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.
Welcome To The Club
Joe Walsh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wavin' at the plane
There goes everything you own
You called home collect
And they didn't know your name
Starin' at the telephone
You thought he was a doctor
But the noices seem to tell for sure
And according to the symptoms
It isn't all you got
A shame they haven't found a cure
Didn't know the reason
You start to feel the rub
You know it isn't easy
Well, welcome to the club
Well, you thought they'd take it lightly
They're actin' kinda rash
Caught you in a loadin' zone
So they smile very politely
Relieved you of your cash
Suddenly you're all alone
You play the double agent
You bug each other's phone
You got the place surrounded
There ain't nobody home
It's gettin' hard to please 'em
You start to feel the rub
You know it isn't easy
Well, welcome to the club
Come on and join us in the club
In Joe Walsh's song "Welcome to the Club," the lyrics tell the story of someone facing challenges and difficulties in life, and feeling isolated as a result. The imagery at the beginning of the song sets a desolate scene, with the singer "standing in the runway" and watching "everything" they own take off without them. The only communication they have is through a payphone, and even that is a source of frustration as they feel unrecognized and unheard. The metaphorical doctor referred to in the song is likely a reference to someone who was supposed to have answers or solutions to their problems, but who has failed to provide any clear guidance. Meanwhile, the singer is dealing with their own issues, unsure of what is causing their discomfort or how to fix it.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly disillusioned with the world around them. The previous comfort they had in being part of a group is lost when they realize that people are more interested in taking advantage of each other than offering support. The line "you play the double agent" suggests that the singer has tried to navigate these betrayals by turning on others, but ultimately they are left alone and unsatisfied. The repetition of the line "you start to feel the rub" underscores the emotional and physical toll this experience has had on the singer. However, even as the song acknowledges the struggle and pain of this experience, the chorus offers a kind of dark comfort in urging others to "come on and join us in the club."
Line by Line Meaning
Standin' in the runway
Being in a position where you're about to leave everything behind
Wavin' at the plane
Saying goodbye to all that you're leaving behind
There goes everything you own
Watching everything you possess disappear into the horizon
You called home collect
Calling home under the assumption that all would be well and uneventful, but it wasn't so
And they didn't know your name
Being in a strange place and feeling alone and unacknowledged by even those you know best
Starin' at the telephone
Failing to make sense of the situation you find yourself in
You thought he was a doctor
Trusting someone to take care of you but ending up being disappointed
Now he says he's not
Realizing that the person who you thought would take care of you is either not qualified or simply doesn't care
But the noices seem to tell for sure
Realizing that the situation is more serious than it appears at first glance
And according to the symptoms
Understanding that the problem you have is not a singular one
It isn't all you got
Realizing that you have more problems than you initially thought
A shame they haven't found a cure
Feeling like your problems are insurmountable, and there might not be a way out
Didn't know the reason
Being stuck in a problem and not knowing how to solve it
You start to feel the rub
Realizing that the burden of your problem is growing heavy
You know it isn't easy
Fully acknowledging that the situation you are in counts as a struggle
Well, welcome to the club
Joining a community of those who are in a similar situation hoping for a solution
Well, you thought they'd take it lightly
Thinking that the people responsible for solving the problem would be more sympathetic or understanding
They're actin' kinda rash
Watching those responsible overreact to the situation rather than calmly fixing it
Caught you in a loadin' zone
Being caught doing something wrong and subsequently getting penalized for it
So they smile very politely
Seeing others present a false sense of niceness while they take advantage of your predicament
Relieved you of your cash
Watching others take advantage of you and rob you of the resources you have
Suddenly you're all alone
Feeling like nobody is on your side and everyone has turned against you
You play the double agent
Pretending to go along with someone's plan while secretly plotting against them
You bug each other's phone
Finding yourself involved in a situation full of mistrust and spying among people trying to get ahead of each other
You got the place surrounded
Trying to fix the problem from all angles and not giving up hope even if it seems like a lost cause
There ain't nobody home
Realizing that there is no one willing or able to help
It's gettin' hard to please 'em
Becoming frustrated because no matter what you do, you can't seem to satisfy those around you
Come on and join us in the club
Inviting others to join in on the shared experience of dealing with difficult situations
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEAN COLLINSON, MICK WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Crazy Uncle Ted
Standin' in the runway
Wavin' at the plane
There goes everything you own
You called home collect
And they didn't know your name
Starin' at the telephone
You thought he was a doctor
Now he says he's not
But the noices seem to tell for sure
And according to the symptoms
It isn't all you got
A shame they haven't found a cure
Didn't know the reason
You start to feel the rub
You know it isn't easy
Well, welcome to the club
Well, you thought they'd take it lightly
They're actin' kinda rash
Caught you in a loadin' zone
So they smile very politely
Relieved you of your cash
Suddenly you're all alone
You play the double agent
You bug each other's phone
You got the place surrounded
There ain't nobody home
It's gettin' hard to please 'em
You start to feel the rub
You know it isn't easy
Well, welcome to the club
Come on and join us in the club
Elizabeth Mann
Standin' in the runwayย
Wavin' at the planeย
There goes everything you ownย
You called home collectย
And they didn't know your nameย
Starin' at the telephone
You thought he was a doctorย
Now he says he's notย
But the noices seem to tell for sureย
And according to the symptomsย
It isn't all you gotย
A shame they haven't found a cure
Didn't know the reasonย
You start to feel the rubย
You know it isn't easyย
Well, welcome to the clubย
Well, you thought they'd take it lightly
They're actin' kinda rashย
Caught you in a loadin' zoneย
So they smile very politelyย
Relieved you of your cashย
Suddenly you're all alone
You play the double agentย
You bug each other's phoneย
You got the place surroundedย
There ain't nobody home
It's gettin' hard to please 'emย
You start to feel the rubย
You know it isn't easyย
Well, welcome to the clubย
Come on and join us in the club
Chis Flanagan
I forgot how much I like this tune. I'm digging the clean, crisp riffs & singing every word. My day just got a bit better.
Gregg Torgeson
This song has been stuck in my brain for
-oh-about 42 yrs now. I have to get a fix on it pretty much weekly. And then it's hard to leave, cause I just want some more.. I think it's the leads, they are so "intelligent"/unique/well executed, and they keep me begging for them to go on forever, or maybe its the lyrics they talk to some spot in my brain, or just the rhythm, the way the instruments so work together and push things along, and the bit of "rogue" timing, there just isn't anything like this music anymore.Raymond J. Voas, Jr.
An artist with a unique form of courage.
Rusty Baldwin
Or a laid back guitar playing master like ole " how ya doing" Walsh!
mauricemorning
It's one I forget and then remember all of the sudden and just have to hear. You couldn't be more correct sir!
Lord London
Joe Walsh is legend.
So underrated.
The Last Rebel Show
Not underrated in my book, never was, never will be! ๐
Timbo Gillyfish
Joe Vitale is just amazing on this record. The bass and drums are beyond spectacular. Viciously understated brilliance.
Joseph M.
Joe plays drums and Kenny P plays bass.
Dan Calestini
This album 1970 way ahead of its time love joe way better before he joined the eagles I always thought the eagles were kind of douchie