Lyrics for Heart Of The Matter as interpreted by Nicky

Heart Of The Matter Lyrics
I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old, true friend of ours was talkin' on the phone
She said you found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck, and the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you
What are those voices outside love's open door
Make us throw off our contentment and beg for something more?

I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, I'm learning again
I've been tryin' to get down to the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

These times are so uncertain
There's a yearning undefined
...people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age?
The trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
They're the very things we kill, I guess
Pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us doesn't keep me warm

I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you, baby
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I'd figured out
I have to learn again
I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
But everything changes and my friends seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

There are people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down and hurt your pride
Better put it all behind you; life goes on
You keep carryin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside

I've been tryin' to get down to the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me anymore

I've been tryin' to get down to the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak and the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinkin' about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you don't love me

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  • 35 Comments
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drummer4514
05-17-2002

Rated 0 
The song is about a guy who dates a gurl for a long time, and they finally break up and after a while he starts to get over her. "I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes"


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sapphireskies
07-22-2002

Rated 0 
it's about a guy who realizes that it's not about who wins and who loses, but what you personally gain during a relationship that matters. he says 'hey, you've moved on, i forgive you, i still love you'. he's trying to make a life of his own without her.

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JustlikeBeckham
08-14-2002

Rated 0 
It's about a guy who gets dumped by a girl that he loved, but she doesn't love him anymore, "Even if, even if you don't love me anymore". So he is trying to get over her, but he is finding it hard.

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JustlikeBeckham
08-14-2002

Rated 0 
It's about a guy who gets dumped by a girl that he loved, but she doesn't love him anymore, "Even if, even if you don't love me anymore". So he is trying to get over her, but he is finding it hard.

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Katherine7486
05-05-2003

Rated 0 
Heres a new idea, though you'll all probably disagree with me, this song may have undertones about the Eagles splitting for a time and could be partially about Henleys thoughtsor feelings he was going through...'people filled with rage' or 'pride and competition' could symbolise the 'struggles' the band went through. Disagree if you like it makes better conversation than everyone having the same ideas.

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jawol
05-03-2004

Rated 0 
I think it's about divorce and reconciliation.
"The trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
They're the very things we kill, I guess
Pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us doesn't keep me warm"

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hippie-chick
07-03-2004

Rated 0 
has nebodi noticed that most of the songs that have comments r from the Actual Miles cd ?

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MayorMenley
12-02-2004

Rated 0 
I think Katherine7486 brings up a good point although I had never thought of it in that way, it is a good point. I had always taken it as a guy singing to a lady that had broken up with him and he is learning to put his life back together. I had a freind that for several years was my absolute best freind in the world and suddenly because of his girlfriend hating me he suddenly quit talking to me and turned and hated my guts and I was driving one day and I had this on a cd in my Expolorer and passed him on the road as the song started and I began to listen to the words for once instead of just likeing the music or whatnot and the three parts really struck me and made me realize that I needed to quit dwelling on my past friendship with Mark, that I'd always miss his friendship that that I needed to move on with my life instead of sitting around being mad at him for leaving me out in the cold.
I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, I'm learning again"

"I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
But everything changes and my friends seem to scatter
But I think it's about forgiveness
Forgiveness"

"There are people in your life who've come and gone
They let you down and hurt your pride
Better put it all behind you; life goes on
You keep carryin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside"

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gilby_jr
04-01-2006

Rated 0 
Believe it or not, this song actually has a happy ending. It was written by a guy named Rodney Eubanks. I may have the story a little wrong, but here's the gist of it: Rodney and his high school sweetheart went their separate ways and she married someone else. He wrote this song for her, then went on with his life. Years later, after separate divorces, they are now married to each other.

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1 Reply
Justintime
08-01-2006

Rated -1 
Who the hell is Rodney Eubanks??? According to the songs credits, is was: "Written by Mike Campbell, Don Henley and J. D. Souther"

And the Eagles analogy is actually correct. Don Henley said in an interview that (I cant remember which it was) but he said it was either written about the Eagles break up, or the song made him think of the Eagles break up and inspired their reunion.

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1 Reply
SantaMonica_101
01-07-2007

Rated 0 
I agree with Katherine7486

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gilby_jr
02-20-2007

Rated 0 
I'll tell you what, Justintime. The next time that YOU get to talk to Don Henley, you can ask him about Rodney Eubanks. There's no need to be a jerk. I'm right about the origins and meaning of the song, by the way.

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A.I.
02-26-2007

Rated 0 
This is my interpretation: this song delves into the tragic truth of our hypercompetitive (capitalistic) society, in order to pursue a greater sense of love and well-being. It is an attempt 'get down to the heart of the matter' in 'such a graceless age', to discover beauty amidst the pride and competition. His reflection of 'forgiveness' is essential in the post-9/11 period, as if 'you keep carryin' that anger, it'll eat you up inside.'

