Eagles – Doolin-dalton

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They were doolin', doolin'-dalton
High or low, it was the same
Easy money, and faithless women
Red eye whiskey for the pain.

Go down little dalton, it must be God's will
Two brothers lyin' dead in Coffeeville.
Two voices call to you from where they stood,
"Lay down your law books now, they're no damn good."

Better keep on movin', doolin'-dalton
Till your shadow sets you free.
And if you're fast, and if you're lucky,
You will never see that hangin' tree.

Well the towns lay out across the dusty plain
Like graveyards filled with tombstones waitin' for the names
And a man could use his back or use his brains
But some just went stir-crazy Lord cause nothin' ever changed

Till they're doolin' Neville Dalton
He was workin' cheap, just buyin' time
And then he laughed and said I'm goin'
And so he left that peaceful life behind

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Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 03:28

"Doolin Dalton" as written by Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Henley, John David Souther, Jackson Browne

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Don Henly/Glenn Frey/Eagles

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Doolin-dalton song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:hairy is right, of course. Famous outlaws of The Dalton Gang, the leader being Robert Dalton, they were only around for 2 years or so, and were killed in a local rebellion to foil a plan of theirs to rob a bank in Coffeyville. I've been listening to this song for a while, and I recently read about these outlaws and realised what this song was about, haha.
    Flag Jimmehboion January 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with hairychester, it's an awesome album that tells a great story. I could see a really good movie being made out of the Desperado album.
    Flag Cool Breezeon May 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Coffeyville being in Kansas that is.
    Flag hairychesteron December 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's based on the Doolin-Dalton gang. Bill Doolin and Will Dalton were notorious outlaws. When Doolin hooked up with the Dalton brothers, they were a major threath. They did rob banks in Coffeyville, where as I recall a few of the Dalton brothers got killed in the process.

    It's a great story (the entire Desperado album) if you dig deep into it and the best Eagles album (That's Eagles, not THE EAGLES you sillybuns)

    gunslinger.com/…
    Flag hairychesteron December 10, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i cant work out if doolin & dalton are friends or trying to kill each other? "go down bill dalton it must be gods will" does that mean he's been shot or what?
    Flag Conoron November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Law books ain't no help in a lawless land, buckaroo... If they ever made a movie of Blood Meridian, this would be a perfect song for the credits.
    Flag ButtOfMalmseyon May 07, 2002   Link

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