Desperado
Johnny Cash(??? ??) Lyrics
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You been out ridin' fences for so long now.
Oh, you're a hard one,
But I know that you've got your reasons.
These things that are pleasin' you,
Can hurt you somehow.
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy,
Know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me, some fine things,
Have been laid upon your table.
But you only want the things that you can't get.
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger,
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home.
And freedom, oh freedom,
Well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking,
Through this world all alone.
And don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow, the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're loosin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, and open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you,
You better let somebody love you,
You better let somebody love you,
You better let somebody love you,
Before it's too late.
Johnny Cash's Desperado is a soulful song that has captivated audiences for decades. It is a song about a man who has been living on the edge of society, riding fences and avoiding settling down. The singer implores the desperado to "come to your senses" and leave behind his ways of isolation and fear.
The song acknowledges that the desperado has his reasons for living the way he does, but also suggests that these things that he desires may ultimately hurt him. By drawing attention to the dangers of the world, the singer is urging the desperado to reconsider his choices.
The lyrics suggest the desperado is a gambler, warning him not to draw the queen of diamonds and instead to go for the queen of hearts. The desperado is told that while he may have had some good things in his life, he has only focused on what he cannot have, so he may be losing touch with himself and the world around him.
The song reminds the desperado that time is running out and that he will ultimately be left with nothing but loneliness. The singer urges him to open up to love and allow someone to care for him before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Why are you still living so recklessly? Can't you see that what you're doing is damaging to yourself?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now.
You've been wandering and refusing to settle down for quite some time.
Oh, you're a hard one,
You are an independent and stubborn person.
But I know that you've got your reasons.
Your behavior must be driven by some significant motive.
These things that are pleasin' you,
You have a tendency to pursue things that bring you pleasure, even if it's harmful in the long run.
Can hurt you somehow.
Indulging in your vices can have long-lasting negative effects on you.
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy,
You should be cautious not to get too involved with material possessions or superficial people. The queen of diamonds represents earthly wealth.
She'll beat you if she's able.
These things can dominate you and ruin your life if you let them.
Know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Instead of chasing after money and status, prioritizing love and compassion is the healthier and ultimately more fulfilling path in life.
Now it seems to me, some fine things,
It appears to me that you have had some valuable opportunities presented to you.
Have been laid upon your table.
You've had good things come your way, but you always want more.
But you only want the things that you can't get.
You are never satisfied with what you have, always yearning for what is out of reach.
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger,
You're not getting any younger, and you need to start seriously considering what you want to do with your life.
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home.
Your yearning to fill your emotional and material needs is driving you towards wanting to settle down in a more comfortable way.
And freedom, oh freedom,
The concept of freedom is something that people talk about often.
Well, that's just some people talkin'
However, it's not always a reality for everyone. For you, it may be illusory.
Your prison is walking,
Your daily life is your burden; what you're doing now is confining you.
Through this world all alone.
You don't have anyone to share your life with or support you.
And don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
You must feel lonely and lost from time to time, especially during the winter months.
The sky won't snow, the sun won't shine
You're feeling down and deprived of happiness and joy, just like the world around you.
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're overwhelmed and lost, unable to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong in your life.
You're loosin' all your highs and lows
You're losing your sense of excitement and passion, as well as your understanding of sadness and despair.
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
It's strange how emotions can fade away and make us feel numb.
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Once again, it's time to reflect on your behavior and rethink your ways.
Come down from your fences, and open the gate
Let go of your self-imposed restrictions and open yourself up to new possibilities and new people.
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you,
Even though times are tough, there's still something to look forward to - an opportunity to find hope and happiness.
You better let somebody love you,
It's time for you to open your heart and let someone into your life to share your troubles and joys.
Before it's too late.
You don't want to waste any more of your life being lonely and unhappy.
Lyrics © Cass County Music / Wisteria Music / Privet Music, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Red Cloud Music
Written by: GLENN FREY, DON HENLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sylvainroche5884
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now.
Oh, you're a hard one,
But I know that you've got your reasons.
These things that are pleasin' you,
Can hurt you somehow.
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy,
She'll beat you if she's able.
Know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me, some fine things,
Have been laid upon your table.
But you only want the things that you can't get.
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger,
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home.
And freedom, oh freedom,
Well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking,
Through this world all alone.
And don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow, the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're loosin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling,
Goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, and open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you,
You better let somebody love you,
You better let somebody love you,
You better let somebody love you,
Before it's too late.
@herbertgoncalves4345
[Verse 1]
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses
You been out riding fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
But I know that you've got your reasons
These things that are pleasing you
Can hurt you somehow
[Chorus 1]
Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
Know the queen of hearts is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the things that you can't get
[Verse 2]
Desperado, oh, you aren't getting any younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're driving you home
And freedom, oh freedom
Well, that's just some people talking
Your prison is walking
Through this world all alone
[Chorus 2]
And don't your feet get cold in the winter time
The sky won't snow, the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losing all your highs and lows
Isn't it funny how the feeling
Goes away
[Verse 3]
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses
Come down from your fences, and open the gate
It may be raining, but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you
You better let somebody love you
You better let somebody love you
Before it's too late
@sethwarman1709
My dad and I haven't been seeing eye to eye, going on for the past few years now. I very much love and respect him, and admire so much about him, but it seems like this song was written about him, or rather he modelled his life to fit the song. Johnny Cash was/is his all time favorite (mine too), and I was recently able to play this version of desperado for him along with a few more from Johnny's final album. We sat out on the porch, glass of whiskey in hand, on a perfect summers evening, and we both just belted out singing song after song for over an hour with eachother. No real dialogue to speak of, just the music & the whiskey. For that hour or more we could both see that indeed we are cut from the same cloth, and we probably have far more in common rather than what seperates us, and the world briefly seemed right.
@thepatriot7639
God will bless you for loving and respecting your parent's. I pray everything will continue to get better. We only have one Mom and Dad and we gotta treat them right. God bless you brother.
@mr.brenman2132
@seth warman Maybe you should tell him that over some whisky lol. I seem only able to speak earnestly on such things when inebriated lol.
@carolelliott8780
I am truly touched by your account of this poignant moment between you and your dad, Seth. I hope it brought some healing between you.
Or, if that moment didn’t, I hope time has … ❣️
@nemanjaradoja5609
🥃
@susanboagard805
Beautiful..and so honest
@KristopherNoronha
Cash's rendition somehow just makes this song so much more raw and heartfelt. Beautiful.
@giraffesushi8112
The original was my real dad's favorite song and he died when I was a baby, and my step dad raised me on cash, so this version is everything to me
@joelmaqueira4851
Praying for your real father, you, and your family, friends, and loved ones.
@jcorona984
RIP Terry Funk. I know ECW played The Eagles version, but Johnny Cash just hits you right there in a way The Eagles can’t.