Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and rock musician. He has served stints in two successful bands, the James Gang and the Eagles. He has also experienced success as a solo artist.

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.

Meadows
Joe Walsh Lyrics

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Can't think of any reason
Don't know exactly why
Must be it's out of season
Give it another try

I'm out here in the meadow
Part of an old stone wall
Stand here because he said so

Waitin' around to fall

Some things are left unspoken
Some things are hand me down
The circle stands unbroken
Sendin' it back around

I've seen you roll in clover
Dressed for a scarecrow wall
Too bad the dance is over
Nothin' to show at all

Can't help but feel uncertain
Knowing which way to turn
They want to raise the curtain
And you're holdin' the words to learn

I'm out here in the meadow
Part of an old stone wall

Stand here because he said so
Waitin' around to fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Joe Walsh's song Meadows are poignant and introspective, describing a feeling of uncertainty and the search for meaning. Walsh muses on the inexplicable nature of life's circumstances and the difficulty of finding direction. He starts off by admitting that he cannot think of any reason or explain why things are the way they are. But he decides to give it another try, suggesting an unyielding determination to continue pushing forward despite the adversity.

The metaphor of the meadow represents the liminal space between the certainty of the past and the uncertainty of the future. Walsh stands in the meadow as part of an old stone wall, a symbol of the past that he is connected to, waiting to fall. The circle stands unbroken, symbolizing the unending cycle of life and death. Some things are left unspoken, while other things are handed down, passing from generation to generation. The song is a thoughtful contemplation on the impermanence of life and the search for meaning in its fleeting moments.

The lyrics also touch upon regret, a sense of missed opportunities and the passage of time. Walsh describes seeing someone roll in the clover, dressed for a scarecrow wall, perhaps reliving a moment from the past. But the dance is over, and there is nothing to show for it. He ends by expressing uncertainty and a lack of direction, not knowing which way to turn. But he acknowledges the desire to move forward and learn, to raise the curtain and face whatever comes our way.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't think of any reason
I don't have a specific or valid motive

Don't know exactly why
I'm completely unaware of the cause

Must be it's out of season
Perhaps it's not the right time

Give it another try
Attempt it again

I'm out here in the meadow
I'm present in an open grassy field

Part of an old stone wall
I'm situated next to an ancient rock fence

Stand here because he said so
I'm positioned here because he instructed me to do so

Waitin' around to fall
I'm just waiting for something to go wrong and ruin everything

Some things are left unspoken
Certain things aren't verbalized or addressed

Some things are hand me down
Some things are inherited or given from generation to generation

The circle stands unbroken
We preserve family/heritage traditions