by Amanda London · Published · Updated
Don Henley, the former Eagle, is a musician whose works we’ve over the years analyzed a lot.So we already know that he specializes in songs that delve into political, social and even spiritual matters.And from the first verse of“The End of the Innocence”, it appears as if Don is once again taking us in such a direction.
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That is to say that the concept of innocence is one we usually associate with childhood. And likewise, Henley is harping back to his youth, “with mommy and daddy standing by”, and life at the time being carefree and optimistic.
But now in his maturity, he has come to realize that the “fairy tales” of childhood are built upon falsehoods.And NO, dear reader, that observation is not to imply that Don once believed in make believe characters per se.Instead he now understands that real life is not “happily ever after” as in the storybooks.Apparently, this first became evident to himvia his own parents divorcingat some unspecified age of his life.
The Untouched Place
However, in the chorus that follows, he invites the listeners to a place “still untouched by men”.The way he describes this scenario is as one where the beauty of nature rules, and mankind is able to lay back and chill to his heart’s content.But in describing this location as “the end of the innocence”, Henley also gives the impression that is in fact fantastical, i.e. a place that doesn’t actually exist.
Or explained alternatively, it wouldn’t be logical for the vocalist to dub this location (which does indeed appear innocent) so except to allude to the notion of it not actually existing.Indeed the fact that no man has ever gone there buttresses the concept of this being the vocalist’s own fairy tale, so to speak.
America, the Warmongering Nation
In the second verse, Don goes about criticizing his homeland, America.This song was dropped during the Reagan years, in which the US government dealt with its own fair share of scandals such as the Iran-Contra Affair.And without going into too much detail, said fiasco was centered around the illegal and unethical distribution of weapons.
Relatedly, the focus of the vocalist’s poetic argument in this passage seems to be criticizing America for being a warmongering nation. And to note, with this song being dropped in 1989, the United States was not involved in any major war at the time.But that does not negate the fact that the US has been the main weapons supplier, to the entire world even, from the mid-20thcentury going.
Interestingly, Don closes out the verse just as he did the first, by referring to lawyers and his father and all. In that first instance, as noted it has been concluded that he was alluding to a divorce between his parents.But this time around it’s apparent that he’s acknowledging a grander concept.This concept would be that in this world we live in, even if someone is doing something knowingly wrong, so long as they have an appropriate excuse or proper legal backing, they are likely to get away with it.
So going back to the concept of “fairy tales”, these are the stories we are told as adults, that such-and-such is on the up-and-up, when in actuality they’re sheisty.
Biblical Paradise?
By the time the second chorus rolls around, the paradise that Don Henley is referring to is starting to sound more like heavenin a Biblical sense.Or perhaps it can be said that as the vocalist has aged, he has replaced the fairy tales of his youth with visions of Eden, a place where “sin” can be “wash(ed) away” and all.
But along those lines, our general understanding of paradise is a realm that can only be attained in the afterlife.And that understanding, though unstated, further lends to the notion that this is not an actual location he’s referring to that can be like accessed by an airplane.
A Romantic Interest being addressed?
What then appears as the third verse takes the song in different direction, this time around with the vocalist addressing a romantic interest.But as with all the lyrics of this piece, it can be deduced that he’s speaking metaphorically, at least to some degree.And what he appears to be saying is that there exists a degree of childlike innocence in all of us, one that is unattainable once we become privy to what’s really going down in the world.
Takeaway
Yes, this analysis has relied heavily on conjecture, even more so than our breakdown of other Don Henley songs.But that’s because this piece leaves even more for the imagination to put together itself.Some metaphors, such as thosealluding to the Reagan administration, are easier to discern.But others are a bit more out there.
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However, in conclusion, it is obvious that the vocalist deems innocence, at least for himself and likeminded individuals, as a thing of the past.It doesn’t seem that he is referring to an internal sense of innocence as much as, say peace between men.Or the way he sees it is that type of existence is only present in some type of undefined location, perhaps the afterlife even – or put more plainly a place that doesn’t actually exist, in a manner of speaking.
