Lyin' Eyes...

When I walk in the park, I have my headphones, listening to music. Usually I'm thinking about other things and the songs serve merely as background. However every once in a while a song captures my attention and I focus on it. This was one of those times.

This particular song was written by Glenn Frey with co-writing credits to Don Henley. They performed it with their band “The Eagles” in 1975. They won a Grammy for it. But that's not important. This song was conceived and executed well.

IMHO, this is one of the best pop songs ever written and I'll tell you why. The song presents a universal narrative about wealthy older men and their oftentimes much younger female companions. Both in substance and structure, it sets the scene, tells the story, and makes a statement. More than that, the performance of this song melds exquisite harmonies with simple orchestration and tasty guitar fills.

I'll attempt to explain what I hear...

My comments in RED

Instrumental intro, then Glenn Frey in a one-voice exposition sets the scene.

City girls just seem to find out early.....How to open doors with just a smile
A rich old man she won't have to worry.....She'll dress up all in lace and go in style

The scene develops, more exposition describing her attitude toward a loveless relationship
Late at night a big old house gets lonely.....I guess every form of refuge has its price
And it breaks her heart to think her love is only.....given to a man with hands as cold as ice

The story proceeds, Don Henley voice joins in tight harmony, voices match in timbre and volume
So she tells him she must go out for the evening.....comfort an old friend who's feelin' down
But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'.....She is headed for the cheatin' side of town

The chorus in rich four part harmony delivers the song's theme
You can't hide your lyin' eyes.....And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize.....There ain't no way to hide your lyin eyes

Back to single Glenn Frey voice, with the plot thickening, revealing her emotional state
On the other side of town a boy is waiting.....with fiery eyes and dreams no one could steal
She drives on through the night anticipating.....'Cause he makes her feel the way she used to feel

Rather than violins, cellos, and horns, human voices provide background orchestration as the story continues
She rushes to his arms, they fall together.....She whispers that it's only for awhile

Now Henley's harmony joins the vocal orchestration to give us The Eagles' signature sound and the story gets to its unfortunate but predictable conclusion
She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever.....She pulls away and leaves him with a smile

The Chorus reinforces the basic theme
You can't hide your lyin' eyes.....And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize.....There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes

Back to original voice providing a visual description of her disconsolate situation
She gets up and pours herself a strong one.....And stares out at the stars up in the sky
Another night, it's gonna be a long one.....She draws the shade and hangs her head to cry

Adding vocal orchestration, building the sound, she acknowledges confusion but must submit to the truth
She wonders how it ever got this crazy.....She thinks about a boy she knew in school
Did she get tired or did she just get lazy?.....She's so far gone she feels just like a fool

Now all elements come together, the two part harmony, vocal orchestration, guitar flourishes, for the nagging acceptance that our choices determine our fate. May be the whole point of the song
My, oh my, you sure know how to arrange things.....You set it up so well, so carefully
Ain't it funny how your new life didn't change things....You're still the same old girl you used to be

Final chorus for emphasis
You can't hide your lyin eyes.....And your smile is a thin disguise
I thought by now you'd realize.....There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes

There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes.....Honey, you can't hide your lyin' eyes

Final instrumental fill to the end.

That's what I thought about on my walk. Nothing earth shattering but the realization that I'm so grateful for the Eagles' artistic creativity that can communicate part of the human condition with such intimate clarity.