The Long Run

Album

Long Run, The

Label

Asylum Records

Genre

Pop rock

Composer(s)

Glenn Frey;Don Henley

Entered Chart

Dec 8, 1979

Peak Date

Feb 2, 1980

Released

November 27, 1979

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Asylum 46569

B-Side

The Disco Strangler

Written by Glenn Frey and Don Henley, this song is about making a relationship last. "Slow and Steady" isn't a popular theme for rock lyrics, but the Eagles had finally decided to ignore the pressure to top their landmark Hotel California album and be satisfied with a solid effort. In our interview with Don Felder, he said: "When you try to match yourself, it gets harder and harder the more successful you are. So we got to a point where we realized we've got to just wrap this up and end it here and get out of the studio and get on the road. There were a lot of arguments and dissension and contentious arguments about songs and schedules. It was really not heading in the right direction." The Long Run was the last album the Eagles released before they broke up. Their previous album, Hotel California, was released in 1976 and was a huge hit. The Eagles' record company anxiously waited for the next one. And waited. They even offered the band a million dollar bonus if they completed the album in time for Christmas, 1978. It was finally released in September 1979. The Eagles have introduced this in concert as a tribute to the Memphis sound. The music critic Dave Marsh accused the group of lifting parts of a song by the Soul singer Otis Clay called "Trying To Live My Life Without You" on the track. Joe Walsh played lead guitar on this one, and Don Felder played the organ.

I used to hurry a lot, I used to worry a lot
I used to stay out till the break of day
Oh, that didn't get it
It was high time I quit it
I just couldn't carry on that way

Oh, I did some damage, I know it's true
Didn't know I was so lonely, till I found you
You can go the distance
We'll find out in the long run
(In the long run)
We can handle some resistance
If our love is a strong one (is a strong one)

People talkin' about us
They got nothin' else to do
When it all comes down we will
Still come through
In the long run
Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run

You know I don't understand why you don't
Treat yourself better
Do the crazy things that you do

'Cause all the debutantes in Houston, baby
Couldn't hold a candle to you

Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?

Who is gonna make it?
We'll find out in the long run
(In the long run)
I know we can take it
If our love is a strong one
(Is a strong one)

Well, we're scared, but we ain't shakin'
Kinda bent, but we ain't breakin'
In the long run
Ooh, I want to tell you, it's a long run
In the long run
In the long run ...