HENLEY ON RELATIONSHIPS
LOVE AVOIDED
Henley’s most enduring classic co-authored with Glen Frey is the epic song about a metaphorical love (avoidance) bandit referred to as “Desperado.” In spite of the fact that the song has been overexposed, is an elevator music classic and was spoofed by the Elaine character on Seinfeld; the song holds up as both a pop ballad and life message masterpiece more than three decades later.
The hard, cold reality is that for various “reasons” a lot of men and women in today’s society are ‘love desperados’. On January 18th of 2007 it was announced that for the first time 51% of adult women in the U.S. are unmarried. While many factors account for it, at least one factor that would have to be accounted for is the “Desperado” syndrome. And as fast as women are catching up in this department, (a dubious achievement at best) men are still the undisputed champions of ridin’ fences in their dating relationships and not “opening the gate” to love.
"Desperado"
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses? (its a crazy lifestyle)
You been out ridin' fences for so long now (metaphor for playing the field)
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons (likely pain from a previous relationship)
These things that are pleasin' you (endless series of shallow relationships)
Can hurt you somehow
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy (watch out for the material girl)
She'll beat you if she's able (she will take you for what you are worth and dump you)
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet (find the one with a big heart)
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table (you’ve met some wonderful women along the way)
But you only want the ones that you can't get (human nature wants want it can’t have.)
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone (Ironic twist as Henley shows that freedom can be its own prison)
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time? (When your alone, loneliness is an issue,)
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day ( days tend to run together,)
You're losin' all your highs and lows (there may be less drama, but there is also less living)
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate (put that lifestyle of running from love behind you, open the gate of your heart)
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you (life may be tough, but the rainbow reminds us of God’s promise to provide)
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late (our greatest need...to love and be loved...miss that you missed the point of the journey of life)
