In 1970, he moved to Los Angeles to record an album with his early band, Shiloh. Shiloh's album was produced by fellow Texan Kenny Rogers. Shortly thereafter, Henley met Glenn Frey. They both became members of Linda Ronstadt's backup band. Touring with her was the catalyst for forming the group. As a result, two months later they, along with Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, became their own act, Eagles.
Henley's music is often social commentary. One of his more famous songs is "Dirty Laundry" (from his I Can't Stand Still album, released in 1982). Its origins date back to 1980, when Henley was put on probation for possession of a narcotic and fined for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The ensuing media circus and on-air pundits claiming that his career was over led to the writing of the song, which continues to be an indictment against the broadcast news media. Similarly, "Johhny Can't Read" (also from the Can't Stand Still album), continues to resound as a commentary on the educational system.
volcano
Don Henley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Let me say now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
Ground she's movin' under me
Tidal waves out on the sea
Sulfur smoke up in the sky
Pretty soon we learn to fly
Let me hear ya now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Now my girl quickly say to me
Mon you better watch your feet
Lava come down soft and hot
You better lava me now or lava me not
Let me say now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
No time to count what I'm worth
'Cause I just left the planet earth
Where I go I hope there's rum
Not to worry soon come
Now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
One more now I don't know (ah he don't know)
I don't know (he don't know, mon)
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
But I don't want to land in New York City
Don't want to land in Mexico (no no no)
Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
Don't want to see my skin aglow (no no no)
Don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no)
Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
Or the Yukon Territory (no no no)
Don't want to land no San Diego
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no no no)
Don't want to land on no Ayatollah
I got nothing more to say
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Just a one more, I don't know (he don't know)
I don't know (I don't know, man)
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
The lyrics to Don Henley's song "Volcano" discuss the fear and uncertainty surrounding a natural disaster, specifically a volcano eruption. Henley sings about his lack of knowledge concerning where to go or what to do when the volcano erupts. He describes the chaos and destruction caused by the erupting volcano through images of moving ground, tidal waves, and sulfur smoke in the sky. Henley also includes a romantic element to the song, with his girlfriend warning him about the lava and urging him to choose her.
The song's chorus, "I don't know where I'm gonna go when the volcano blow," creates a sense of uncertainty and lack of control over the situation. The repeated use of "I don't know" emphasizes this feeling of confusion and helplessness. The lyrics also touch on the desire for escape, with Henley expressing his reluctance to land in various locations, including New York City and the Yukon Territory. Overall, the lyrics of "Volcano" convey the fear and uncertainty surrounding a natural disaster and the desire for escape and protection.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I don't know
The singer is uncertain and feels overwhelmed
I don't know
The singer is reiterating their uncertainty
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is unsure about the future and what will happen amidst chaos
When the volcano blow
The moment when everything becomes uncertain and unpredictable
Ground she's movin' under me
The earth is shifting below the artist's feet, signifying change and instability
Tidal waves out on the sea
The singer acknowledges the scale of the disaster that is coming
Sulfur smoke up in the sky
The atmosphere is filled with harmful gases
Pretty soon we learn to fly
The artist is figuratively expressing the need to be quick to adapt and overcome
Now my girl quickly say to me
The artist is receiving a warning or advice from someone close to them
Mon you better watch your feet
The artist's loved one is warning them to be careful and mindful
Lava come down soft and hot
The danger is not immediately visible, but is incredibly dangerous
You better lava me now or lava me not
A playful reference to the danger, and a call to action to live and love fully before it's too late
No time to count what I'm worth
The singer is acknowledging that material possessions have no value in the face of disaster
'Cause I just left the planet earth
The singer is figuratively expressing that they have lost their place in the world as they knew it
Where I go I hope there's rum
The singer is finding humor in a desperate situation and seeking comfort in small things
Not to worry soon come
The artist is reassuring themselves that everything will be okay, even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment
Don't want to land in New York City
