☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a relationship falling apart.
- The man suffers greatly from the separation, while the woman enjoys life and takes it easy.
- It describes the search for answers and a way out, while the woman distracts herself.
- The lyrics address disappointment and the feeling of being betrayed.
- Despite the separation, both were once in love and promised to try.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "He's Taking It Hard (She's Taking It Easy)" by
David Allan Coe are about a relationship that is falling apart. It is about a man and a woman whose love has crumbled. The man is suffering greatly from the separation, while the woman is enjoying life and taking it easy.
The lines "He's taking it hard she's taking it easy" describe the different reactions of the two to the separation. The man is desperate and suffering greatly, while the woman seems to be coping well with the separation and fully enjoying her life.
The man is searching for answers and walking back and forth in search of a way out ("He's walking the floor looking for answers"). The woman, on the other hand, is out and about everywhere and seems to have no problem distracting herself ("She's out on the floor all over town").
The lyrics also address the disappointment and feeling of being betrayed. The lines "Ain't that the way that love goes when love goes to pieces / Ain't that the truth when you find out you're living a lie" show that love sometimes falls apart and one finds themselves living a lie.
Despite the separation, the two were once in love and promised to give it a try. The lines "Ain't love the reason we both took a chance on each other / Ain't it each other we both swore we wanted to try" show that they loved each other and wanted to have a relationship.
Overall, the lyrics describe the emotional burden of a separation and the different reactions of the two partners. While the man is suffering, the woman is taking the separation more lightly and trying to distract herself. The lyrics also address the ambivalence of love, which can bring both happiness and pain.