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Dan101
03-01-2007

Rated 0 
My interpretation of the song is that it is about divorce
When a couple who have been married for a long time decide to break the relationship, it breaks your heart and that's what Don Henley talks about in this song.
And then, after the split up has occured, they start to find someone else and that can either make someone feel a bit sad or make them happy for the person.
And eventually, it's not about all of that, it's eventually down to forgiveness for all the bad times they went through and being happy that they aren't there anymore.

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leedslukelad1
04-17-2007

Rated 0 
i think this song is about a guy who has sat around waiting for his ex to get back together with him, but with little success. in the end, after an "old true friend" tells him his ex has moved on with her life and is seeing another man he realises its time he does the same.

i do like the idea of the song representing the breakup of the eagles though, aslthough it is most probably an after thought of the dons and not the original intention.

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joe walsh rules
07-19-2007

Rated 0 
well first i gotta say its a great song but my interpreation of the song is its about a guy who really loved a girl and the girl loved him back but they wind up breaking up and she wants to get back together with him but hes already got someone and its about letting things go dont try to play the game when its over (i put it)
its only my intreptation so ya

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RealityBytes
01-04-2008

Rated 0 
Like most art, the artist leaves it to interpretation of the listener, melding together with what they bring to it. Likewise, the artist may be inspired by more than one thing in writing it...

I think this is a synthesis of many things in Don's life (and the co-writers as well), certainly it has part of its genesis in the breakup of the Eagles, but also more than likely personal relationships as well, which we can all relate too.

Katherine mentioned (in the other thread) about Don's intro to this on the 'Hell Freezes Over' DVD, that this song "took 42 years to write, and about 4 minutes to sing. So..." - and he leaves it at that... but if you saw his face when he said it, you know it means so much to him that mere words cannot do it justice. You have to hear it, you have to sing it, you have to live it.

One other thing you might consider, is that this sing is really a conversation with a friend, which is continued in 'My Thanksgiving':
"A lot of things have happened since the last time we spoke
Some of them are funny, some of em ain't no joke
And I trust you will forgive me if I lay it on the line
I always thought you were a friend of mine"

...and ends with:

"For every moment of joy every hour of fear
For every winding road that brought me here
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my thanksgiving

For everyone who helped me start
And for everything that broke my heart
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my thanksgiving"

Isn't that the ultimate expression of forgiveness?

These two songs make a beautiful pair of bookends to the same thought, about personal spiritual growth.

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lyricman01
01-25-2008

Rated 0 
I have to agree after doing research I think that Justintime has a great point on the credits on Don Henley's song! Why is Eubanks not mentioned? What makes Gilby jr so right? I am curious as to what other work Eubanks has done and what other singers has he written for? Great song though, but is just a basic guy loses girl, etc. etc.

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spot
02-09-2008

Rated 0 
this songs is about don henley and his wife . . . on a dvd i have before he sings the song he says "this song took me 42 years to write but 4 mins to sing" 42 being the number of years that hes been with his wife .. this song is about him forgetting about his wife because he got caught up with the eagles and his career that he didnt think of her anymore and just forgot her .. . he speaks of how he wants her to forgive him even tho he knows that she doesnt love him anymore.. his wife found somebody new so she left him . . ..

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1 Reply
spot
02-09-2008

Rated 0 
I totally agree with reality bites .. he looks so passionate when he sings this .. you just know that its very personal for him

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gilby_jr
03-05-2008

Rated 0 
Frankly, I don't care if you believe me. I'm right.

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lyricman01
03-11-2008

Rated 0 
I haven't been on in awhile, however we have so MANY people that seem to know anout the basis of this song and the original writer's, I have already agreed with Justintime among others on the original writer's and the reason's behind the song.........."Spot" why doubt you.........you have the DVD and it sounds very believable.............and I agree with reality bites.........SOOOOOOO why is "Gilby jr." so defensive......the truth is the truth! Maybe ole gilby needs to do some research or take a reality check!!!!!!! I just know this is a great song and why wouldn't Henley write this song about his wife, maybe old Gilby and whoever is in doubt needs to purchase the DVD. then we can put this song to rest.

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mindracer
03-27-2008

Rated 0 
i think its holding grudges in relationships...in the end its about forgiveness. sometimes if you just forgave you might still be together...but to move on you need forgiveness

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Susse
04-29-2008

Rated 0 
I always cry when I hear this song.

My ex boyfriend dissapeared one day, without saying goodbye and I was completely shattered.

Months later, we talked and he told me he went away because one day being with me just hurt more than it should and he didn't have the guts to tell me that in person.

And I've been learning to live without him ,
but sometimes, I miss him.

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tonyr34_1
08-01-2008

Rated 0 
Hi there, I've only just heard the song and it's fantastic. For me it has a slightly different tone, I think he's almost bitter about how he feels, so when he sings "I think it's about forgiveness, even if you don't love me anymore" the "even if" is sung in a bitter way. Whatever it is he's not got over it. Just my opinion but that's how I take the song,

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