Writing Credits and Release Date of “The End of the Innocence”?
The song was composed by Henley himself with support from American singer, pianist songwriter and multiple Grammy Award winner Bruce Hornsby.
The pair, being renowned music producers themselves, has been credited with the song’s production.
“The End of the Innocence” was formally released on the 6th of June, 1989 as a single form Henley’s album of the same name.
Is there a Chart History?
Yes. “The End of the Innocence” has a rich chart history. For example, on the Hot 100, it made it to number 8. It was also a top-10 song in Canada. It actually peaked at the number 3 position there. Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom are among the countries where this song also charted. In the latter place for example, it was a top 50 hit.
Grammy Nominations
In 1990, the song earned Grammy nominations for “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year” awards. It however, lost both awards to “Wind Beneath My Wings”, a song performed by Bette Midler.
The following songs were also nominated for the above-mentioned Grammys:
- “The Living Years” performed by Mike + The Mechanics
- “She Drives Me Crazy” performed by Fine Young Cannibals
- “We Didn’t Start the Fire” performed by Billy Joel
- “Don’t Know Much” performed by Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville
Bruce Hornsby covers “The End of the Innocence”
A well-received remake of the song was released in 2000 by the song’s co-writer, Bruce Hornsby.
“The End of the Innocence” Album
“The End of Innocence” (the album) was released on the 27th of June, 1989 as Henley’s third solo studio album. The album came out through Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records. Geffen Records was founded by American businessman, David Geffen.
Four other songs in addition to the title track were put out as singles to create awareness for the album. The song “New York Minute” was one of them.
This commercially successful album has sold over 6 million copies in the US alone. The album did not fail to impress outside of America too.
“The End of Innocence” was placed at No.389 on Rolling Stone’s 2012 list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
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What does a deadhead sticker on a Cadillac mean? ›
In the old days, you would never see a deadhead sticker on a fancy car such as a Cadillac. Justin from Baltimore, Md"Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac".... refers to the Grateful Dead. Their fans (myself included) are known as Deadheads.
What is the meaning of Don Henley's Boys of Summer? ›The lyrics appear to be about the passing of youth and entering middle age, with the nostalgic theme of "summer love" and reminiscence of a past relationship. In a 1987 interview with Rolling Stone, Henley explained that the song is about aging and questioning the past—a recurring theme in Henley's lyrics (cf.
How much is Don Henley worth? ›They have three children together, two daughters and a son. In 2012, Henley was estimated to be the fourth-wealthiest drummer in the world, behind Ringo Starr, Phil Collins and Dave Grohl, with a $200 million fortune.
Who wrote Don Henley's End of Innocence? ›"The End of the Innocence" is the lead single and title track from Don Henley's third solo studio album of the same name, released in 1989. Henley co-wrote and co-produced the song with Bruce Hornsby, who also performed piano; both artists perform the song live in their respective concerts.
Does Boys of Summer refer to baseball? ›The Boys of Summer is also commonly used to refer to a baseball team, as the sport is played during the summer months. When the summer ends, the “Boys of Summer” go away.
What is the term boys of summer? ›People who play baseball, particularly in the major leagues.
Who is the richest Eagles player? ›Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts signed a five-year contract extension Monday worth a reported $255 million, which will make him the highest-paid player in National Football League history in terms of a contract's average annual value as deals for top athletes balloon to new highs across American sports.
How much do the Eagles get paid per concert? ›The bulk of The Eagles' earning came via their tour dates where they gross on average $3.5 million per show.
Who is the richest drummer in the world? ›Who is the richest drummer in the world? Ringo Starr, Lars Ulrich, Phil Collins, and Larry Mullen Jr are the wealthiest drummers in the world. Each of them has a net worth of $350 million.
