can't" is a parent. Also, the line at the end about maybe getting a college degree. But at the same time, it's non-specific enough to apply to various scenarios.
It really is a great earworm of a song -- I hadn't heard it in a while and never saw the video before. And after I saw the screenshot in your piece, I was reminded of my Halloween costume from about 7 years ago. I'll add a photo of it if I can figure out how....