The Last Resort
Eagles Lyrics


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She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island
Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air
She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee
Just as her father came across the sea

She heard about a place people were smilin'
They spoke about the red man's way, how they loved the land
And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide
Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide

Down in the crowded bars out for a good time,
Can't wait to tell you all what it's like up there
And they called it paradise, I don't know why
Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high

Then the chilly winds blew down across the desert
Through the canyons of the coast to the Malibu
Where the pretty people play hungry for power
To light their neon way and give them things to do

Some rich man came and raped the land, nobody caught 'em
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and, Jesus, people bought 'em
And they called it paradise, the place to be,
They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea

You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina
Just like the missionaries did so many years ago
They even brought a neon sign 'Jesus is Coming'
Brought the white man's burden down, brought the white man's reign

Who will provide the grand design, what is yours and what is mine?
'Cause there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here
We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds
In the name of destiny and in the name of God

And you can see them there on Sunday morning
Stand up and sing about what it's like up there




They called it paradise, I don't know why
You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye

Overall Meaning

The Last Resort, one of the masterpieces of Eagles, is a thought-provoking song that describes the failure of human greed and the consequences of exploiting the environment. Starting with the first verse, the song introduces a woman from Providence, Rhode Island, who packs her hopes and dreams and crosses the sea to seek a better place. She heard about a land where people lived according to the morals of Native Americans, and she heads there with others who sought a place to stand or hide. After their arrival, the town was at its peak, and they called it paradise. However, from the crowded bars, the cold wind came, and the malfeasance that people brought with them disrupted the natural balance, and they eventually destroyed paradise.


People came to this amazing land to thrive and live their dreams. However, with time, their endless needs for power, possessions, and comfort overshadowed the natural beauty of the land. People's actions influenced the environment, and the land suffered from exploitation. The rich man raped the land, putting up ugly boxes leaving scars forever. The place where they called paradise became a metaphor for the destruction of our planet. The song ends with the realization that there is no more new frontier; we have to make our future here, now, before it's too late.


Line by Line Meaning

She came from Providence, the one in Rhode Island
She originated from the city of Providence in Rhode Island.


Where the old world shadows hang heavy in the air
The atmosphere in that area is heavily influenced by old world values and traditions.


She packed her hopes and dreams like a refugee
She fled with her aspirations and goals in a manner similar to that of a refugee.


Just as her father came across the sea
Her father had previously traveled across the sea in a similar fashion.


She heard about a place people were smilin'
She received information about a location where individuals were happy and content.


They spoke about the red man's way, how they loved the land
The inhabitants of that area were known to admire and respect Native American culture and their relationship with the environment.


And they came from everywhere to the Great Divide
People from different regions arrived at the Great Divide seeking a space to belong or hide.


Seeking a place to stand or a place to hide
People desperately needed a location where they could either establish themselves or take refuge.


Down in the crowded bars out for a good time,
Individuals sought entertainment and revelry in congested bars.


Can't wait to tell you all what it's like up there
They were enthusiastic to describe the greatness they found in that paradise-like place.


And they called it paradise, I don't know why
They referred to that area as a paradise, despite ambiguity surrounding that description.


Somebody laid the mountains low while the town got high
The natural ecology was destroyed while the town grew and flourished.


Then the chilly winds blew down across the desert
Winter winds traversed the barren desert region.


Through the canyons of the coast to the Malibu
The winds blew across the beach-lined canyons to Malibu.


Where the pretty people play hungry for power
Individuals with wealth and glamor in that area were fiercely power-hungry.


To light their neon way and give them things to do
They used neon light and other material pleasures to occupy themselves.


Some rich man came and raped the land, nobody caught 'em
A wealthy individual caused environmental destruction without being held accountable.


Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and, Jesus, people bought 'em
He put up unattractive buildings, yet people purchased them anyway.


And they called it paradise, the place to be,
Despite its negative impact on the environment, they still considered it an ideal place.


They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea
They admired the beautiful sunset on the horizon.


You can leave it all behind and sail to Lahaina
Individuals could forget about their past and go on to live in Lahaina, Hawaii.


Just like the missionaries did so many years ago
This was a similar phenomenon experienced by missionaries traveling to Hawaii in the past.


They even brought a neon sign 'Jesus is Coming'
A neon sign with religious undertones was brought to that area.


Brought the white man's burden down, brought the white man's reign
The presence of this sign represented the oppressive presence of colonialism and white people in that area.


Who will provide the grand design, what is yours and what is mine?
Who will be responsible for creating a larger, more encompassing vision while distinguishing between individual and collective interests?


'Cause there is no more new frontier, we have got to make it here
There is no unexplored area, it is up to individuals to make positive changes in the current space they occupy.


We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds
We frequently seek to satisfy our desires, even if it means committing destructive acts.


In the name of destiny and in the name of God
We use destiny and religious reasons to justify our actions.


And you can see them there on Sunday morning
On Sunday mornings, these people congregated.


Stand up and sing about what it's like up there
They would sing about their idealized version of paradise.


They called it paradise, I don't know why
The individuals referred to their ideal location as heaven, even though it was far from perfect.


You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye
When people equate a location to paradise, it is likely its downfall is inevitable.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GLENN FREY, DON HENLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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