What is the message of Songs of Innocence? ›Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Blake's vision embraces radical subjects such as poverty, child labour and abuse, the repressive nature of the state and church, as well as the right of children to be treated as individuals with their own desires.
What is the explanation of Songs of Innocence? ›
Summary. In this poem, Blake imagines the voice of a child. This young narrator insists that though his exterior is black, inside his soul is as white (or "pure") as the angelic-looking child.
Who is Don Henley's favorite singer? ›Never shy to discuss his influences, Henley has named such heroes as Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell and Patsy Cline as key early muses. But when it comes to his favourite country singer of all time, Henley picked out Merle Haggard, an imminent songwriter, guitarist and fiddler from Oildale, California.
Is The Boys of Summer about a man? ›Videos by American Songwriter
Instead of a treatise on sun, surf, and all the rest, “The Boys Of Summer” presents a wistful portrait of a man clinging to a lover who has left him in the cold for the titular flavors of the season.
Baseball, as it was before the rise to dominance of its altered New York variant in the 1850s and 60s, was known variously as base ball, town ball, round ball, round town, goal ball, field-base, three-corner cat, the New England game, or Massachusetts baseball.
What is the meaning behind the boys? ›The Boys showcases the failures of the military-industrial complex, nationalism, and corporate hegemony by displaying the corrupt practices and lack of accountability within our system by creating an objectively evil corporation outside of reality so viewers can see the parallels.
Who were The Boys of Summer Dodgers? ›The Boys of Summer is the story of the Brooklyn Dodgers when the best came to play baseball: Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Billy Cox, Roy Campanella, Carl Erskine, Clem Labine, Billy Cox, Jackie Robinson.
What is a day boy slang? ›Meaning of day boy in English. a boy who studies at a boarding school (= a school where students can live as well as study) but eats and sleeps at home: Sebastian will attend a prep school nearby, where he will be a day boy.
What is the old timey word for summer? ›The word summer is quite old. It's recorded before the year 900 and comes from the Old English word for the season, sumor.
Can summer be a boy name? ›
Nevertheless… I think Summer is an appropriate name for a boy. Think of the names Hunter, Tanner, Baxter, Chandler–all similar names ending in -ER. There are many names that are crossing the gender divide nowadays, so I wouldn't have a problem with it.
Who is the best player in Eagles history? ›1. Reggie White (Approximate Value: 129) Once his USFL playing days were over, White took the league by storm with the Eagles. The NFL had never seen a pass rusher like him before.
What Eagles sold the most? ›Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by the Eagles is the best-selling album of all time in the U.S.
Who is the highest paid NFL player ever? ›1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (10 years, $450M) Mahomes laps the field in these rankings with the enormous 10-year pact he signed with the Chiefs prior to the 2020-21 season.
Who is the highest-paid musician of all time? ›Michael Jackson has become the annual highest-earning male solo artist a record 7 times throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
How much does Jake Elliott make on The Eagles? ›Elliott signed a five-year, $19.3 million contract extension ($3.86 million average annual value) in November 2019 (figures per Spotrac). The deal also includes voidable years in 2025 and 2026. His base salary in 2022 was $1 million, with a cap hit of $2.9 million thanks to bonuses and a restructure.
How much do opening acts get paid? ›"They're lucky to get paid much of anything." If a star makes $250,000 a night, then an opening act might get $1,000. When Glick was tour manager for the Vans Warped Tour, about 90 of the bands made $250 per show, he said.
What was the controversy surrounding the release of Songs of Innocence? ›Many iTunes customers were unhappy that the album was added to their music libraries without their consent. For users with automatic music downloads enabled in iTunes, Songs of Innocence downloaded automatically to their electronic devices.
What does Blake mean by calling the lamb a child? ›He is meek, and He is mild, He became a little child.
What is the symbol of lamb in Songs of Innocence? ›Traditionally, lambs represent innocence. In the Christian Gospels, Jesus Christ is compared to a lamb because he goes meekly to be sacrificed on behalf of humanity. Moreover, lambs, as baby sheep, are connected to the theme of childhood that runs throughout the Songs of Innocence.
