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.
Over And Over
Joe Walsh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just as plain as can be
Taken for granted
Out in the open
Easy to see
Taking my chances
I'm counting my shoes
Making it easy
Counting in two's
By the time you get started
You´re already through
Just a matter of time till it shows
Like reading the headlines
Yesterday's news
Over and over
That's how it goes
Or haven't you heard?
Talking so fast
Only at the same time
Searching for words
It's all about the same thing
Underneath the disguise
Just like they say
If you're looking for answers
Open your eyes
And sooner or later
It's easy to see
Just a matter of time till it shows
Like keeping a secret
Ev'ryone knows
Over and over
The opening lines of Joe Walsh's song "Over and Over" describe a situation in which something is so plain and predictable that it's taken for granted. This can evoke feelings of boredom or frustration, as it seems like things will never change. The repetition of "over and over" emphasizes this feeling of being stuck in a rut. Despite this, the songwriter seems to be counting his blessings by taking chances and playing games in order to make life more interesting. He counts his shoes and counts in twos, trying to find some sort of pattern or rhythm in the world that's easy to see.
The second verse uses the phrase "just a matter of time till it shows" twice, emphasizing the idea that things may seem hidden or secret at first, but eventually they will become clear. The lyrics suggest that sometimes we talk too fast or use too many words in an effort to explain something, when in reality the truth is right in front of us, hiding in plain sight. The bridge of the song reinforces this message by saying that if you're looking for answers, all you need to do is open your eyes. Overall, the song seems to be about the frustration of feeling stuck in a repetitive pattern, but also the possibility of finding joy and excitement by taking small risks to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Over and over
The cycle of life repeats itself constantly
Just as plain as can be
It's obvious and easy to see
Taken for granted
Something that is often overlooked or not appreciated enough
Out in the open
Visible and exposed
Easy to see
Obvious and apparent
Taking my chances
Risking something and hoping for the best outcome
I'm counting my shoes
Keeping track of what I have and what I need
I'm playing a game
Trying to outsmart and win against others
Making it easy
Simplifying the strategy or approach
Counting in two's
Organizing and grouping things into sets of two
By the time you get started
Once you begin, it's already too late
You're already through
The opportunity has passed and it's too late
Just a matter of time till it shows
The true outcome or result will become apparent eventually
Like reading the headlines
As obvious and predictable as the news
Yesterday's news
Old and repetitive, no longer interesting or relevant
That's how it goes
It's just the way things are, no changing it
Or haven't you heard?
This is common knowledge, were you not aware?
Talking so fast
Trying to communicate quickly and effectively
Only at the same time
Simultaneously, without interruption
Searching for words
Struggling to express oneself or find the right thing to say
It's all about the same thing
The topic or idea is repetitive and unchanging
Underneath the disguise
Beneath the surface of something that appears different
Just like they say
As the saying goes
If you're looking for answers
Trying to find understanding or explanations
Open your eyes
Pay attention and be aware of what's really going on
And sooner or later
Eventually, inevitably
It's easy to see
Obvious and clear
Like keeping a secret
Trying to hide something that's well-known or obvious
Ev'ryone knows
Common knowledge, widely understood
Over and over
The cycle repeats again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: TIM BRUZON, CARL BROWN, VIDAR NORHEIM, JAMES WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind