A native of Wichita, Kansas, Walsh moved to Montclair, New Jersey and attended Montclair High School. He spent time in various bands playing around the Cleveland area while attending Kent State University, but came to widespread attention in 1969 after replacing Glen Schwartz as lead guitarist for the James Gang, an American power trio. Walsh was the standout of the band, noted for his innovative rhythm playing and creative guitar riffs. The James Gang had several minor hits and became an early AOR staple before Walsh left the group in 1971 for a career as a solo artist.
Walsh's solo debut was Barnstorm (1972). Its follow-up was The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get (1973). Several cuts from these albums, notably "Rocky Mountain Way", received heavy airplay and continue to be classic rock favorites.
After releasing another studio album and a live set, Walsh was invited to join the Eagles in 1976, replacing departing guitarist Bernie Leadon. He brought a harder-edged sound to the group, giving their light country rock sound a shot in the arm and kept the Eagles from becoming a country act altogether.
As the Eagles began to decline after the release of Hotel California, Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the well-received discs But Seriously Folks (1978) (which featured his hit comic depiction of rock stardom, "Life's Been Good") and There Goes the Neighborhood (1981). He continued to record and release albums throughout the 1980s. In 1989, Walsh recorded a MTV Unplugged with the RnB musician Dr. John, but musical trends had passed him by and he maintained a very low profile until the late-1990s Eagles reunion and tour. Walsh sang the US National Anthem at the beginning of Game 4 of the 1995 World Series. In 2004, Walsh performed live before a huge crowd at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Texas.
A versatile guitarist, Walsh's abilities on acoustic, electric, and slide guitar have also made him well-regarded as a featured player or guest soloist; Walsh has recorded and performed with many other artists including Dan Fogelberg, Steve Winwood, The Who's John Entwistle and on the first two Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band tours.
Joe Walsh ran for President in the 1980 US Elections promising "free gas for all". In an interview for Planet Rock radio station he commented that he did this to raise people's awareness of the election. He felt that many Americans were not even aware that there was an election going on.
Some of his most recent compositions deal with his struggles with substance abuse.
Joe Walsh (WB6ACU) is an active amateur radio operator. Joe is also an active member and contributor of the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio. Joe has contributed to many simmilar causes over the years.
Happy Ways
Joe Walsh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All around me
Smiling at the people
That won't believe
My happy ways may raise a question
There is no answer, except in my dreams
There is no way to capture the sunshine
Perfection, they say, will not last forever
But I can't help feeling someday it might
Then something happens, it seems to go bad
Cancel the feeling, and look to the sky
No need to worry about consequences
Give it a giggle, instead of a sigh
In Joe Walsh's Happy Ways, the singer reflects on how they perceive the world around them, disregarding others' disbelief in their cheerful demeanor. They find happiness in the simplest of things and appreciate the small moments of life that bring warmth and joy. The lyrics suggest that happiness is not always a tangible concept, and that it exists more in the realm of subjective experience. The singer notes that there may not be an explanation for their happy ways, as it originates from within their dreams and aspirations.
The second verse goes on to highlight the impermanence of things but displays a positive outlook on the future, hence "Perfection, they say, will not last forever, but I can't help feeling someday it might." The lyrics suggest that while good things may not last, it does not mean there isn't a chance for them to last forever. The singer further emphasizes this notion by noting that they do not worry about future repercussions of their actions but rather giggle at the idea of it.
Overall, Happy Ways presents an inspiring and lighthearted take on life's complexities, emphasizing the importance of enjoying moments of joy and contentment in life, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking at the good things
Acknowledging the positive aspects of life.
All around me
The positivity is present in his surroundings.
Smiling at the people
Responding to people with happiness.
That won't believe
Some people might not be receptive to happiness.
My happy ways may raise a question
The positivity and happiness might be seen as unusual.
There is no answer, except in my dreams
There is no real explanation for his positivity and happiness.
There is no way to capture the sunshine
There is no way to hold onto happiness permanently.
But it is foolish to fill from the night
It is unwise to dwell on negative aspects of life.
Perfection, they say, will not last forever
The idea that perfection is temporary.
But I can't help feeling someday it might
Despite the impermanence of perfection, there is still hope for it.
Then something happens, it seems to go bad
Negative events can happen unexpectedly.
Cancel the feeling, and look to the sky
Avoid letting negative emotions take over and remember positivity.
No need to worry about consequences
Not being anxious about future outcomes of events.
Give it a giggle, instead of a sigh
React positively to difficult situations, rather than negatively.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Buddy Zoloth, Kenny Passarelli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind