Life In The Fast Lane
Eagles Lyrics


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He was a hard-headed man he was brutally handsome
And she was terminally pretty
She held him up and he held her for ransom
In the heart of the cold, cold city
He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless said he was crude
They had one thing in common: they were good in bed
She'd say, "Faster, faster "The lights are turning red"

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, yeah

Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They knew all the right people
They took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties
They paid heavenly bills
There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face
She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race
Out every evenin' until it was light
He was too tired to make it
She was too tired to fight about it

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane

Blowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst
They didn't see the stop sign
Took a turn for the worst
She said, "Listen, baby
You can hear the engine ring
We've been up and down this highway
Haven't seen a god-damn thing"
He said, "Call the doctor
I think I'm gonna crash"
"The doctor say he's coming but you gotta pay in cash"
They were rushing down that freeway
Messed around and got lost
They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off

And it was life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane





Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane

Overall Meaning

The Eagles' "Life In The Fast Lane" paints a vivid picture of a couple living recklessly in the fast lane. The song is from their 1976 album Hotel California, which was a huge success and widely regarded as one of the greatest rock albums of all time.


The first verse introduces us to the couple, he's described as "hard-headed" but "brutally handsome," while she's "terminally pretty." They are living in the heart of a "cold, cold city," holding each other ransom in a dysfunctional relationship where they're both "good in bed." The second verse is a showcase of their lifestyle, including a laundry list of pill popping, party throwing, and excessive spending that left them with lines on their faces and much to pretend not to notice. Finally, the third verse takes a darker turn as they're literally speeding down the freeway, blind to everything around them, the driver realizes too late that they're about to crash, and the song ends with them careening off the road, lost, and approaching impending doom.


The lyrics are a commentary on the excesses of the rock and roll lifestyle, which can be seen through their references to drugs, money, and partying. It's a cautionary tale about how a little fun can quickly spiral out of control for those who can't keep up with the pace.


Line by Line Meaning

He was a hard-headed man he was brutally handsome
He was a tough guy with strong opinions and good looks.


And she was terminally pretty
She was extremely attractive and would turn heads wherever she went.


She held him up and he held her for ransom
They were a team, relying on each other to get what they wanted from life.


In the heart of the cold, cold city
They were in the middle of a big, bustling city where it's easy to get lost in the crowd.


He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
People thought of him as someone who didn't care about others and would do whatever it takes to get what he wanted.


They said he was ruthless said he was crude
Rumor had it that he was mean and didn't have any manners.


They had one thing in common: they were good in bed
Their physical relationship was a major part of their relationship.


She'd say, "Faster, faster "The lights are turning red"
She loved to live dangerously, even when it meant putting themselves in danger.


Life in the fast lane
This song is about the fast-paced lifestyle that people sometimes lead, where they are always on the go and don't take time to stop and think.


Surely make you lose your mind
This lifestyle can be overwhelming and lead to people feeling burned out and exhausted.


Eager for action and hot for the game
They were always looking for excitement and adventure.


The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They were drawn to people who were famous or had some kind of power.


They knew all the right people
They had connections that allowed them to get what they wanted.


They took all the right pills
They were always looking for ways to enhance their high and keep going.


They threw outrageous parties
They liked to live it up and have a good time, no matter the cost.


They paid heavenly bills
They spent a lot of money on living this kind of lifestyle.


There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face
They were living recklessly and it was starting to show on their faces and in their habits.


She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race
She was in denial about how their lifestyle was affecting them and their relationship.


Out every evenin' until it was light
They were always out partying, even until the early hours of the morning.


He was too tired to make it
He was exhausted from living this lifestyle and couldn't keep up with it anymore.


She was too tired to fight about it
She was also tired of arguing and trying to convince him to keep going with this lifestyle.


Blowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst
They were addicted to the high of living this way and would do anything to keep it going.


They didn't see the stop sign
They were so focused on their lifestyle that they didn't see any warning signs or dangers ahead.


Took a turn for the worst
Their lifestyle had finally caught up with them and things had gone terribly wrong.


She said, "Listen, baby You can hear the engine ring We've been up and down this highway Haven't seen a god-damn thing"
They've been doing this lifestyle for so long that it's lost its meaning and they don't even remember why they started in the first place.


He said, "Call the doctor I think I'm gonna crash" "The doctor say he's coming but you gotta pay in cash"
They've finally reached their breaking point and need help, but even that comes at a cost and they're not sure if they're willing to pay it.


They were rushing down that freeway Messed around and got lost They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off
They were lost in their lifestyle and didn't know how to get out of it, even though they knew it was killing them.


Everything all the time
This lifestyle is all-consuming and takes up all of their time and energy.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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