Eagles – Desperado

About the song

The Eagles’ sophomore album, *Desperado*, released in 1973, marked a significant departure from the country-rock sound they had established with their debut. While their first album, *Eagles*, had showcased their ability to blend country and rock influences, *Desperado* delved deeper into the Western themes that would become a hallmark of their music.

The album’s title track, “Desperado,” is a haunting ballad that paints a vivid portrait of a solitary outlaw. The song’s lyrical imagery evokes the vast, unforgiving landscapes of the American West, and the protagonist’s sense of isolation and despair. The Eagles’ harmonies, both soaring and melancholic, complement the song’s emotional intensity.

Although “Desperado” was never released as a single, it has since become one of the band’s most beloved and enduring songs. Its inclusion on *Desperado* helped to establish the Eagles as a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock music. The album’s other notable tracks, such as “Tequila Sunrise” and “Outlaw Man,” further solidified their reputation as skilled songwriters and musicians.

*Desperado* remains a testament to the Eagles’ ability to craft timeless music that resonates with audiences across generations. Its exploration of Western themes and its evocative storytelling have earned it a place in the pantheon of classic rock albums.

Video

Lyrics

Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
You’ve been out ridin’ fences for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you
Can hurt you somehow

Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can’t get

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

Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day
You’re losin’ all your highs and lows
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
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you
(Let somebody love you)
You better let somebody love you before it’s too late