What do the Songs of Innocence teach us about life answer? ›
The Songs of Innocence dramatize the naive hopes and fears that inform the lives of children and trace their transformation as the child grows into adulthood. Some of the poems are written from the perspective of children, while others are about children as seen from an adult perspective.
What is the hidden message conveyed in the Age of Innocence? ›One of the themes central to The Age of Innocence is the struggle between the individual and the group. Newland Archer has been raised into a world where manners and moral codes dictate how the individual will act, and in some cases, even think.
What are the famous lines in Songs of Innocence? ›Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair. Can I see anothers woe, And not be in sorrow too.
Who is the most loved singer of all time? ›Henley and Nicks entered into a short-lived relationship after her she'd split from Fleetwood. It was such a whirlwind romance that, for a time, Henley even debated marrying Nicks. In 1979, Nicks became pregnant by the Eagles man but, at the time, decided to have an abortion.
Who is Adele's favorite singer? ›A favourite of the critics and with legions of fans worldwide, Adele is a powerhouse performer know not just for her voice, but also for her emotional and evocative songwriting, which heavily influenced her favourite singers, such as Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald.
What is a dead head on a car? ›A deadhead truck has a trailer attached but carries no freight.
What is the green checkered flag on a Cadillac? ›Best Answer. That is your sport mode indicator. If you hit the mode button you can change out the mode to standard, snow. or sport. 19 people think this is helpful.
Why did the Eagles write Hotel California? ›Glenn Frey said that originally "We decided to create something strange, just to see if we could do it," and that the song was meant to mimic the imagery of the 1965 novel The Magus by John Fowles, about a man in an unfamiliar rural setting who is unsure about what he is experiencing.
Do pilots get paid to deadhead? ›The airline actually pays for these seats. The airline who is carrying them treat them as a fare paying passenger. The crew deadheading is still considered to be on the clock. They are thus paid.
What does DH mean in trucking? ›
DH-O stands for “dead head origin” and is a logistics technology feature that allows drivers to find cargo loads within a certain distance of their current location. Sometimes, a driver will have to deadhead from where they delivered a load to pick up another load.
What is deadheading flying? ›A deadhead flight is another name for an empty legs flight. This is a flight that occurs when an aircraft has been used for a one-way jet charter and has to either return to its base or fly to another airport to pick up its next passengers.
What are the 3 main warning lights in a car? ›There are 3 different categories of warning lights; red, amber and green: Red warning lights mean you should stop the car as soon as it's safe. Yellow warning lights mean that action is required. Green warning lights are for information only.
What does the red boat light mean on a car? ›Engine Temperature Warning.
This dash warning light looks kind of like a boat sitting on water. It actually represents a thermometer-which means your car is getting too hot. Possible causes could include a coolant leak, a bad water pump, bad thermostat or more.
A light blue flag, sometimes with a diagonal yellow, orange, or red stripe, informs a driver that a faster car is approaching and that the driver should move aside to allow one or more faster cars to pass.
What is the meaning of warm smell of Colitas? ›Marijuana buds are commonly known as "foxtails". Colitas is a plural diminutive form - so the line means the smell of buds.
What does Mercedes Benz mean in Hotel California? ›But the speaker makes a clever pun: Her case of the bends is caused by the expensive car, the Mercedes Benz. Basically, her whole worldview is warped by money. So I called up the captain, "Please bring me my wine" He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969" Quick Thought.
What is the meaning of pink champagne on ice? ›"Mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice" was supposedly the operating room and IV packets of blood, and of course "stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" was the operation. "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" was supposedly the moment of death.
Who is the most famous member of the Eagles? ›A post on the band's website stated Frey had “succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia.” And in an interview with the entertainment and media news website TheWrap, Eagles manager Irving Azoff said Frey's death could be blamed in part on the RA medications he was ...
What is Henley full name? ›
"William Ernest Henley".