Long Road Out of Eden

4 ContributorsNo More Walks in the Wood LyricsA harmony-rich, part-acapella showcase with words adapted from a work by the US poet and Professor Emeritus at Yale, John Hollander. Henley, co-lead singer of the band, came across the poem (then entitled An… Read More No more walks in the wood

The trees have all been cut down

And where once they stood

Not even a wagon rut

Appears along the path

Low brush is taking over

No more walks in the wood

This is the aftermath

Of afternoons in the clover fields

Where we once made love

Then wandered home together

Where the trees arched above

Where we made our own weather

When branches were the sky

Now they are gone for good

And you, for ill, and I

Am only a passer-by

We and the trees and the way

Back from the fields of play

Lasted as long as we could

No more walks in the wood

[Verse 1]

Like a blue bird with his heart removed, lonely as a train

I've run just as far as I can run

If I never see the good old days shining in the sun

I'll be doing fine and then some

[Chorus]

How long, how long

Woman, will you weep?

How long, how long

Rock yourself to sleep

[Verse 2]

Well, I've been doing time in lonesome prison, where the sun doesn't shine

Just outside, the freedom river runs

Out there in that shiny night, with blood hounds on your mind

Don't you know it's the same sad situation?

[Chorus]

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

Everybody feels alright you know, I heard some poor fool say (Somebody Ooh)

Everyone is out there on the loose

Well I wish I lived in the land of fools, no one knew my name

But what you get is not quite what you choose

[Chorus]

[Outro]

How long, how long (long and drawn out)

Muddy River runs so deep

How long, how long (long and drawn out)

Good night baby, rock yourself to sleep

Sleep tight baby, rock yourself to sleep

Bye bye baby, rock yourself to sleep

[Verse 1]

I came home to an empty house

And I found your little note

"Don't wait up for me tonight"

And that was all she wrote

Do you think I don't know that you're out on the town

With all of your high-rolling friends?

What do you do when you come up empty?

Where do you go when the party ends?

[Chorus]

And you were just too busy being fabulous

Too busy to think about us

I don't know what you were dreaming of

Somehow you forgot about love

And you were just too busy being fabulous, uh-huh

[Verse 2]

A little time in the country

A day or two to slow down

A bottle of wine and a walk in the moonlight

Maybe some fooling around

But you think time is just a magazine

And money's just a thrill

I've waited so long for you to change your way of living

Now I realize that you never will

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]

You tell a joke and everybody's laughing

That's something you know how to do

You've always been the life of the party

But now my baby, the joke is on you

Because you were just too busy being fabulous

Too busy to think about us

Running after something that never comes

What in the world are you running from?

And you were just too busy being fabulous

Too busy to think about us

To drink the wine from your winner's cup

To notice the children were growing up

[Outro]

And you were just too busy being fabulous

Too busy, too busy

Too busy

Aw, baby

[Verse 1: Glenn Frey]

You don't have to say a word

I can see it in your eyes

I know what you wanna say

It's so hard to say goodbye

[Chorus: Glenn Frey]

I can hold back my tears

And try to be strong

While our love is falling apart

I know what I'll say

If you walk away

But what do I do?

What do I do with my heart?

[Verse 2: Glenn Frey]

I'm not gonna say a word

I know I can't change your mind

You know where you need to go

I know I'll be left behind

[Chorus: Glenn Frey]

I won't hold you back

I won't stand in your way

If you need to make a new start

But I still wanna know

When my arms let you go

What do I do?

What do I do with my heart?

[Bridge: Glenn Frey]

Oh, girl, don't you remember?

It was not so long ago

We were making plans for two

Just me and you

Now you tell me that you've found somebody

Someone who loves you better

But no one could ever love you

The way I do

[Verse 3]

(Tell me you're not leaving now)

Tell me you're not leaving

(Tell me that you're gonna stay)

Please say you'll stay with me, baby

(Tell me that you love me still)

Say you love me still

(For this and this alone I pray)

Fall down on my knees and pray

[Chorus: Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Glenn Frey & Don Henley]

I'll do anything (Yes, I would)

To save what we have (To keep you by my side)

I'll love you 'til death do us part (Whoo)

But what do I do? (What do I do?)

When I'm still missing you? (Whoa)

What do I do?

What do I do with my heart?

[Verse 1]

You're the only one who's ever heard my song

I might be lonely now, but I won't be lonely long

Take a look at me, baby

Tell me, what do you see?

Take a look at me, baby

You're looking at the brand new me

I'm like a total stranger knocking at your door

No need to worry about the way I was before

It's a new love story

So read every line

You be the judge and the jury

I'm guilty of the crime

[Chorus]

I'm guilty of, guilty of the crime

Of loving you, baby

Guilty of, guilty of the crime

[Verse 2]

I'm saving all my loving just for you

Because there's nothing more that I would rather do

It's a new love story

Got to read every line

You be the judge and the jury

I'm guilty of the crime

[Chorus][x3]

[Verse 1]

It's not the first time

That I've had the sense that something's wrong

But I'm old enough to know

That things don't always work out like they should

I know you're trying hard

To break it gently to me, now

But there's no easy way

To tell it like it is, so baby

[Chorus]

I don't want to hear any more

You don't need to tell me it's over

I've been here before

[Verse 2]

I've seen that look before

I know it well, it comes as no surprise

You've been avoiding me

But now you want to talk it over

Before you take my hand

And tell me softly in a whisper

There's no need to explain

I've read the book, I know how this all ends

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]

I won't ask you to stay

I won't stand in your way

Look me right in the eyes

Let me walk away with my head high

If there's some other guy

I don't need to know why

[Chorus]

