Desperado
Eagles The Lyrics
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You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But 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
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
The Eagles’ Desperado is a ballad that talks about a free-spirited outlaw who has been out for so long, riding fences and possibly breaking the law. The singer of the song is telling the outlaw to come to his senses and make better decisions. He warns him that the things that bring him pleasure might be the very things that also hurt him. The Queen of Diamonds is used as a metaphor for material possessions that can cause harm. The singer tells the outlaw that choosing the Queen of Hearts, which symbolizes love, is the wisest decision.
The lyrics speak of the loneliness and isolation that comes with living life on the run. The line, “Your prison is walking through this world all alone” highlights the mental and emotional burden of being an outlaw. The chorus serves as a plea to the outlaw to make a change before it’s too late. The singer urges him to let himself love and be loved before he reaches the point of no return.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
The singer wonders why the person is being so stubborn and blind to what's best for them
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
The person has been avoiding their problems and responsibilities for a long time
Oh, you're a hard one
The person is tough and unwilling to change
But I know that you got your reasons
The singer acknowledges that the person has their own justifications for their behavior
These things that are pleasin' you
The person is only focused on what is immediately satisfying to them
Can hurt you somehow
These short-term pleasures can have negative consequences in the long run
Don't you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
The singer suggests that the person should avoid taking unnecessary risks
She'll beat you if she's able
These risks could lead to catastrophic consequences
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
It's better to take the safer, more trustworthy route
Now, it seems to me some fine things
The person has experienced some luxuries in life
Have been laid upon your table
Opportunities have been presented to them
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Despite these opportunities, the person desires what is unattainable
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
The person is aging and running out of time to make positive changes
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
Their struggles are leading them to a lonely, unrewarding place
And freedom, oh freedom, well that's just some people talkin'
The idea of freedom may not actually help the person, as they are alone and miserable
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
The person's emotional state makes them a prisoner of their own mind, causing them to feel isolated and lonely
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The singer asks if the person ever experiences negative consequences for their choices
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
Things seem bleak and hopeless
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
The person is lost and doesn't know which way to turn
You're losin' all your highs and lows
The person is becoming apathetic and losing their emotional highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
It's ironic how numb and indifferent the person is becoming
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
The singer repeats their plea for the person to open their eyes and make positive changes
Come down from your fences, open the gate
The person needs to stop running from their problems and face them head on
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
Even when times are tough, there is still hope and positivity to be found
You better let somebody love you (let somebody love you)
The person needs to allow themselves to be loved and supported by others
You better let somebody love you
The line is repeated to emphasize its importance
Before it's too late
The person needs to act quickly before it's too late to make positive changes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Hugh Henley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind