About the song
“Lyin’ Eyes” is a timeless classic that has captivated audiences for decades. Written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, this iconic song was released in 1975 as the second single from the Eagles’ album One of These Nights. The song’s success was undeniable, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 8 on the Billboard Country chart, making it the band’s first top 40 country hit.
The song’s origins can be traced back to a conversation between Frey and Henley at their favorite Los Angeles restaurant, Dan Tana’s. The two musicians were inspired by the beautiful women who frequented the establishment, and they began discussing the theme of beautiful women who were cheating on their husbands. The title and idea for the song came when Frey spotted a stunning young woman with a much older, wealthy man, and he quipped, “She can’t even hide those lyin’ eyes.” This phrase became the basis for the song’s lyrics, which were written when Frey and Henley were sharing a house in Trousdale, Beverly Hills.
“Lyin’ Eyes” is a masterclass in songwriting, with its catchy melody, poignant lyrics, and soaring harmonies. The song’s country-rock sound was a departure from the Eagles’ earlier work, and it helped to establish the band as one of the most successful and influential acts of the 1970s. The song’s success was not limited to its chart performance; it also earned the Eagles a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and a nomination for Record of the Year.
In the following paragraphs, we will delve deeper into the song’s background, writing, and reception, as well as explore some of the many covers of “Lyin’ Eyes” that have been recorded over the years.
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Lyrics
City girls just seem to find out early
How to open doors with just a smile
A rich old man, and she won’t have to worry
She’ll dress up all in lace go in style
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
So she tells him she must go out for the evening
To 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
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
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
She rushes to his arms, they fall together
She whispers, “It’s only for a while”
She swears that soon she’ll be comin’ back forever
She goes away and leaves him with a smile
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
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
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
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
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