[Outro]

I won't ask you to stay

I won't stand in your way

And I don't want to hear any more

No, no, baby

I don't want to hear any more

[Verse 1]

It's coming on the end of August

Another summer's promise almost gone

And though I heard some wise man say

That every dog will have his day

He never mentioned that these dog days get so long

I don't know when I realized the dream was over

Well, there was no particular hour, no given day

You know, it didn't go down in flame

There was no final scene, no frozen frame

I just watched it slowly fade away

[Chorus 1]

And I've been waiting in the weeds

Waiting for my time to come around again and

Hope is floating on the breeze

Carrying my soul high up above the ground and

I've been keeping to myself

Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing

Even though you're with somebody else

He'll never love you like I do

[Verse 2]

I've been biding time with the crows and sparrows

While peacocks prance and strut upon the stage

If finding love is just a dance

Proximity and chance

You will excuse me if I skip the masquerade

[Chorus 2]

And I've been waiting in the weeds

Waiting for the dust to settle down along the

Back roads running through the fields

Lying on the outskirts of this lonesome town

[Bridge 1]

And I imagine sunlight in your hair

You're at the county fair

You're holding hands and laughing

And now the ferris-wheel has stopped

You're swinging on the top

Suspended there with him

And he's the darling of the chic

The flavor of the week is melting

Down your pretty summer dress

Baby, what a mess you're making

[Instrumental]

[Verse 3]

I've been stumbling through some dark places

Now I'm following the plow

I know I've fallen out of your good graces

It's alright now

[Chorus 3]

And I've been waiting in the weeds

Waiting for the summer rain to fall upon the

Wild birds scattering the seeds

Answering the calling of the tide's eternal tune

[Bridge 2]

The phases of the moon

The chambers of the heart

The egg and dart of small gray

Spiders spinning in the dark

In spite of all the times the web is torn apart

[Intro]

And I've been waiting in the weeds

Waiting for the time to come around again and

Hope is floating on the breeze

Carrying my soul high up above the ground and

I've been keeping to myself

Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing

Even though you're with somebody else

He'll never love you like I do

[Verse 1]

Sitting by a foggy window

Staring at the pouring rain

Falling down like lonely teardrops

Memories of love in vain

These cloudy days, make you want to cry

It breaks your heart when someone leaves and you don't know why

I can see that you've been hurting, baby I've been lonely too

I've been out here lost and searching, looking for a girl like you

Now I believe the sun is going to shine

Don't you be afraid to love again, put your hand in mine

[Pre-Chorus]

Baby, I would never make you cry

I would never make you blue

I would never let you down

I would never be untrue

[Chorus]

I know a place where we can go where true love always stays

There's no more stormy nights, no more cloudy days

[Verse 2]

I believe in second chances

I believe in angels, too

I believe in new romances

Baby, I believe in you

These cloudy days are coming to an end

And you don't have to be afraid to fall in love again

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

[Verse 1]

Now, where you going?

Now, what's the rush?

You listen here

No, you just hush

I know what you think

That man don't know anything

But I've been around a while

I know what's happening

Everybody want to check you out

Everybody want to be your friend

And all this pressure

Where do I fit in?

They don't know nothing you don't know

Ain't got nothing you ain't got

But you keep on running, you keep on running with the

[Chorus]

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

[Verse 2]

Now it's alright

To have some fun

This is your turn

Your life has just begun

You're racing out the door

Don't have very much to say

Your motor's running hot

You can't wait to get away

Looking up the road ahead

You can't see very far

Remember where you come from

Remember who you are

Be careful what you say

Be careful who you trust

This world is beautiful

This world is dangerous

[Chorus]

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

[Bridge]

Talk to me and help me try to remember

How it feels to be so in doubt

Turn to me and help me try to remember

That raging fire that the years put out

[Chorus]

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

Fast company, fast company

You're going nowhere, you're going nowhere fast

[Verse 1]

I've been walking through the fields

And on the streets of town

Trying to make sense of what you left me

Everything that I believed in

Has been turned upside down

And now it seems the whole wide world's gone crazy

But when I feel like giving up

And I'm ready to walk away

In the stillness, I can hear

A voice inside me say

[Chorus]

Do something, do something

It's too late for saving face

Don't just stand there taking up space

Why don't you do something?

Do something

It's not over

No, it's never too late

[Verse 2]

You were always on my side

Love was all we had

Now I sit and watch our love unraveling

I pick up the morning paper

All the news is bad

How did we get on this road we're traveling?

But when I feel like giving up

And there's nowhere left to go

That's the time I dig down deep

The only thing I know

[Chorus]

Do something, do something

It's too late for saving face

Don't just stand there taking up space

Why don't you do something?

Do something

It's not over

No, it's never too late

[Bridge]

Run away

You can't run away

For your honor

For your pride

You'll sleep better

Knowing you tried

[Outro]

To do something

Do something

It's too easy not to care

You're not ready for the rocking chair

Get up and do something

Do something

Don't wait too long

Even if it's wrong

You've got to do something

Do something

It's not over

No, it's never too late

[Verse 1]

Say goodbye to all your pain and sorrow

Say goodbye to all those lonely nights

Say goodbye to all your blue tomorrows

Now you're standing in the light

I know sometimes you feel so helpless

Sometimes you feel like you can't win

Sometimes you feel so isolated

You'll never have to feel that way again

[Chorus]

You are not alone

You're not alone

[Verse 2]

I never thought I'd find the road to freedom

Never thought I'd see you smile again

Never thought I'd have the chance to tell you

That I will always be your friend

[Chorus]

You are not alone

You're not alone