Well, of course you can all have your theories about virginity and stuff, but oh man, I'm pretty sure that's not what Don Henley had in mind when he wrote it...if you haven't noticed, Mr. Henley is a very very politically and socially conscious activist.
The song is about the Reagan era and the Iran-Contra Affair (Even the video for the song shows pictures of Reagan and Oliver North).
The first verse is about the Innocence of America - the fairy tale America that we all live in, where things are perfect and picturesque, small town goodness and sweetness, the innocence of the American childhood, the American Dream.
But that innocent picture is an illusion, shattered by the lies and misdealings of the leaders of our country. The lawyers had to "clean up all the details" of Oliver North and Reagan's misdealings, which smeared and tarnished America...
"Oh beautiful, for spacious skies" (America the Beautiful)
But now those skies are threatning - (This has nothing nothing to do with a woman's virginity)
"They're beating plowshares into swords, for this Tired Old Man that we elected King" - Who makes up our soldiers? People from innocent small town America, the farmers, the mid-westerners...the Tired Old Man is Reagan
And the last verse is a beautiful homage to regret, how we have to leave behind our Innocence and say goodbye to it, but that American Dream, that Innocence will always be in our hearts...
Please trust me on this analysis - I first heard this song as a 9 year old girl visiting Texas - this song is my most favourite song in the whole wide world - I've spent the past 17 years thinking about this beautiful song...when I die, they'll be playing it at my funeral ;)
I get a kick out of it too, because now I'm a lawyer ;)
@sthampi I agree with this analysis. And you may not want to respond after reading this... but its the reason I dont like this song. I will never compromise myself for anyone, or anything. But I am very curious, who is the “me” in these verses? “Lay your head all around me”.
@sthampi I agree with this analysis. And you may not want to respond after reading this... but its the reason I dont like this song. I will never compromise myself for anyone, or anything. But I am very curious, who is the “me” in these verses? “Lay your head all around me”.
Well, of course you can all have your theories about virginity and stuff, but oh man, I'm pretty sure that's not what Don Henley had in mind when he wrote it...if you haven't noticed, Mr. Henley is a very very politically and socially conscious activist.
The song is about the Reagan era and the Iran-Contra Affair (Even the video for the song shows pictures of Reagan and Oliver North).
The first verse is about the Innocence of America - the fairy tale America that we all live in, where things are perfect and picturesque, small town goodness and sweetness, the innocence of the American childhood, the American Dream.
But that innocent picture is an illusion, shattered by the lies and misdealings of the leaders of our country. The lawyers had to "clean up all the details" of Oliver North and Reagan's misdealings, which smeared and tarnished America...
"Oh beautiful, for spacious skies" (America the Beautiful) But now those skies are threatning - (This has nothing nothing to do with a woman's virginity)
"They're beating plowshares into swords, for this Tired Old Man that we elected King" - Who makes up our soldiers? People from innocent small town America, the farmers, the mid-westerners...the Tired Old Man is Reagan
And the last verse is a beautiful homage to regret, how we have to leave behind our Innocence and say goodbye to it, but that American Dream, that Innocence will always be in our hearts...
Please trust me on this analysis - I first heard this song as a 9 year old girl visiting Texas - this song is my most favourite song in the whole wide world - I've spent the past 17 years thinking about this beautiful song...when I die, they'll be playing it at my funeral ;)
I get a kick out of it too, because now I'm a lawyer ;)
@sthampi I agree with this analysis. And you may not want to respond after reading this... but its the reason I dont like this song. I will never compromise myself for anyone, or anything. But I am very curious, who is the “me” in these verses? “Lay your head all around me”.
@sthampi I agree with this analysis. And you may not want to respond after reading this... but its the reason I dont like this song. I will never compromise myself for anyone, or anything. But I am very curious, who is the “me” in these verses? “Lay your head all around me”.
Cheers
Cheers