The artist is expressing that they don't want to go back to the same old life, even if it seems safer
Don't want to land in Mexico (no no no)
The singer is rejecting any familiar place, since it has now become a symbol of danger
Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
The singer is referencing the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island and expressing fear of a similar disaster
Don't want to see my skin aglow (no no no)
The artist wants to avoid anything that could harm them or expose them to radiation
Don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park
The artist is rejecting a specific location, but it's unclear why
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no)
The artist is rejecting any place, even if it doesn't have a specific danger associated with it
Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
The singer wants to avoid flying, even if it seemingly gets them to safety
Or the Yukon Territory (no no no)
The artist is rejecting any place, even if it's remote and seemingly safe
Don't want to land no San Diego
The singer is rejecting another specific location or place
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no no no)
The singer doesn't want to land anywhere dangerous, even if it's not immediately obvious
Don't want to land on no Ayatollah
The singer is rejecting anything associated with the Ayatollah, Iran's leader at the time of the song's release
I got nothing more to say
The artist has expressed everything they need to and has nothing else to add
Just a one more, I don't know (he don't know)
The artist continues to be uncertain and overwhelmed
I don't know (I don't know, man)
The singer is admitting that they don't have the answers
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is still uncertain about the future
When the volcano blow
The moment when everything becomes uncertain once again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON, VIOLET CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pugggabbuggga1892
We sang this at outdoor school! it went like
"The ground is shaking under me
5 claps
Tidle waves out on the sea
5 claps
Silver smoke up in the sky
5 claps
Pretty soon I'll learn to fly
2 claps
I dont know
2 claps
I dont know
2 claps
I dont know, where Im gonna go when the valcano blows WHOOO
@stevendurrant1724
Now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Let me say now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Ground she's movin' under me
Tidal waves out on the sea
Sulfur smoke up in the sky
Pretty soon we learn to fly
Let me hear ya now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Now my girl quickly say to me
Mon you better watch your feet
Lava come down soft and hot
You better lava me now or lava me not
Let me say now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
No time to count what I'm worth
'Cause I just left the planet earth
Where I go I hope there's rum
Not to worry soon come
Now I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
One more now I don't know (ah he don't know)
I don't know (he don't know, mon)
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
But I don't want to land in New York City
Don't want to land in Mexico (no no no)
Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
Don't want to see my skin aglow (no no no)
Don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park
Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no)
Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
Or the Yukon Territory (no no no)
Don't want to land no San Diego
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no no no)
Don't want to land on no Ayatollah
I got nothing more to say
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
Just a one more, I don't know (he don't know)
I don't know (I don't know, man)
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
When the volcano blow
@robertsander8509
Our local radio station played this all day,when Mt.Saint Helens blew. RIP Jimmy.
@kathyhenson3297
Jimmy Buffett you are a legend. You've brought generations together in music and taught us all to relax. RIP JWB. ❤
@joesimpson9575
RIP Jimmy! Thank you for all the great music and memories!
@charlesrichardson454
Chuck Richardson - When I completed my lecture on volcanism I played this song as the class was leaving. Invariably students began to dance to the beat as they moved on to the next class, happy to have learned about diastrophism.
@madmax8949
RIP, Jimmy! Thanks for all the good music and good times!
@jessegodinez9320
Rip Jimmy. Best concert I ever went to
@cindywagner4623
Next to margaritaville, my favorite. Thank you Jimmy for recording as much as you did. You had a lot left in you. RIP, you’re missed.
@williamfrieden1
Rip Jimmy Buffet, your music is really good!
@elizabethsnyder_baldonado39
My twins & I boogied to this very special song back in the day...our dear neighbors in the projects thought we were nuts!!! Then they all got too close to the tape player one day, & Jimmy's songs grabbed 'em all by their hearts!!! We made a bunch of new buddies, by playing "Volcano" & singing/boogie-ing(¿😳?)all over our 4' x 4' back porch, WAY too loud to suit the manager!!!
My twins are 40+ yrs old now, & we STILL boogie to this!!!!😁
@roberttomashot2945
Just wanna feel good? Just listen to Jimmy.