Frail Grasp On The Big Picture

Album: Long Road Out Of Eden (2007)

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about shortsightedness of our society; three different aspects of it. The first part is how real journalism is dead and gone in America but that doesn't bother people of thinking they know it all. The second part criticizes short-term relationships - the lyrics "Who left the cap off the freakin' toothpaste?" and "Whose turn to take the garbage out?" is a down-to-earth view on long-term relationships. The third part is insight into shallowness of people's religious views.

    It is talking about how people are too focused on little things. like the "eternal question" of who left the cap off the toothpaste. Or assuming the win of a football team is not only part of God's grand design, but IS God's grand design, not even considering there are more important things in life. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Garrett - Cookeville, TN
  • The Eagles' dynamic duo of Don Henley and Glenn Frey wrote this song, with Henley doing the lead vocal. It's part of their last studio album, Long Road Out Of Eden, their first since The Long Run 28 years earlier. After breaking up in 1980, the group started touring again in 1994 but didn't have the bandwidth to complete a full album of new material until 2007, in part because Henley and Frey became fathers late in life and had three children each. Digital technology made it easier for them to work in the '00s, allowing them to collaborate through email and file sharing from their homes. Still, both were meticulous songwriters and could spend years refining a song.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.