"The End of the Innocence" is the lead single and title track from Don Henley's third solo studio album, The End of the Innocence, in 1989. The song was written by Bruce Hornsby, with lyrics added by Henley, and both perform the song live in their respective concerts. The Henley version became his fifth solo top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, more than any of the other Eagles members, peaking at number eight. It also became his fourth number-one single on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
[edit] Background and content
Henley's lyrics take the form of a personal remembrance related to a close friend or companion, and evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia for the lost innocence of childhood and an earlier time. The reflections and the emotional responses that result represent the end of the innocence of the baby-boomer generation, confronted with the nihilism, consumerism and militarism of the Reagan era. Even as they yearn for the simplicity and values of the past, and the uncorrupted people they used to be, the song sees these characters and this generation coming to terms with the responsibilities and challenges facing Americans entering middle-age in the 1980's.
There are two political comments in the video. At the line "armchair warriors often fail" it shows a TV set showing scenes of the congressional testimony of Oliver North. At the line "they're beating plowshares into swords, for the tired old man that we elected king", it shows a series of posters of President Ronald Reagan. After Reagan had gone out of office, Bruce Hornsby began singing his version with the line "for the tired old man that is no longer king".
[edit] Music video
The black and white music video for the song was directed by future film director, David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club) and earned Henley an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video in 1990.
[edit] Chart performance
| Chart (1989) |
Peak
position |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles |
3 |
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary |
3 |
| UK Singles Chart |
48 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 |
8 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Album Rock Tracks |
1 |
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Singles |
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| See also |
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