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Don Henley — The End Of The Innocence
Album: The End Of The Innocence
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 627









Released: 1989
Length: 5:06
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky
Didn't have a care in the world
With mommy and daddy standin' by
But "happily ever after" fails
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly

But I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by men
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind
You can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie

But I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind
Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
I need to remember this
So baby give me just one kiss
And let me take a long last look
Before we say goodbye

Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence
Comments (33)add comment
 On_The_Beach wrote:

OK, I think we get it; you're too cool for Don Henley. How original.
It's a pop song; get over yourself.


Hahahaha! Perfect!
Please don't play this or anything by don
 pinto wrote:
I really hate to see how poorly history has judged The Eagles.  When they first arrived on the scene their music was groundbreakingly fresh and their contribution to what was then known as country-rock cannot be overstated.  They were a great band, but much like Rod Stewart, once Easy-Listening-Soft-Rock-Light-Hits FM gobbled them up, they were tarnished.

"History" and RP listeners are not the same thing.  Musical history already recognizes the Eagles as a powerfully influential band.  How can one argue with their popular appeal; especially when measured by gold/platinum albums , ticket sales, and radio airplay? 

Why do you think the Eagles are tarnished?   Jeffrey Lebowski's opinion be damned; the Eagles had talent skill, imagination, and an uncanny ability to craft popular songs.

 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 
Edweirdo wrote:
"A" symphony by Wagner?  You mean "the" symphony, since he only wrote one.
 
Good call...
Just brilliant. We drove from LA to Vancouver ( and back!) in 1990. This was on ALL the local FM stations. It wouldn't take long to lose the signal but another one would seamlessly kick in and within a couple of records you could guarantee this would come on. Great driving music. Well great anything music. 
Maybe it's the haircut or the shirt.  But he looks like a college student in that Wikipedia photo.
 ppopp wrote:

Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. 


Aim straight up.
I still remember back in 1989 hearing a DJ discussing this song, I think it was Casey Kasem.  He compared this to his wilder songs from the Eagles days, and reflected that this seemed to mark a shift from songs about partying to songs about the pressures of family life.
 williamknear wrote:

Let's give a shout out to the co author of this track and the piano player Bruce Hornsby.



I haven't seen Don Henley, but I've seen Bruce Hornsby. Great concert. In it, he announced that he was working on a project with Mr. Henley, and this it it!
You have to ask yourself what kind of people write hateful comments about a song! Makes me sad that they are also listening to this station.
 ppopp wrote:

Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.



"over-seized"...I don't think that's a thing.  
 williamknear wrote:

Let's give a shout out to the co author of this track and the piano player Bruce Hornsby.



I KNEW i was hearing some Hornsby sounds here, nice
The video matches the words nicely.  Always brings on the melancholy....
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 

then psd
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 

"A" symphony by Wagner?  You mean "the" symphony, since he only wrote one.
 williamknear wrote:
Let's give a shout out to the co author of this track and the piano player Bruce Hornsby.
 
After all the years of hearing this, I suddenly recognized his piano, came to look at whatever information was available, and yours is the confirmation I sought. Thanks
 jelgator wrote:

This political crap on these boards is getting so damn old.

FYI the current 'king' is trying to get us out of military engagements that continued over the administration your last 'king.'


The King being referred to in this fine track is Ronald Wilson Reagan.  The Daddy who had to lie.  Of course, the actual lying was his mouthpiece Oliver North.  Their crime. Importing and selling cocaine to US citizens along with selling weapons to Iran to fund an illegal war in Central America. This was the context of the End of the Innocence.  But you probably don't get that.

Also the military engagements that you refer to as 'continued', were begun by other members of the GOP.  False wars started based upon lies about WMDs and fear mongering.  A common tactic of their political crap.

Additionally, since you've got me on a roll, cutting and running and conceding to the Taliban, Russia, ISIS, and Turkey is not an effective method of getting out of the sh*t that we started as a nation. No to mention abandoning our staunchest allies in the region, the Kurds, to the tender mercies of their mortal enemies the Turks.
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 

I really hate to see how poorly history has judged The Eagles.  When they first arrived on the scene their music was groundbreakingly fresh and their contribution to what was then known as country-rock cannot be overstated.  They were a great band, but much like Rod Stewart, once Easy-Listening-Soft-Rock-Light-Hits FM gobbled them up, they were tarnished.
 unclehud wrote:
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie


Written for a different time and "king", but apropos in 2019.
 
This political crap on these boards is getting so damn old.

FYI the current 'king' is trying to get us out of military engagements that continued over the administration your last 'king.'
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of... // ...dust for music.
                               (edited for brevity) 


"Lighten up, Francis." 
A poignant piece of pop music that just keeps sounding
better as I get older...
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 

So what you're saying, in the words of Lebowski, "I hate the f*kin eagles, man"?
Haven't heard this since the last time I played it on the radio back in the day.  Forgotten how much I liked it.
Never so timely. Brings tears....
O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie


Written for a different time and "king", but apropos in 2019.
 ppopp wrote:
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
 
OK, I think we get it; you're too cool for Don Henley. How original.
It's a pop song; get over yourself.
 williamknear wrote:
Let's give a shout out to the co author of this track and the piano player Bruce Hornsby.
 
Oh! I can hear Hornsby's playing now that you mention it. A very talented Virginian. Sweet!
Somehow this kind of music makes we want to vomit violently. Especially the sound of this clown's voice. Henley can write a catchy tune, but when I hear them it makes me feel as though I'm witnessing the rotting of a carcass.
The Eagle is a top predator with pronounced and almost over-seized talons, extraordinary vision, astonishing hunting skills, all topped-off by the ability to fly with the grace and aggression of The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performing a symphony by Wagner.
The Eagles are a collection of unremarkable people who churn-out middle-of-the-road Santa Ana wind dust for music.
Two good writers and performers here. Quality stuff, I've always liked this song even though well overplayed.  Still sounds 80's good.
Let's give a shout out to the co author of this track and the piano player Bruce Hornsby.
Not a big fan but this is one of his best tunes IMHO
I don't mind the Eagles... but I've come to love Don Henley. I find his lyrics poetic and insightful and his arrangements beautiful.
Okay. I've got the message youse guys ain't into The Eagles. But this album and this tune and adult lyrics are a real standout to me. I had to rate this a 10 just to make sure the numbers stay up there for Don, as they should.