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.
Turn to Stone
Joe Walsh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pages of your book on fire
Read the writing
On the wall
Hoe down, it's a show-down
Ev'rywhere you look, we're fighting
Hear the call
And you know it's gettin' stronger
I can't last very much longer
Turn to stone
Well there's a change in the wind
You know the signs don't lie
Such a strange feelin'
And I don't know why it's takin'
Such a long time
Backyard people
And they work all day
Tired of the speeches and the way
That the reasons keep changin'
Just to make the words rhyme
And you know it's gettin' stronger
Can't make 'em run much longer
Turn to stone
In "Turn To Stone," Joe Walsh sings of a world in which everything seems to be falling apart. The opening line, "Hey now, the well run dry," suggests that life has been reduced to simple survival. The metaphorical "pages of your book on fire" suggests that all of a person's plans and dreams are up in smoke, and there's nothing to do but watch them burn. The line "Read the writing on the wall" is a classic expression, meaning that the signs of what's to come are clear and cannot be ignored.
The lyrics then shift to a more confrontational mode with the lines "Hoe down, it's a show-down. Every-where you look, we're fighting. Hear the call." These lines suggest that people are starting to take matters into their own hands, and a confrontation lies ahead. The sense of urgency in these lines underscores the notion that this confrontation must happen, and happen soon. The chorus "And you know it's getting' stronger. I can't last very much longer. Turn to stone" suggests that, even with all the conflict, there's nothing left to do but harden one's heart and turn to stone.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey now, the well run dry
The situation has become dire, as all resources have been exhausted
Pages of your book on fire
The events and memories that make up one's life are in danger of being destroyed
Read the writing
Pay attention to the signs that indicate impending trouble
On the wall
These signs are impossible to ignore and should be taken seriously
Hoe down, it's a show-down
There is conflict and disagreement everywhere, and it's coming to a head
Ev'rywhere you look, we're fighting
Confrontation and strife have become ubiquitous and unavoidable
Hear the call
It is time to face the challenge and take action
And you know it's gettin' stronger
The pressure and tension are increasing
I can't last very much longer
The situation is becoming unbearable and unsustainable
Turn to stone
The only way to survive is to shut down emotionally and become numb to the pain
Well there's a change in the wind
Something significant is happening, and it will have consequences
You know the signs don't lie
The indicators of change are trustworthy and reliable
Such a strange feelin'
The sense of disorientation and confusion is overwhelming
And I don't know why it's takin'
The reason behind the current circumstances is unknown and mysterious
Such a long time
The wait for answers and resolution seems unending
Backyard people
The ordinary hoard of common people
And they work all day
The people are working tirelessly for the sake of their survival
Tired of the speeches and the way
They are tired of the empty promises and words that never translate into action
That the reasons keep changin'
The justification for the situation keeps shifting and lacks consistency
Just to make the words rhyme
The reason for the situation being changed to simplify the explanation, even if it means the change does not make any sense
Can't make 'em run much longer
The people cannot keep going on like this for much longer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH FIDLER WALSH, TERRY N. TRABANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mcusa77
Hey now, the well run dry
Pages of your book on fire
Read the writing
On the wall
Hoe down, it's a show-down
Ev'rywhere you look, we're fighting
Hear the call
And you know it's gettin' stronger
I can't last very much longer
Turn to stone
Well there's a change in the wind
You know the signs don't lie
Such a strange feelin'
And I don't know why it's takin'
Such a long time
Backyard people
And they work all day
Tired of the speeches and the way
That the reasons keep changin'
Just to make the words rhyme
And you know it's gettin' stronger
Can't make 'em run much longer
Turn to stone
@theBaron0530
Fans probably don't need 'em, but for the younger ones, here are the lyrics:
Hey now the well run dry
Pages of the book on fire
Read the writing ...on the wall...
Hoedown, say showdown
Everywhere you look
they're fighting...Hear the call...
And you know its getting stronger,
It can't last very much longer
Turn to stone
Well there's a change in the wind
You know the signs don't lie
Such a strange feeling and I don't know why
Its takin'... such a long time ...
Backyard people and they work all day
Tired of the speeches
And the way the reasons they keep changin'...
Just to make the Words Rhyme...
And you know its getting stronger,
Can't fake 'em out much longer
Turn to stone
And you know its getting stronger,
It can't last very much longer
Turn to stone
@nicolebarber7693
Meant to.
I used to sing to this song and decade's later this still resonates to me.
I love joe walsh and he is my ultimate favourite musician.
I'm starting to write songs again and noone will steal them older wiser.
Joe gives me the will to never give up.
I'm swedish and Scottish second and third generation in Australia.
My hope is to write in the not to distant future with my favourite composers.
All the best to everybody who loves Joe Walsh.
Tak jege fra Nicky.
Nicky from the central coast of new south Wales australia
@375GTB
1976 year, camera repair school in Englewood, CO…
All a bunch of Freaks…
Mrs.Thorne's rooming house with more…
Jerry Lightfoot, a cousin of Gordon…
A gigantic Bong...
Weekends at Roy Romers Ranch, with my lady friend..
Climbing Mt. Rosalee…. 14,200 ft..
A cousin get lost on the way down…
A drive to Cripple Creek and then Pueblo..
On the old RR beds and tunnels..
Turquoise in the dirt streets…
Bullet holes in the walls..
From a miners strike..
Soundtrack by The Eagles, Joe Walsh and Jackson Browne….
And Gordon's Edmund Fitzgerald, from Jerry's signed collection..
Red Rocks Park with my Dulcimer….
Natural amplification…
A guitarist, whose name I WON'T drop, came and sat in for a bit…
Not another soul….. but God…
The best year of my life to that point…
Then of the Chicago to repair cameras..
And meet the love of my life…
I wouldn't change a minute of it…
@johnshuler8688
The volume doesn’t ever go high enough for this song! The anthem of my youth.
@kan12345ify
YES!!
@ruthar1578
Thats accurate. Fuckin A.
@rcgesq
This man speaks the truth.
@jeanhammond1363
@@ruthar1578 He was amazing in James Gang.. saw them at Kent State...
@ras124
How old are you? 20?
@patrickwalsh2361
Joe Walsh is not only one of the best guitarists of all time, but he’s also my favorite cousin!😉
@underdog4255
yeah, just from checking out his interviews he comes across like he's a hoot to hang out with on a day to day basis. Aside from being a great and talented musician, he shines like a great man and person indeed. Cheers!!
@kdevinturner8778
Bet he never wore a mask during whoopy coovie. A real man.
@D...M...A...
@@kdevinturner8778 Wrong assmunch , ignorant much ?