The End Of The Innocence

  I apologise for always falling back on music as a form of expression.  You have to admit that, along with mathematics, it is another universal language.  And besides, I can talk about and listen to the songs I enjoy!

  Don Henley, a former member of The Eagles, collaborated with Bruce Hornsby and the song that resulted was The End Of The Innocence in 1989.  In the past, I said I would always be apolitical in my blog entries, so I know I am pushing the envelope a little, in that regard, when I say that this song has a profundity that makes a statement about the world we live in.  That being said, it can still be interpreted in different ways.  But you be the judge and click on the song title above to listen to the music and follow along with the verses below.

Remember when the days were long

And rolled beneath a deep blue sky?

Didn't have a care in the world

With mommy and daddy standing by

When happily ever after fails

And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales

The lawyers dwell on small details

Since daddy had to fly


Aah, but I know a place where we can go
That's still untouched by men
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind


And you can lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense but this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

Oh, beautiful for spacious skies

But now those skies are threatening

They're beating plowshares into swords

For this tired old man that we elected king

Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie


Aah, but I know a place where we can go
And wash away this sin
We'll sit and watch the clouds roll by
And the tall grass waves in the wind


Just lay your head back on the ground
And let your hair spill all around me
Offer up your best defense but this is the end
This is the end of the innocence


Who knows how long this will last
Now we've come so far, so fast
But somewhere back there in the dust

That same small town in each of us

I need to remember this

So baby, give me just one kiss

And let me take a long last look

Before we say goodbye

Just lay your head back on the ground

And let your hair fall all around me

Offer up your best defense, this is the end

This is the end of the innocence