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.
things
Joe Walsh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One foot in front of the other
I like to think things will all work out fine
And follow along behind those
One act play-things can give you a thrill
Guess it depends on the actor
Dreams can come true, but some things never will
As a matter of fact, those things are driving me crazy
I like to take things and make a design
Keep a low profile. Oh and
I like to take things and put them to rhyme
Like those things that are confusing
And the things that seem so clear
And the things that seem so far away
And yet they seem so near
There are some things I have lost
And a few things I have found
Well it's so hard to keep track of things
There's so many around
There's so many around
And there's things we have to look for
And a few we never find
And we all have things in common
You got your thing, I've got mine
And some things they just happen
And some things you can plan
And some of those things you just can't help
But some of them you can
Oh, some of them you can
As a matter of fact, those things
Are driving me crazy
Those things are keeping me sane
Some things turn out all wrong
And some things turn out all right
Some things don't turn out at all
But then again they might
There are things that come too soon
And some things that come too late
It's the best thing to come too early
So you have some time to wait
Oh, have some time to wait
Well it's hard to talk with words
There's some things you just can't say
And it's best to leave some things alone
In case they go away
You can share some things with friends
There's some things we've all been through'
Well it's things like this and things like that
And how are things with you?
Oh, how do you do?
You can hang things on your wall
You can leave your things around
You can mark some things 2001, and put them in the ground
And maybe later on, they will dig them up some day
And ooh and ahh, and 'how 'bout that?'
Who knows the things they'll say
The song "Things" by Joe Walsh is a reflection on the various things that make up life. Walsh emphasizes the value of taking things one step at a time, giving attention to the things that matter, and finding balance in the process. He notes that while some things can give us thrills, others can drive us crazy. At the same time, some things can keep us sane. He points out that there are things we must look for, things we will never find, and things that will happen regardless of our best-laid plans. Walsh tells us that we all have things in common, and although it's sometimes hard to talk about them, sharing things with friends can be therapeutic.
In the first stanza, Walsh asserts his preference for taking things one step at a time, doing what he can with what's in front of him. He acknowledges that some things can give a thrill, but it depends on the actor- essentially stating that the performer can make or break the experience. Walsh is aware that dreams can come true, but some things never will.
In the second stanza, Walsh talks about putting things into perspective. He likes to give things a design and put things into rhyme to make confusing things clearer. There are some things that he has lost, and a few that he has found, as he tries to navigate the world of ever-changing situations. Walsh notes that there are so many things around that it's hard to keep track of them all.
In the third stanza, Walsh talks about how some things are out of our control, and we must learn to be patient. He speaks about the many different outcomes that things can have, some of which can be planned while others cannot. Understanding this can help maintain our sanity.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to take things one step at a time
I prefer to handle one thing at a time, without overwhelming myself with too much.
One foot in front of the other
I take it slow and steady, making progress little by little.
I like to think things will all work out fine
I tend to be optimistic about the outcome of situations, hoping for the best.
And follow along behind those
I often look to others for guidance and example in how to approach things.
One act play-things can give you a thrill
Simpler things like short plays can bring enjoyment and excitement when well-done.
Guess it depends on the actor
The success of a performance or event is largely determined by the talent and participation of those involved.
Dreams can come true, but some things never will
While there is potential for achieving desired dreams, some goals may unfortunately be unattainable.
As a matter of fact, those things are driving me crazy
Certain unachievable goals may cause frustration and stress.
Those things are keeping me sane
Despite some unachievable goals, there are other things that bring stability and balance to one's life.
I like to take things and make a design
I enjoy creating and designing things with a purpose or intent.
Keep a low profile. Oh and
I prefer to not draw attention or make a scene, and furthermore...
I like to take things and put them to rhyme
I find joy in arranging things in a poetic format, seeing the potential for art and beauty in them.
Like those things that are confusing
Even things that are not straightforward or easy to understand can be subjects of artistic expression.
And the things that seem so clear
Even simple and obvious things can still derive creativity and expression in various ways.
And the things that seem so far away
Even distant or seemingly unattainable things can still captivate the imagination or bring inspiration.
And yet they seem so near
Despite distance, some things can still feel close and important to one's heart and mind.
There are some things I have lost
There are aspects of my life, memories or experiences that are no longer accessible or present.
And a few things I have found
There have also been discoveries and growths in my life, in terms of new experiences or lessons learned.
Well it's so hard to keep track of things
It is challenging to keep a record or memory of all the things that have happened in one's life.
There's so many around
There are endless possible experiences and opportunities available in life to keep track of.
And there's things we have to look for
There are some things in life that require intentional searching or investigation in order to find.
And a few we never find
However, there will always be some things that remain elusive, no matter how dedicated one is to seeking them out.
And we all have things in common
Despite our unique lives, there are many experiences and situations that we all share in common.
You got your thing, I've got mine
However, while we can find common ground, there will still be many unique aspects of each individual's life.
And some things they just happen
There are some events and circumstances that occur without warning or explanation.
And some things you can plan
On the other hand, some aspects of life can be prepared for and planned out in advance.
And some of those things you just can't help
Despite planning and preparation, there will always be factors beyond our control that shape our experiences.
But some of them you can
While there are unknown and uncontrollable aspects of life, there are still choices and actions that we can make to influence outcomes.
Some things turn out all wrong
Despite our best efforts, sometimes situations result in a negative outcome.
And some things turn out all right
However, sometimes things do finish with a positive resolution.
Some things don't turn out at all
Unfortunately, some attempts and efforts result in no tangible outcome at all.
But then again they might
On the other hand, there may still be a possibility of success or progression with some efforts despite initial difficulty.
There are things that come too soon
Some events or circumstances occur prematurely, without giving a chance to fully prepare or adjust.
And some things that come too late
However, there are also some experiences or opportunities that have already passed by by the time one is ready to take advantage of them.
It's the best thing to come too early
While arriving too soon may be difficult, it is preferable to missing out on an opportunity altogether because it came too late.
So you have some time to wait
Having extra time to prepare or adjust can make a difference in making the most of an opportunity.
Well it's hard to talk with words
Expressing oneself verbally can be a challenge, as words may not fully convey the intended message or feeling.
There's some things you just can't say
There may be certain emotions or thoughts that defy language or explanation.
And it's best to leave some things alone
In some situations, it is better to not try to address or express certain thoughts or feelings, as it may only make matters worse.
In case they go away
Some situations may be too fragile to risk damaging and must be handled delicately to preserve them.
You can share some things with friends
Trusted friends can be a valuable sounding board for thoughts and feelings that need expression.
There's some things we've all been through'
While we have our individual experiences, there are shared experiences that we can all relate to on some level.
Well it's things like this and things like that
Conversational topics can range from specifics to generalities.
And how are things with you?
Checking up on someone's well-being can both offer support and contribute to building relationships.
You can hang things on your wall
Decorating with personal items can make a space feel more comfortable and reflective of the individual living there.
You can leave your things around
Living in a familiar space allows for comfort and ease, as there is no fear of misplacing or losing personal items.
You can mark some things 2001, and put them in the ground
Memorializing important events or people is a way of honoring them and keeping their memory present.
And maybe later on, they will dig them up some day
While we cannot predict the future, it is possible that past events may be revisited or reappraised later on.
And ooh and ahh, and 'how 'bout that?'
Reflecting on past events with wonder and amazement can be an enjoyable experience.
Who knows the things they'll say
There is no way to predict how people will react or respond to events or memories later on.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind